IVC is a designated United Way recipient
Our number is 00685
BBQ 2008 - Buy tickets & check out our sponsors, supporters & prizes!
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 - join IVC today!

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 in 48 states that receive established and emerging leaders from 120+ countries visiting the U.S. as guests of our government.  Each participant visits up to five U.S. cities to meet their professional counterparts and experience American life through dinner with families in private homes and attending a variety of cultural events.  The program allows  visitors to see the country first-hand to 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 248 others who later became heads of Government.  Unlike other government-sponsors 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. 
What is Citizen Diplomacy??
It's the right - if not the obligation - of each citizen to help shape U.S. foreign relations - "one handshake at a time.
Support IVC's work by becoming a Citizen Diplomacy Sponsor of our only annual fundraiser,the July 24th BBQ.  Click here to make a donation!  Tickets are available for online purchase!

What's happening at IVC..

FIRST THURSDAY!

Our final First Wednesday was on June 4th! Starting in August, we will be meeting on FIRST THURSDAYS and our next First Thursday is August 7th! Joining us in June were the Honorary Consul of Bulgaria, Chinese lawyers and judges from Temple Law School getting their LLMs, fourteen international visitors from the Western Hemisphere representing Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela looking at good governance, four women from the Middle East Program Initiative fulfilling their internships with Philadelphia’s companies and law firms BDP International, Dilworth Paxson, and PECO. The women are from Egypt, a Palestinian woman living in Israel, Kuwait and Oman. Read more details.. View the gallery.  *Don't worry!  We begin First Thursday in August on August 7th!

Become a Citizen Diplomat Sponsor of IVC's BBQ!

IVC's July 24th BBQ is IVC's only annual fundraising event.  We invite you to support IVC and our Annual International BBQ. Watch here for the names of the Citizen Diplolmat Sponsors of our 2008 BBQ!  Donate $100 to become a Citizen Diplomat Sponsor by clicking here for your secure donation. This year's site is the College of Physicians - 19 S. 22nd Street (22nd between Market and Chestnut)! It starts at 5:30 and it's air conditioned!!

Watch here for our upcoming International First Fridays. 
In May, we enjoyed Big Band Concert, the music of the famous Count Basie Orchestra! Watch here  for details..

STATE DEPARTMENT MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM:

IVC is working on a special State Department Fellowship program to empower women in the Middle East and North Africa through unpaid fellowships/internships. We have found fellowship placements for four women with BDP International, Dilworth Paxson and PECO. Thank you! For details, please visit this page.
Business Opportunity with Philadelphia’s Russian Sister City!

Nizhny Novgorod City Administration invites you to take part in an Open Auction on Sale of a land plot for commercial building.
Unpaid Internships Needed

IVC is looking for unpaid internships for Penn LLM and MBA Program spouses and partners. Read more..
SISTER CITY OPPORTUNITY! 
In October 2008, Philadelphians will have a unique opportunity to visit Torun, Poland while the city is celebrating its 775th anniversary. Read the invitation..

Philadelphia is connected to ten Sister and Partner Cities in nine countries!
Learn more about Philly's sister and partner cities and read about our recent and upcoming projects. For sister cities program exchanges, please contact Jennifer McGinn at 215.683.0993.

The International Visitor Leadership Program - check out who's coming to town!
Visit our hosting opportunities to share an American experience with our guests! Considering home hospitality - you can contact Ron D'Alonzo at 215.683.0995 or fill in the form online.

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IVC's Past Events

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

- 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.

Philadelphia's IVC Hosted State Department "Fam" Trip 

SISTER CITIES!

In the first week of May 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..

IVC's 54th Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, April 24th  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. Alina Romanowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Professional and Cultural Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, was our guest speaker. She is pictured here with John Goldschmidt, IVC Board Chairman, in the State Department's reception room during the National Council for International Visitors Conference. View the gallery!

IVC Announced Groundbreaking Partnership with Mosul, Iraq

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.

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

Catch up what's happening at IVC - read our newsletters!

 

 


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

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Make friends.  Make contacts.  Make peace.SM

IVCSM - International Visitors Council
1515 Arch Street, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 1.215.683.0999
Fax: 1.215.683.0998

Below is the "counter" of people who have come
to this home page since June 7, 2005

We Thank our BBQ 2008 Top Sponsors:

Public Diplomacy in Europe

Read the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs report from April 2008

“U.S. Courts the Support of French Muslims”

Read Katrin Bennhold’s article in the International Herald Tribune

Make friends. Make contacts. Make peace.

 

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