Citizen Diplomacy

What is Citizen Diplomacy?

The majority of our international groups come through the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). Hosted by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, IVLP is the U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging leaders in various fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Meetings between local and international peers reflect shared professional interests and support the State Department's overall goal of making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Recognizing the importance of citizen diplomacy to U.S. foreign relations and national security, the U.S. Government has long supported programs like the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Peace Corps, youth exchanges, and fellowships. Such programs are considered long-term investments, impacting individuals and communities in both the United States and abroad.

WorldBoston is proud to have implemented these and other public diplomacy initiatives since 1961, when the organization was founded as the Boston Center for International Visitors. Each year we welcome hundreds of current and emerging leaders from all over the world to the Greater Boston area, organizing professional exchanges, forging connections between them and local counterparts, and promoting international cooperation. We are a member of Global Ties U.S. (formerly the National Council for International Visitors) network and collaborate with affiliated organizations in Washington, D.C., on many projects.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Citizen Diplomacy at WorldBoston shifted its attention to virtual programs, starting with the International Exchange in a Time of Isolation series. All of our Citizen Diplomacy work was conducted virtually, which lasted through winter 2022. Now, we retain the skills needed to conduct Citizen Diplomacy in-person, hybrid, or virtually.

Custom Visitor Programs

Customize your international professional exchange with WorldBoston!

WorldBoston works to foster engagement in international affairs and cooperation with peoples of all nations. We use our expansive local network and deep expertise to ensure quality programming for a wide variety of international groups aligned with this mission. With more than half a century of experience in providing tailored services to international visitors, WorldBoston has built a unique and trusted network across Eastern Massachusetts. Our ability to meet your group’s distinct needs is a result of professional planning and networking by our Citizen Diplomacy Programs team. A bespoke experience as part of our Custom Visitors Programs is ideal for international organizations, government agencies, universities, private sector companies, NGOs, and other groups looking to bring or welcome international visiting delegations to the community.

For more information please email Justin Dynia at jdynia@worldboston.org

From Logistics-Only to Full-Service Programming

WorldBoston hosts more than 70 professional international exchange delegations annually and is well-equipped to meet your unique needs. Our services range from logistics-only – including airport transfers, ground transportation, and hotel reservations – to full-service programming which includes arranging professional meetings, cultural activities, welcome orientation, special events, meeting spaces, workshops, local dinners with volunteer hosts and more. Our administrative fees are based on the level of service provided, number of international guests, and length of the program. Please note that visiting groups will be responsible for securing their own necessary visas.

Programs with WorldBoston offer:

  • 50+ years of experience
  • Access to a unique and innovative network in Greater Boston
  • Professional Meetings with counterparts
  • Events: Networking, Welcome to Boston Orientation, Speaker, Reception
  • Cultural Activities and private tours
  • Meeting spaces
  • Workshops
  • Lodging / Accomodations at discounted rates
  • Airport Transfer
  • Ground Transportation
  • Dinner Diplomacy

Highly-requested themes include

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Civic Engagement and Governance
  • Cybersecurity
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Foreign Policy
  • Global Public Health
  • International Trade
  • Journalism and Media
  • Law Enforcement and Security
  • Maritime
  • Nonprofit Leadership
  • Public Policy
  • Sustainability and Infrastructure 
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Social Innovation

Professional Network

WorldBoston’s vast professional network allows us to set up a variety of meetings based on your customized requests. Some of our top resources include:
  • Autodesk
  • Berkshire Bank
  • Boston Police Department
  • Boston University - Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
  • Bridgewater State University
  • City of Boston, Mayor's Office
  • Colleges of the Fenway
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Boston University, Pardee School
  • Brandeis International Business School
  • Massachusetts State Legisltature 
  • New England First Amendment Coalition
  • Northeastern University
  • State Street
  • The Fletcher School at Tufts University
  • UMass Boston
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • U.S. Small Business Administration

Where we work

  • Greater Boston Area
  • Cape Cod
  • North Shore
  • South Shore
  • North to New Hampshire
  • West to Worcester

Select Past Programs

The "Innovations and Best Practices for AI-Enhanced Language Learning in the English Language Classroom,” hosted in coordination with FHI 360, the U.S. State Department -sponsored project featured nine visitors — all international English language educators and professionals. Visitors met with individuals at universities, nonprofits, state legislature staff, and K-12 schools. Their cultural activities included a welcome orientation, a guided Freedom Trail Walking Tour, a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, a networking stop at Venture Café at the Cambridge Innovation Center, a group lunch in Chinatown, and “Dinner Diplomacy” with a WorldBoston community member in their home.

