At IVC we welcome a stranger & send home a friend
IVC is a designated United Way recipient
Our number is 00685

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IVC's International BBQ was great fun!
See who won the drawing!  (Photos are up now!)
Our next BBQ is Thursday, July 21, 2011
IVC's indoor, air-conditioned International BBQ raised funds to support international understanding.  More than 500 friendly people joined us for the summer's friendliest event at the College of Physicians. We thank our main sponsors:             

IVC's indoor BBQ is our only annual fundraising event.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, throughout the year we keep our events free or modestly priced so we can engage even more people in our international relations, citizen diplomacy work.  The event itself is part of our work because it's filled with guests from abroad experiencing American culture and interacting with Americans. This year we welcomed guests from Iraq and Ukraine on our State Department program, plus Sister City guests from Douala, Cameroon, Incheon, Korea, and Tianjin, China.  Plus guests from Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia  & Spain.  We had more than 40 guests from abroad who networked and enjoyed the BBQ "American experience" with more than 500 Americans. Evenings like this give Americans the opportunity to showcase our friendly nature and create a more accurate image of the American people.  Gloria Blakely, one of our many wonderful members, recently posted a piece about the BBQ in the examiner.com on her Philadelphia Charity Examiner web page with photos from last year. 

Check out the Citizen Diplomacy Sponsors, the Corporations & Committee supporting the event. 

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Are you an IVC Member? 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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What is IVC? 
We are international relations as it should be - one person, one handshake at a time.  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 is 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.  The next one coming up is Thursday, August 5th.  There's no First Thursday in July because we're busy working on getting ready for the July 22nd BBQ.  Be there!

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The International Visitor Leadership Program - It's why we exist.  Check out who's coming to town on the IVLP!  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 August 5, 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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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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Read some fascinating reminiscences from our founders & friends. 

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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
In November 2008.  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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 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.

 

 

IVC Announced Groundbreaking Partnership with Mosul, Iraq.       

                                                                                                                                           

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