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LINEUP LIFE
Upwardly Mobile: International Diplomacy Council
INFORUM at The Commonwealth Club
Epicenter at YBCA
Contemporary Extension at SFMOMA
SINGLES and Doubles
Upwardly Mobile...
Staff Report
International Diplomacy Council
(Interviewee: Lauren Travis, Manager of Marketing and Membership)
What is your organization's mission and how is it achieved?
 The
International Diplomacy Council's mission is to build global understanding and respect between the people of other nations and the United States. International Diplomacy Council accomplishes this by providing opportunities for
professional, educational, and cultural engagements between select foreign visitors and citizens of the Bay Area. Our International Visitors are designated by the State Department as emerging leaders in their fields. They are generally
between 25 and 45 years of age. Since our founding in 1952, we have hosted over 1,000 cabinet members and current and former 150 heads of state.
Describe the makeup of your organization, i.e. who you want, who you get, and who would you like more of? Why do people join, vs why should they join?
Members of the International Diplomacy Council are internationally-minded professionals, students, seniors and community leaders. They have an active interest in meeting with emerging leaders from the international community on both a
personal and professional level. The have curiosity about the world outside of America's borders and believe in the need to exchange ideas, perspectives and information globally.
In what aspect are you most successful? Tell us about your biggest success to date. How do you measure success?
 Success at International Diplomacy Council is measured in the number of community members impacted by the meetings that we arrange for them to interact with our
International Visitors, and the number of International
Visitors who come through San Francisco and leave with a greater understanding of American culture, business, and American people. I am proud to say that in this way we are successful on a daily basis, more than once over!
Tell us about something new and exciting that your organization is doing.
This year, we launched INTERNATIONAL HOUR, a networking event for young professionals and the young at heart. This event features visitors from our program as well as representatives from local organizations and clubs that
are international and multicultural in focus. In August (
see photo gallery) we partnered with the World Affairs Council Young Professionals, muybueno.net, Northern California Peace Corps Association, and yes, THE LINEUP.
Are all of your events in San Francisco? Do you participate in community outreach programs?
 International Diplomacy Council IS a community outreach program! We introduce our International Visitors to over 4,000 Bay Area businesses and community leaders
annually for professional meetings surrounding the visitor's field of interest. The visitors are matched up with community members to exchange business ideas, best practices, and to learn more about how different industries approach their
work around the world. Our members and community resources are from San Francisco, the East Bay, South Bay and North Bay. We also have host groups in Santa Rosa and Monterey.
What is the biggest myth that people have about the art field or parent group that you are affiliated with? What is the most common misperception?
Some people are under the impression that we are part of the World Affairs Council. While we share similar missions in international and cultural education, International Diplomacy Council has a distinct focus on bringing people of the
world together to engage in dialogue that will facilitate global understanding. We say that we enable you to "shake hands with the world" meaning you actually meet our 1,000 visitors coming from all over the globe.
What is the best way to "test the waters" with your group? If I attend one of your events, what should I expect?
 Definitely come to Citizen Host Night (last Thursday of the month) or International Hour (2nd Thursday of the month). You will meet our members, our visitors, and our
community partners. NO ONE goes home from one of our events without gaining a new perspective or making a strong personal or professional contact-or both! You can also offer to host an International Visitor on a professional appointment
in your area of expertise, or invite them for dinner or sightseeing.
What more does San Francisco need to do to improve its art and culture offerings?
I think that we need to have more multi-group events, where people can gain access to several organizations at once. In our International Hour, we try to bring people with similar interests together, so they can learn more
about the resources available to them. There are so many incredible arts organizations in the Bay Area, we just need to keep promoting them to the public.
What do you want me ask you that no one ever does? And, what is the answer of course!
Why is Citizen Diplomacy so important? What can I gain from meeting on of your visitors?
I n 2001, International Diplomacy Council and its sister organizations were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The work we do has recognition on this level. Our
visitors are the future (and sometimes current) policy and decision makers from around the world. Through interacting with them, you have first-hand access to information that cannot be gotten from watching the news or reading an academic
text. You hear the real stories of efforts towards peace, you hear about the challenges to creating new governments, new infrastructures, new policies-you hear from the people making the news. And through hosting them in San Francisco,
you have the opportunity to give them a new perspective on America and its people, and you have the opportunity to lend your perspective on the issues that are important to you. The exchanges that occur at International Diplomacy Council
are
remarkable. Come and be a part of it.
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