What We Do
About Us
The Citizen Diplomacy Alliance for International Visitors serves participants in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchanges, building person-to-person relationships “one handshake at a time.”
Citizen Diplomacy
Would you like to serve as a citizen diplomat and host foreign leaders visiting Southern Arizona? The Citizen Diplomacy Alliance offers unique opportunities to engage in citizen diplomacy with participants in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchanges.
Who We Are
administered by the U.S. Department of State annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors, who are selected by United States Foreign Service Officers overseas, are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), business and other fields.
Stories
A Portuguese colony until 1975
A Portuguese colony until 1975, Angola’s path since independence has been marked by on-going civil war, government corruption, a countryside full of hidden land mines, disease, and huge debt to China and other power countries until 2017, when President João Lorenzo was elected. According to U.S. Ambassador Nina Maria Fite, the new President has begun Read more about A Portuguese colony until 1975[…]
Consul General Nogales, Mexico
Consul General Laura Biedenbach, U.S. Consulate Nogales, Sonora One of my favorite projects at Citizen Diplomacy Alliance is our Meet the Ambassadors program. How many people have the chance to see our world through the eyes of our amazing Foreign Service diplomats directly from our embassies abroad? In the past year, we have visited with Read more about Consul General Nogales, Mexico[…]
Meet Chargé d’Affaires Richard H. Glenn from the U.S. Embassy in Chile
In a lively and truly insightful meeting, Richard H. Glenn, head of the U.S. Delegation to Chile, painted a picture of a country that emerged from the military dictatorship in the 70’s and 80’s to become a strong partner with the U.S. in promoting the values of democracy. Chile’s transition from dictatorship to a strong, Read more about Meet Chargé d’Affaires Richard H. Glenn from the U.S. Embassy in Chile[…]
Congratulations to Todd Robinson
Todd Robinson, former Ambassador to Guatemala, has been confirmed as the new Assistant Secretary for State INL. “Almost all of the illicit drugs causing the unprecedented rise in American deaths from drug overdoses are produced outside the United States. In order to achieve sustainable long-term solutions to the security challenges present by the illicit drug Read more about Congratulations to Todd Robinson[…]
Charge’ d’Affaires, Emily Fleckner
Negara Brunei Darussalam (State of Brunei, Abode of Peace) is situated on the China Sea coast in the northwest corner of the island of Borneo. It is a tiny country with a total population of 420 thousand, with half of the residents living in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Although small in land Read more about Charge’ d’Affaires, Emily Fleckner[…]
Ambassador Julie D. Fisher, US Special Envoy to Belarus
Meet Ambassador Julie D. Fisher, US Special Envoy to Belarus Julie Fisher “accidentally” joined the Foreign Service. As the daughter of a US military pilot who was active during the Cold War, she became fascinated with the situation in Russia as she watched the collapse of the USSR. While she intended to be a business Read more about Ambassador Julie D. Fisher, US Special Envoy to Belarus[…]
Ambassador Popp – Guatemala
From the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Ambassador William W. Popp shared his insights into the complexities of the many facets of Guatemalan culture, history and politics and its role on the global stage Only “one border away” from the United States, and one of the poorest nations in Latin America, Guatemala’s unstable economy has opened Read more about Ambassador Popp – Guatemala[…]
Ambassador Fite of Angola
A Portuguese colony until 1975, Angola’s path since independence has been marked by on-going civil war, government corruption, a countryside full of hidden land mines, disease, and huge debt to China and other power countries until 2017, when President João Lorenzo was elected. According to U.S. Ambassador Nina Maria Fite, the new President has begun Read more about Ambassador Fite of Angola[…]
World Watch: Nicaragua with Ambassador Kevin Sullivan
World Watch: Nicaragua with Ambassador Kevin SullivanMarch 2, 2021 Ambassador Sullivan opened the session with a brief biography of his Department of State career that has included eight different missions in 34 years on five different continents, with primary focus on the Latin American and Caribbean region. He began his post as Ambassador to Nicaragua Read more about World Watch: Nicaragua with Ambassador Kevin Sullivan[…]
Ecuador Ambassador Fitzpatrick
Ecuador: Ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick Ambassador Fitzpatrick is originally from Washington, DC, and a third-generation member of an extended family all focused on public service. He clearly loves his own role as a member of the Foreign Service, and quickly added that at time he has to “pinch himself” to know that in each of his Read more about Ecuador Ambassador Fitzpatrick[…]