The value of exchange

As we saw last week in Iowa with the return visit of Chinese VP Xi Jinping, the need for citizen to citizen engagement is now more crucial than ever. Along with the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy, countless other organizations have taken on the responsibility to ensure US citizens have the opportunity to meet face to face, other citizens through citizen diplomacy exchanges.

The US State Department, through several of their exchange programs, has brought together people from different nations and backgrounds. Through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, up and coming leaders from other countries are brough to the US to particpate in leadership programs and communicate with US citizens at a citizen to citizen level. The International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), the State Department's main avenue for exchange taking place here in the US, has sent thousands of current heads of state to various locations across the US via other partner organizations.

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy is one of those organizations that hosts exchange participants that come to the US. The UCCD is a US Center for Citizen Diplomacy member organization. Laura DuPuy explains one instance of how this exchange program bridges cultures and changes lives.