The “Jump Startup for Women in Deeptech: Biotech and Healthtech (#Jump4Women)” program was designed to empower and foster women's entrepreneurship in Spain in health and biotech. WorldBoston hosted 20 women entrepreneurs – in partnership with Foment del Treball Nacional and the U.S. Consul General in Barcelona – to build business contacts, find technology partners, discuss AI challenges and opportunities, meet potential investors, and seek international cooperation in research and innovation projects.

Qatar Leadership Centre contracted with WorldBoston to conduct five days of professional programming, logistics, and cultural activities for a large group of 43 delegates. The “Innovation and Change” project connected visitors with decision makers at universities, government institutions, and businesses in order to gain insights on global innovation experiences to scale growth and develop transformational leadership.

HEC Paris, the international business school, brought 50 management staff from Total to Boston. To kickstart their exchange, our team organized an overview of Boston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, arranged university tours, and served as the emergency contact for the visitors throughout their time in Boston.

Manchester U.K. City to City: Community Leadership in Preventing Violence was an international exchange sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in London. WorldBoston’s programming provided the opportunity for leading professionals from Manchester, U.K. to meet with government officials and public-private organizations to learn about Boston’s approach in preventing violence and protecting survivors. The program also provided the opportunity for a reverse exchange for Boston delegates to go to Manchester.

Testimonials are available upon request!

WorldBoston and the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program

The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946 "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries." Named for its sponsor, the late Senator J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier international educational exchange vehicle. Grants are awarded on the basis of academic merit and professional promise to U.S. students, teachers, and scholars, as well as to foreign citizens, to study, teach, lecture, and conduct research. To learn more about the Fulbright Program’s impact, history, and alumni, visit fulbright75.org

WorldBoston serves as the official “Anchor City” coordinator in Massachusetts and Rhode Island of Enrichment Programs for Fulbright Visiting Scholars (who are graduate and postgraduate scholars).

These activities allow Fulbright Visiting Scholars to go beyond their academic research to meet locals; explore "behind the scenes" of American institutions and neighborhoods; and learn about aspects of U.S. culture and society they might not otherwise encounter. These enrichment activities help further the Fulbright Program’s goal of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and people of other countries.

Typical activities include:
  • Fulbright Scholar Welcome Reception
  • Excursion to America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade in Plymouth
  • College Basketball in the United States
  • Private Guided Tour through the Freedom Trail Foundation
  • Legislators Roundtable on Leadership and Constituent Services at the Massachusetts State House
  • Innovation in American Higher Education Event at Bunker Hill Community College
  • Day of Community Service
  • Visit to the Museum of Science and Closing Luncheon
  • Boston Tea Party Museum

WorldBoston’s Fulbright Coordinator is Justin Dynia.

For More Information:

The Fulbright Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government. The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), the scholarly division of the Institute of International Education (IIE), administers the Anchor City program and serves as the main point of contact to the local organizations (such as WorldBoston) for all Fulbright Enrichment Activities.

If you, or someone you know is eligible for and interested in the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program please contact your country's Fulbright Commission or the public affairs section of the U.S. Embassy.  WorldBoston plays no role in scholar selection.

International Visitor Leadership Program

The majority of our international groups come through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Hosted by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

What We Do

At WorldBoston, we manage and program the visitors’ time in our city from booking their accommodations to organizing meetings with their American counterparts to planning cultural activities in the Greater Boston area. In 2024, we hosted over 800 international visitors from over 125 countries in industries ranging from Cybersecurity to economic development and trade. Our IVLP resource network has grown extensively over the years and we are proud to promote Greater Boston as a hub of economic and social growth. Such programs are considered long-term investments, making the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous.

