International Visitors Council Of Philadelphia

IVC'S MISSION IS TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE FROM THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA AND CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES THAT STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC IDEALS, ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND KNOWLEDGE, DIALOGUE BETWEEN AMERICANS AND GUESTS FROM ABROAD TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY, FREE ENTERPRISE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, IVLP, AND GLOBAL TIES U.S. ("GTUS") THROUGH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S HIGHEST EXCHANGE, THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, CDI ATTRACTS MORE THAN 500 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS FROM OVER 100 COUNTRIES AND BOOKS MORE THAN 1,500 HOTEL ROOMS EACH YEAR. THE GOAL OF CDI IS TO PROMOTE PHILADELPHIA AS AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION AND GLOBAL CITY. CDI WORKS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE PHILADELPHIA'S RESOURCES AND ATTRACT DELEGATIONS TO THE REGION; ARRANGE ITINERARIES THAT SHOWCASE THE BEST OF THE REGION AND CONNECT THOSE EMERGING INTERNATIONAL LEADERS WITH THEIR PHILADELPHIA COUNTERPARTS; AND PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WITH BRIEFING MATERIALS ON PHILADELPHIA, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION, INFORMATION ON PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES. FUNDS FLOW FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE, GLOBAL TIES U.S.

CITIZENS DIPLOMAT ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES CREATE GLOBAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN PHILADELPHIA, CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP, DIPLOMATIC SKILLS, AND CULTURAL COMPETENCIES AMONG STUDENTS AND PREPARING THEM FOR IN-DEMAND GLOBAL CAREERS. AS PART OF CDI'S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, PHILADELPHIA STUDENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIRTUAL EXCHANGE THROUGH THE CITIZEN DIPLOMAT ACADEMY. THESE FREE, VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES ARE EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNED TO CONNECT STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14-18 YEARS OLD, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN "HOW TO SUCCEED AS A STEM INNOVATOR- AND "HOW TO SUCCEED AS A SOCIAL INNOVATOR." AS MANY OF OUR REGION'S STUDENTS HAVE HAD TO PUT STUDIES OR INTERNSHIPS ABROAD ON HOLD, THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO OFFER 500 STUDENTS EACH YEAR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE GLOBAL EXCHANGE. CITIZEN DIPLOMAT ACADEMY STRENGTHENS PERSON-TO-PERSON RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PEERS IN OUR SISTER CITIES OF FRANKFURT, GERMANY, AND TEL AVIV-YAFFO, ISRAEL, AS WELL AS EGYPT AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

SISTER CITIES CDI MANAGES THE SISTER CITY PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING STRONG LINKS WITH THE GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLE OF THE 11 CITIES AND REGIONS IN THE PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES HOSTING DELEGATIONS FROM OUR SISTER CITIES, PROMOTING PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITIES ABROAD, CREATING PROGRAMMING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, AND COORDINATING STUDENT AND TEACHER EXCHANGES. THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT ALL PHILADELPHIANS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AD LOCAL UNIVERSITIES PROVIDE THE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE, UNDERSTANDING, AND ACCESS THAT STUDENTS REQUIRE TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR A GLOBAL WORKFORCE. CDI PROMOTES PHILADELPHIA AS A GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL DESTINATION THROUGH UNIQUE SISTER CITY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AND HELP TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN PHILADELPHIA. THE CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF THE CITY'S ECONOMY THROUGH INTERNATIONALIZATION AND DIVERSIFICATION IS ALSO A PRIORITY OF STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS AND INITIATIVES FORMED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS IN THE CITY AND STATE.