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
Amy Hyatt: One Ambassador, Two Nations
April 9, 2022 Ambassador Amy Hyatt currently serves as Chargé d’Affaires for two separate nations. She is stationed in Madagascar but works—mostly virtually—with the island nation of Comoros, as well. In an hour-long informal and insightful chat, she described the challenges and strengths of both countries, and some of the challenges of working each—especially during Read more about <strong>Amy Hyatt: One Ambassador, Two Nations</strong>[…]
Citizen Diplomacy Annual Meeting 2022
Chancellor Lee Lambert from Pima Community College was the keynote speaker. Deputy Consul for the Mexican Consulate, Lee Wong, welcomed the group to the consulate President, Michael Ford, welcomed everyone to the meeting,
Annual Meeting, April 9, 2022
Citizen Diplomacy Alliance Annual Meeting April 9, 2022 2 – 3:30 (ish) at the Mexican Consulate, 3915 E Broadway, Tucson Music by Mitzi Cowell, well known Tucson musician. Light appetizers and beverages Welcome to the meeting by President, Michael Ford Welcome by Rafael Durazo Introduction of Keynote: Vice President, Patricia Houston Brief talk on distance Read more about Annual Meeting, April 9, 2022[…]
Craig Cloud, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana
I was first introduced to Botswana through the eyes of Mma Precious Ramotswe, protagonist and chief investigator in the delightful “No 1 Ladies Detective Agency” novels by Andrew McCall Smith. She embodied a charm, wisdom, and love of Africa and her culture that I have carried with me. When I learned that U.S. Ambassador to Read more about Craig Cloud, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana […]
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Lee Litzenberger
Ambassador Lee Litzenberger began his talk with an overview of Azerbaijan’s geographic location. Azerbaijan is situated between Russia and Iran, and has at times been part of the Persian, Ottoman, and earlier empires, and more recently, the former Soviet Union. From 1918 Azerbaijan was an independent nation but incorporated into USSR in 1920. It declared Read more about U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Lee Litzenberger[…]
U.S. Ambassador to Laos
Just prior to the scheduled World Watch: Laos Zoom, U.S. Ambassador Peter Haymond was called away on official business. With very little notice, Deputy Chief of Mission, Joy Sakurai stepped in to chat with us and talk about Laos, its history, its culture, and its current place on the global stage. She began by presenting Read more about U.S. Ambassador to Laos[…]
Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, US Ambassador to North Macedonia
Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, US Ambassador to North Macedonia, started off her lively and informative World Watch ZOOM discussion by touting her host country as a success story. She mentioned Macedonia’s peaceful separation from Yugoslavia and the country’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2020 as NATO’s thirtieth member. Known as the Former Read more about Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, US Ambassador to North Macedonia[…]
Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman – Australia
Each of the Ambassadors and Embassy officials who have shared their time, their information, and their insights with us have given us a far greater understanding of U.S. relations with other countries than we might be able to get from general news sources. Sometimes the relationships are strong, and sometimes, as in the case of Read more about Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman – Australia[…]
Ambassador Chapman – Brazil
World Watch Brazil June 8, 2021 In a relaxed and very personable manner, Ambassador Chapman began by referencing his close personal ties with Arizona and acknowledging our Pat Watson for her persistence in putting him on our Ambassador World Watch schedule. He also praised her work with Citizen Diplomacy Alliance with the statement: “Citizen Diplomacy Read more about Ambassador Chapman – Brazil[…]
Mexico’s Consul in Tucson, Rafael Barceló Durazo
Mexico’s Consul in Tucson, Rafael Barceló Durazo In November we heard from the current U.S. Consul General to Nogales, Sonora, Laura Biedenbach, whose chat was moderated by our former Consul General to Nogales, Sonora, Virginia Staab. In the recap of that meeting, I mentioned that it was such a pleasure and privilege to have a Read more about Mexico’s Consul in Tucson, Rafael Barceló Durazo[…]