Washington, DC, May 2022 — The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Global Ties U.S. is pleased to announce that Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits are returning to communities across the United States, with events taking place in Illinois, Florida, and Oregon starting this Summer.
Last held in person in 2019, Diplomacy Begins Here Summits bring together U.S. and international leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit fields to expand professional networks and engage audiences around why exchange programs matter for U.S. communities, economies, and citizens. The 2022 hosts, dates, and themes are:
July 21-22 in Chicago & Freeport, IL
Hosted by: WorldChicago and Freeport Area International Visitors Council
Theme: Connecting Diverse Communities Through Diplomacy
September 22-23 in Pensacola, FL
Hosted by: Gulf Coast Diplomacy
Tentative Theme: Local STEAM to Global Innovation
October 13-14 in Portland, OR
Hosted by: WorldOregon
Tentative Theme: Building Citizen Engagement & Environmental Action
“We are excited to collaborate with our members in Illinois, Florida, and Oregon and be together in-person again to highlight the incredible impact of the Global Ties Network in communities across the country,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Global Ties U.S. “While the last few years have been challenging, it has also introduced us to new possibilities to celebrate citizen diplomacy and we’re excited to support our members in Chicago, Freeport, Pensacola, and Portland in doing so.”
The Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits are funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Global Ties U.S. in collaboration with local Community-Based Members (CBMs). The Summits are an opportunity to forge new connections with local communities around exchange programming and issues, and provide attendees with a better understanding of U.S. foreign policy, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and the benefits of exchange programs to U.S. citizens and the communities that host them.
All three local partners were slated to host the 2020 Diplomacy Begins Here Summits, which would have kicked off in Summer 2020; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summits were postponed.
Since 2014, the Summits have connected thousands of international exchange partners and supporters in more than 20 U.S. cities, including Albuquerque, NM; Cleveland, OH; Huntsville, AL; Louisville, KY; Manchester, NH; and Miami, FL. This is WorldOregon’s second time hosting, having previously held a Summit in 2017 focused on building civic and economic innovation; WorldChicago, Freeport Area International Visitors Council, and Gulf Coast Diplomacy are first-time hosts of this signature event.
Each Summit also includes a Learning Lab, which is a full-day workshop designed as a form of professional development that allows participants to share their knowledge and expertise with other Network members.
Visit our website to learn more about the Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits and to stay up to date on registration, speakers, and programming. You can also find information on previous Summit programs and hosts.
Please note that health and safety protocols for these events will be determined by the local host CBMs based on local conditions and regulations. More detailed information from each host will be available two months in advance of each event. For more immediate questions or concerns, please contact Membership@GlobalTiesUS.org.
About Global Ties U.S.
Global Ties U.S. powers individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. It is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State and supports a Network of 120+ nonprofit organizations representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries. Global Ties U.S. members are exchange professionals who provide the domestic infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program and a wide variety of educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs.