IVC is celebrating 56 years of Citizen Diplomacy
- Welcome a stranger, send home a friend -
Read some fascinating reminiscences from our founders & friends. 

IVC is a designated United Way recipient
Our number is 00685

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IVC is international relations as it should be - one person, one handshake - at a time. Making friends leads to peace - it really is that simple. IVC gives you a tangible way to make friends & improve the image of the U.S. abroad.  Become a participant, not an observer - so join IVC today! 

Please make a donation today to support IVC's important work.

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Elvis was a citizen diplomat... 
It's true.   When he landed in Germany as an American soldier in 1958 he told reporters that "what we do here will reflect on America and our way of life."  He was right.  And even though Elvis's profile was higher than yours and mine, he and his fellow soldiers were each ambassadors for our country.  And so are we all.  And that's why I'm writing this...  read more

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Who is IVC? 
Since 1954 we have been the official host for the U.S. Department of State's highest exchange, the International Visitor Leadership Program.  We are part of a unique citizen diplomacy network of 92 Councils throughout the U.S. that receives established and emerging leaders from 120+ countries visiting the U.S. as guests of our government.   Each participant travels to up to five U.S. cities for meetings with their professional counterparts as well as experience American life at informal dinners with families in their homes, and by attending local cultural events.  Each carefully-designed program allows  visitors to see the country first-hand so they can form their own opinions of the U.S., its policies and people.  Past visitors include F.W. de Klerk, Hamid Karzai, Willie Brandt, Nicolas Sarkozy and 290+ others who later became heads of Government.  Unlike other government-sponsored exchanges, this program is by invitation only.  The network of 92 Councils and 80,000 + citizen diplomats, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

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What is Citizen Diplomacy? In a vibrant democracy, it's the right - if not the obligation - of each citizen to help shape U.S. foreign relations - "one handshake at a time."  Read an article on the U.S. public diplomacy.

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First Thursday receptions!
Now in their 11th year, these informal and very, very friendly monthly receptions are the place to be on the first Thursday of the month.  Coming up is a special edition on April Fool's Day.  Join us for a silly evening where you'll meet people from countries you've never heard of... and never will again once the evening's over.  

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SAVE THE DATE!
Our next BBQ is July 22, 2010!
IVC's BBQ is our only annual fund raising event.  Throughout the year we keep our events free or
very modestly priced with the goal of engaging even more people in our international relations work.

Check out the 2009 photos!

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The International Visitor Leadership Program - It's why we exist.  Check out who's coming to town!  Visit our hosting opportunities (hosting is an exclusive benefit for IVC members) to share an American experience with our guests. If you're already a member and would like to be a citizen diplomat by hosting, contact Matt Drexler at 215.683.0995 or fill in the form online.

What's happening at IVC..

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First Thursday - IVC's monthly reception series - Our next First Thursday is February 4, 2010.  Click here to see previous invitations.  Visit FT gallery to view photos from our past events!   Email invitations go out the Monday before the First Thursday.

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Thank you Senator Specter!   In the Senator's specific request to the Appropriations Subcommittee for State & Foreign Operations, the Senator asked that funding for the IVLP be restored to allow 5,000 emerging leaders to participate in the program.  The Senator has been supportive of international exchanges for many years, and in October met with the Sister City delegation from Torun, Poland.  Senator Casey was at Specter's office and stopped by to say hello, too.   

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Sister Cities Opportunities!  Sister Cities in France and Russia have invited Philadelphians to participate in special programs. Read about it here...

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International First Fridays!
View IVC's Discover Philadelphia gallery! International First Friday is sponsored by the City of Philadelphia and by TD Bank. Contact Ann Stauffer for info.

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Wachovia Supports IVC's 55 Years of Building Relationships Abroad

Our thanks to Wachovia for its generous donation of $10,055.55 for IVC's 55^th anniversary.  The check was presented during our 2009 annual fundraiser by Laura Haymann, Senior VP at the bank and a member of IVC's Board.  This Wachovia donation and funds raised at the annual event will help us provide professional counterpart meetings and positive American experiences for guests from more than 100 countries who visit Philadelphia through the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program and the City's Sister Cities Program. Pictured in the photo, l-r, are  IVC Chairman, John Goldschmidt, Esq. of Dilworth Paxson; Laura Haymann, Wachovia; Mayor Michael Nutter; IVC's Nancy Gilboy. Wachovia and its predecessor banks have supported IVC's international relations work for 55 years.  Thank you Laura, thank you Hugh Long!

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Unpaid Internships Needed

IVC is looking for unpaid internships for Penn LLM and MBA Program spouses and partners. Read more..

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Sister Cities Educational Exchange with Poland
Swenson Arts and Technology High School in Philadelphia and the IVC look forward to the continuation of the Sister Cities exchange program between Tadeusz Kosciuszko High School #4 from Torun and schools from Philadelphia. We are happy to announce that a group of students and teachers from Torun accepted our invitation to visit Philadelphia and the region in October 2009! Read more..

This past October 2008, a group of twenty-seven Philadelphians had a great opportunity to visit Torun, Philadelphia's  Polish Sister City. During a busy week, they visited Torun, Gdansk, Warsaw, and met with Lech Walesa, former President of Poland and Nobel  Peace Prize recipient. We received many friendly responses from the students participating in the project and look forward to a reciprocal visit of Torun students in October 2009! They have been invited to Philadelphia by Swenson Arts and Technology High School. Read more.. View the gallery.

Sister Cities Opportunity in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

 

Philadelphia's Sister City, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, announced their 14th annual "Russia United" forum being held from October 28 - November 1, 2009.  The focus of this year's conference is "International Innovation and Investment Cooperation."

 
Philadelphia business representatives are invited to attend the event.  They will be given the opportunity to meet with professional counterparts through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will have networking opportunities with local government officials from the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

 
Nizhny Novgorod City Administration also intends to discuss ways of economic, scientific and technical cooperation, and to discuss the possibility of organizing bilateral trade and scientific missions.

 

If you are interested in attending, please contact Jennifer McGinn at jennifer.mcginn@phila.gov

IVC's Past Events

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Did you know that IVC of Philadelphia  is a recipient of: 

- 2009 Preservation Alliance's Community Action Award

- 2005 Consular Corps Global Leadership Award

- 2004 Human Rights Award from Phila. Human Relations Commission

- and the network of 92 IVC's across the U.S. was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for their work with the International Visitor Leadership Program.  Check all distinguished IVLP delegations that visited Philadelphia in 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

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SISTER CITIES!

Friendship Gate Rededication Ceremony

This past November,  Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined a delegation from Philadelphia's Chinese Sister City, Tianjin, at a rededication and lighting ceremony of the Friendship Gate in Chinatown. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on November 19, 2008. 
Mr. Zuo Ming, Vice Director of The Standing Committee of Tianjin Municipal People's Congress, was heading the delegation of eight officials from Tianjin visiting Philadelphia from November 17 to November 19.  While here, Mr. Zuo and his group met with Mayor Nutter and other city officials, business leaders and representatives of the Chinatown community. Read more.. View the gallery.. Read the article about the Friendship Gate.

Aix-en-Provence Group in Philadelphia
In the first week of May 2008 we welcomed twenty-three people from Philadelphia's French Sister City , Aix-en-Provence!  This Sister City sent us 23 people as part of a special cultural exchange. View photos from their visit to Philly!   We'd like to thank everybody who helped us create unforgettable experiences for our Sister City guests, and especially..

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IVC's 55th Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, April 30th  in Mayor's Reception Room, City Hall. IVC honored Greater Philadelphia area residents and organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to Philadelphia and the world in the fields of business, culture, education, government, media, research, sports and community service. The State Departmen'ts Michelle Lampher was our guest speaker.  Photos from this event are here. 
 
 In 2005, the State Department and Sister Cities International announced that the Philadelphia IVC would be linked with Mosul in its Partners for Peace Program.  We were chosen based on our strong programming history with State and Sister Cities.  IVC provided humanitarian aid and brought members of Mosul's City Council to Philadelphia to learn about state and local government in a democracy.

 

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Read some articles about IVC in the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Daily Pennsylvanian, and more..

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Considering an internship with IVC ..? 
Read what our past interns wrote about their experience with us.

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IVC Announced Groundbreaking Partnership with Mosul,                        Iraq.                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

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