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
Bolivia Art – Charisse Phillips
What many books touch on when they talk about Bolivia, grinned Charisse Phillips, “are Ché Guevara, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Ancient Aliens.” Since August, 2020 she has been the Chargé d’Affaires at our embassy there, and she wants everyone to understand that Bolivia, with huge cultural, economic, political, and geographic pressures, plays Read more about Bolivia Art – Charisse Phillips[…]
Citizen Diplomacy Alliance co-sponsored a ZOOM with featured speaker Kevin Lin
On November 17, the Citizen Diplomacy Alliance co-sponsored a ZOOM conversation on the future of Hong Kong and U.S.-China Relations with the University of Arizona and Pima Community College. The featured speaker was Kevin Lin, researcher at the Global China Social Research Hub, Hong Kong University. Topics covered by Mr. Lin included: What are the prospects Read more about Citizen Diplomacy Alliance co-sponsored a ZOOM with featured speaker Kevin Lin[…]
World Watch: Zooming in on Colombia with Ambassador Phillip Goldberg.
On September 3rd at 9:00 AM CDA Zoomed with U.S. Ambassador Phillip Goldberg, live from the Embassy in Bogotá Colombia, the fourth in our on-going series of World Watch meetings with U.S. Ambassadors abroad. The Ambassador spoke about current conditions in Colombia in terms of the pandemic and the complex repatriation of 15,000 U.S. citizens Read more about World Watch: Zooming in on Colombia with Ambassador Phillip Goldberg.[…]
If you could ask a United States Ambassador
If you could ask a United States Ambassador anything about the past, current, orfuture state of a country or region, or its role in global events, what would youwant to know? I ask because Citizen Diplomacy Alliance’s (CDA) new series ofZoom programs “World Watch” lets you sit at home at your computer or deviceand “meet” Read more about If you could ask a United States Ambassador[…]
World Watch: Zooming in on Colombia with Ambassador Phillip Goldberg.
On September 3rd at 9:00 AM CDA Zoomed with U.S. Ambassador Phillip Goldberg, live from the Embassy in Bogotá Colombia, the fourth in our on-going series of World Watch meetings with U.S. Ambassadors abroad. The Ambassador spoke about current conditions in Colombia in terms of the pandemic and the complex repatriation of 15,000 U.S. citizens Read more about World Watch: Zooming in on Colombia with Ambassador Phillip Goldberg.[…]
Mexican Consulate in Tucson
Pat Watson met with Consul General Durazo, Deputy Consul General Montiel of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson. Consul General Durazo and Deputy Consul General Montiel both assured Pat that Citizen Diplomacy Alliance is welcome to continue to use the Mexican Consulate for gatherings once the COVID 19 pandemic has passed. Both of these gentlemen are Read more about Mexican Consulate in Tucson[…]
Ambassador Todd Robinson
The Ambassador spoke to us via zoom on July 9 and shared his experiences in Guatemala and Venezuela. He is now at the National defense University (until his next posting). Ambassador Robinson is the current Director of the International Student Management Office. He last served as Senior Advisor for Central America in the Bureau of Read more about Ambassador Todd Robinson[…]
Save the Date: Ambassador Todd Robinson, July 9
Ambassador Todd Robinson, July 9 at 1 p.m. MST (Arizona). Ambassador Robinson will talk about Nicaragua. To register email: patwatson@patwatson.com
Life After the Foreign Service: The View from Tucson
A fter retiring in 2003, I moved to Tucson to earn an MA in Higher Education and complete coursework to-ward a Ph.D. that opened many doors in academia. Since 2004, I have had the privilege of working at Pima Community College in a num-ber of capacities, including ad-vising and teaching for-credit Student Success classes. I also Read more about Life After the Foreign Service: The View from Tucson[…]
In Memoriam
Southern Arizona, Tucson, and the Citizen Diplomacy Alliance have lost a vital, insightful and delightful friend. We stop to remember Charles T. (Punch) Woods, a member of our Advisory Committee and longtime active member of the Alliance through the years. As the former Executive Director of the Community Food Bank, he was ardent advocate for Read more about In Memoriam[…]