Beyond the Headlines: Citizen Diplomats at Work

As the U.S. battles increased negative stereotypes across the world, a corps of dedicated people consistently promote the best of the U.S. - with great success.

(PRWEB) July 2, 2003 -- In addition to parades, picnics, and fireworks, the Fourth of July is inevitably a time of soul-searching for us as a nation. It is a time to reaffirm our fundamental values and identity. Our soul-searching is even more important this year after the war in Iraq and the recently published Pew Global Attitudes Project survey, documenting that negative stereotypes of the United States are increasing around the world. How do we counter these trends and get beyond the headlines? How do we reaffirm our basic ideals and share them with others?

There is a large group of volunteers across this country who routinely portray the best of America to foreign leaders who come to the United States as participants in the State Departments International Visitor Program and other exchange programs. These International Visitors are members of Parliament, journalists, and other leaders who travel in the United States for two to three weeks to meet their professional counterparts and through firsthand experience acquire a better understanding of the history, heritage, and values of our country.

The National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) is a nonprofit association that promotes citizen diplomacy. Citizen diplomacy is the idea that individual citizens have the right -- even the responsibility -- to help shape U.S. foreign relations, as our members phrase it, one handshake at a time." NCIV is comprised of program agencies, individual and corporate members, and 95 community-based organizations throughout the United States. Each year NCIV member organizations involve more than 80,000 volunteer citizen diplomats in their activities.

The International Visitors Council / World Affairs Council (IVC / WAC) is the NCIV member organization in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Since 1973, volunteers have opened their homes, offices, and schools to these distinguished foreign leaders who daily make decisions that affect U.S. political and economic interests in their countries.

IVC / WAC was founded by former North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford, and received early support from former UNC -- Chapel Hill President Bill Friday. Today, IVC / WAC hosts more than 600 dignitaries each month and numerous events with renowned ambassadors, journalists, and world business leaders.

Currently, IVC / WAC is implementing a series of dialogues entitled Diverse Traditions/Common Ideals, which examines Muslim / non-Muslim relationships in the U.S. post 9/11. The series includes three dialogues and a half-day event, all scheduled July -- September 2003. Funding for the series is provided by the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. More information is available on the IVC / WAC web site at www.ivc-wac.org.

The 4th of July is an ideal time to celebrate the contribution of citizen diplomats and recruit new volunteers. For more information go to www.ivc-wac.org or www.nciv.org.