Dinner Diplomacy

For visiting delegations that are here for shorter periods of time, you can engage with them by hosting an informal meal in your home! These Dinner Diplomacy events are an opportunity for international visitors participating in IVLP to interact with Americans in an informal setting and become immersed into American domestic life.

Hosting visitors in your home allows you to meet distinguished visitors from all over the world and to learn more about their country, culture, and fields of professional expertise. Dinner Diplomacy can take various forms: brunch, clambake, sit-down dinner, whatever you like!
Dinner Diplomacy does not need to be elaborate or expensive, and it is about the cultural experience of human interaction. Exchange is often more candid in an informal setting - feel free to invite local folks to join you and engage openly with the visitors to learn about their cultures and careers!
We encourage you to join our mailing list where you will see alerts about upcoming opportunities to be a Dinner Diplomat. 

Recent & Upcoming Visitors

September 2025 IVLP Visitors

  • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: POLICY AND INNOVATION
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
  • ASEAN: MARITIME POLICY AND SECURITY COORDINATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
  • PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: INNOVATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION PRACTICES
View Details

August 2025 IVLP Visitors

  • COMBATTING ILLEGAL FISHING OFF THE COASTS AND IN LAKES OF AFRICA
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
  • WOMEN IN POLITICS AND CIVIL SOCIETY
  • EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING FOR SENIOR MUNICIPAL STAFF
View Details

June 2025 IVLP Visitors

  • COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
  • HEALTH COOPERATION
  • TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT
  • DISABILITY RIGHTS – EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL
  • FOREIGN POLICY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND CHINA
  • REGIONAL COLLABORATION TO COMBAT TRANSNATIONAL CRIME
View Details

May 2025 IVLP Visitors

  • DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
  • PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH: DIVERSIFICATION AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
  • ENGAGING YOUTH IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
  • TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT
  • STRENGTHENING PRESS FREEDOM
  • INVESTIGATIONS AND CASE MANAGEMENT
View Details

Welcome To Boston, Citizen Diplomats!

On behalf of WorldBoston, it's truly a pleasure to welcome you. We believe that our mission to foster international engagement and global cooperation is perhaps more important than ever. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and at the same time is known for its culture of innovation, as well as for academic excellence and culture — from symphony orchestras to the Red Sox. On this web page you can find information about the city of Boston, links to tours of famous Boston landmarks, and cultural activities.

See King Boston’s new special, Voices on King 2022: Reflections on Black Boston (27 minutes)

See documentary of life in Boston in 2023 (3 minutes)

History

Boston is famous for its rich and complex history, stretching from Native American inhabitants circa 2400 BC to the British settlers of 1630 to the achievements even this year of our local biotech companies. Known to many as the birthplace of the American Revolution, the site of Boston Tea Party, and the home of Paul Revere, Boston is a city steeped in historical significance, and one which played a pivotal role in the establishment of the United States. Learn more about Massachusetts history through a virtual State House tour.

Academia

The “Athens of America”, Greater Boston is home to 45 colleges and universities and over 150,000 students from all over the world. Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Northeastern University, Colleges of the Fenway, and Bunker Hill Community College are just some of the local world-class institutions leading their respective fields in innovation, achievement, and progress.

Demographics

Boston is a majority-minority city, and one of the most diverse cities in the United States. In 2018, Census data showed that the city was ranked 6th most diverse amongst the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Its largest foreign-born populations come from China, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cape Verde, El Salvador, and Vietnam. Despite a complicated history of racial tension, today Boston strives to be a welcoming city, and celebrates the traditions and ethnicities of all people who have made it their home.

Innovation

From the establishment of the first public school and library in the U.S., to the first telephone call in the world, to the creation of Facebook and beyond, the Boston area is a global hub for innovation. It is home to a plethora of groundbreaking life sciences, engineering, and other high-technology companies. In fact, Kendall Square in nearby Cambridge, has been referred to as the “most innovative square mile on the planet”. State government fosters a healthy entrepreneurship ecosystem. The thriving science and technology industries, paired with the prestigious academic environment, make Boston a prime location for wonder and innovation.

We are proud members of GlobalTies U.S. and the World Affairs Councils of America.

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