International Visitor Programs
Through professional and cultural exchanges, International Visitor Programs connects emerging global leaders with DFW citizen diplomats to exchange ideas, share cultures, and build lasting relationships.
International Visitor Programs
The mission of the International Visitor Programs department is to help bridge cultures through person-to-person international exchanges.
The Council’s International Visitor Programs Department coordinates international exchange programs, including the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Working with an extensive team of local volunteers, businesses and community leaders, the program plays a key role in building public diplomacy and international connections for the region.
The IVLP offers the opportunity to experience American culture firsthand, cultivate lasting relationships, and inspire solutions to global challenges through the exchange of ideas and best practices. IVLP participants are nominated by U.S. embassies across the world, and alumni include more than 500 current and former heads of state and government and countless industry and civil leaders.
The International Visitor Programs facilitates the exchange of ideas and knowledge. When IVLP visitors return home, both visitors and and their American counterparts come away with a deeper knowledge of foreign cultures and an expanded understanding and view of the world leading to the strengthening of international relationships.
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is a proud member of the Global Ties U.S. Network.
“Citizen diplomacy represents a grassroots effort to allow people to interact in a comfortable surrounding sharing food and drink. Home hospitality creates an environment where everyone can relax and let their true selves shine through.”
– Brian and Kristi Erickson, Home Hospitality Hosts
Upcoming Events
International Visitor Groups
Individual International Visitors
Participating Countries
Home Hospitality Dinners Hosted by Volunteers
International Visitor Groups
Individual International Visitors
Participating Countries
Home Hospitality Dinners Hosted by Volunteers
Expand Your World
International Visitor Programs welcomes hundreds of international visitors each year. Your participation – whether you are a professional, volunteer or student – helps support our mission to promote international awareness. We invite you to expand your world by joining the World Affairs Council and our network of citizen diplomats!
Host a Visitor
The International Visitor Programs department hosts international visitor groups who visit the U.S. at the invitation of the U.S. Department of State to explore topics related to our country’s foreign policy and strategic objectives around the world.
When groups visit the DFW area (virtually or in person), we arrange:
- Meetings with professional counterparts
- Cultural experiences
- Home hospitality events
Special Thanks
The success of International Visitor Programs could not be possible without the generosity of local organizations and individuals. Special thanks to the following 2022 International Visitor Program resources:
- 1 Million Cups NE Tarrant County
- All Stars Project of Dallas
- AT&T
- Big Thought
- Blockchain Hub
- Bonton Farms
- Break Bread, Break Borders
- Center for American and International Law
- Citizens’ Climate Lobby
- City of Dallas
- City of Fort Worth
- Clean Energy Fuels
- Conference on Crimes Against Women
- Coppell High School
- Cry Havoc Theater Company
- Cyber Fraud Task Force (U.S. Secret Service)
- Cyber Future Foundation
- Dallas College – Richland Campus
- Dallas County
- Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
- Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
- Dallas Independent School District
- Dallas Innovation Alliance
- Dallas Police Department
- Dallas Regional Chamber
- Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
- Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists
- Denbury
- DNAWORKS
- Ellis County
- Ellis County District Attorney’s Office
- Ellis County Sheriff’s Office
- Entrepreneurs Organization Dallas
- Equality Texas (Dallas)
- Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Faith Forward Dallas Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Fort Worth Police Department
- Fort Worth Sister Cities
- FoundHers Club
- Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
- Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support
- George W. Bush Institute
- Golden Seeds
- Good Faith Energy
- Her Texas
- Insight Human Resources Partners
- Institute for Coordinated Community Response
- Internal Revenue Service (Dallas Office)
- Islamic Association of Collin County
- Kosmos Energy, LLC
- Leadership Fort Worth
- Maguire Energy Institute – Southern Methodist University
- MoneyGram International, Inc.
- Mosaic Family Services, Inc.
- Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
- North Texas North Texas Entrepreneur Education and Training Center
- Office of Equity and Inclusion, City of Dallas
- Region 10 Education Service Center
- SMU Meadows School of The Arts
- Southern Methodist University
- Spencer & Associates
- Stoke Coworking
- Stomping Ground Comedy Theater
- TechFW
- Texas Blockchain Council
- Texas Christian University
- Texas Computer Education Association
- Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers Division
- Texas House of Representatives
- Texas Woman’s University
- The Dallas Morning News
- The Letot Residential Treatment Center
- The Wind Energy Center at UTD
- To Be Like Me
- University of North Texas
- University of North Texas Health Science Center
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Vickery Trading Company
- Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson
- Vietnam Archive
- VolunteerNow
- W. E. Greiner Middle School (Exploratory Arts Academy)