The Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy has launched a national campaign to increase dramatically the ability of Americans to engage with the global community through international dialogue and exchanges. At the forefront of the campaign is a series of Community Summits being held across the United States, which will culminate in a National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in Washington, D.C. in July 2006.
What is Citizen Diplomacy?
Citizen Diplomacy is the participation by hundreds of thousands of Americans in activities that promote international exchange, dialogue and learning for the benefit of the individual, the community, the nation and the world. Citizen Diplomacy provides an opportunity for Americans of all backgrounds and interests to better understand the rest of the world and for others to learn more about America through such person-to-person activities as student and professional exchanges, hosting of foreign visitors, partnerships involving businesses, and outreach to international communities in our own country.
What is the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy?
The Coalition is a group of more than one hundred leaders from the non-profit, business, academic and exchange communities in the U.S. committed to building peace through the active and sustained international engagement of Americans at home and abroad. As a result of its 2004 Wingspread Citizen Diplomacy Leadership Forum, the Coalition embarked on a bold initiative to enable citizen diplomats and citizen exchanges to have an even greater impact on building positive global connections in the 21st century.
What are the purposes of the Community Summits?
Community Summits will help raise public awareness of the international interests of the host community and provide a forum for participants to exchange perspectives on issues that affect the community?s global engagement. The Summits will also serve to identify and expand resources and partnerships, to build a network of like-minded citizens, and to propose action plans that will be presented at the National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in Washington, D.C. in July 2006.
How will the Community Summits contribute to the National Summit?
The goal of the national campaign is to increase significantly Americans' participation in Citizen Diplomacy by raising the profile of educational, professional and citizen exchanges and by attracting new participants and resources. The Community Summits will play a critical role in this national movement by building awareness of Citizen Diplomacy and the importance of international engagement to the life of every community. The Summits will identify key issues and action plans for the National Summit and for a National Report on the Future of Citizen Diplomacy.
Who will participate in a Community Summit?
Participants will include a broad range of interested citizens and organizations, including the international exchange community, local government, business, education, civic and faith-based organizations, ethnic heritage groups, the media, and youth groups.
When will the Community Summits take place?
Community Summits have already started and will continue through spring of 2006. The National Summit, which will be held in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Conference of Sister Cities International, will take place July 13-14, 2006.