Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits Kick-Off in Salt Lake City

July 11, 2019

On July 12th, the 2019 Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits will kick-off in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Global Ties U.S., each summit will bring together leaders from business, government, and nonprofit sectors to engage with local communities on U.S. foreign policy. They will gather participants from across the country in three cities and will highlight the role of exchange programs, such as the International Visitor Leadership Program, in addressing foreign policy priorities.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges Susan Crystal will open the first summit in Salt Lake City, hosted by the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy. The theme will be “The Power to Make a Social Impact,” and panels will highlight the importance of collecting data-driven results, telling compelling human stories, and understanding the value of international exchange programs in Utah. The day will be filled with sessions, keynotes and other activities to promote awareness of exchange programs and their critical role in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals.

Following the kickoff summit in Utah, the following Diplomacy Begins Here Summits will be held in San Diego, California, hosted by the San Diego Diplomacy Council, and Louisville, Kentucky, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Follow and join the conversation on social media with the hashtags #ExchangeOurWorld and #IAmDiplomacy.