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Testimonials“Citizen Diplomacy makes an enormous contribution to U.S. foreign policy. Every encounter between peoples of differing cultures counts, and contributes to-or detracts from- the overall fabric of our relationship….. As President of the Board of the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy, I strongly support the work of the center; to recognize best practices and the contribution of specific organizations, and to promote education programs. The Center is appropriately placed in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa State Government and the people of Iowa have generously supported refugees from conflict zones, who have forged new lives in Iowa. Iowans have also hosted short-term visits by countless groups and individuals from abroad.” Ambassador John K. Menzies
“The US Center for Citizen Diplomacy is a vital organization in the efforts to promote dialogue and peace between the United States and other countries. By harnessing the goodwill of the American people to serve as citizen diplomats, the Center is on the front lines of helping to turn cultural differences into cultural understanding and respect. This will create more positive opportunities for the development of bilateral and multi-lateral relationships around the world.” Robin Read
Never before in the history of our country has it been more important and urgent for us to connect with and understand the world around us. And the key to doing that is to promote greater citizen participation in the global community and marketplace.” Ambassador Mark Johnson (ret.)
“There has never been a more critical time for effective citizen diplomacy. And there has never been a nation whose citizens are more capable of taking on the task. By transforming the spirit and creativity of the American people into successful people-to-people initiatives, we can build strong bridges of mutual understanding and respect between the United States and other countries. These people-to-people bridges are especially needed when governments fail to agree. The inspiration to create a U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy is a brilliant response to this bridge building.” Keith Reinhard
“For over 32 years as a US diplomat in the Middle East, Latin America and Europe, I found the single most effective instrument for improving America’s image was face-to-face contact between our foreign guests and the ordinary American citizens they encountered when they traveled to our country. Today, more than ever, we need to promote and enlarge this kind of contact. But more than this, it is vital that Americans gain the tools for coping with a globalizing world.” Kenton W. Keith
“While many of us are much more aware of the military conflicts or threats that exist against our national interests, we are less aware of the threats to the United States that exist in the civilian population in many countries throughout the world.” “The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy can lead the transformation of our diplomatic efforts abroad.” Nadia McConnell
“Never before has the need of a U.S. Center for Citizen Diplmacy been so vital to the interests of and demands on our own democracy to dramatically expand the numbers of Americans involved internationally in citizen diplomacy.” “As a former CEO of the US Sister City program, Sister Cities International, I know that citizen diplomacy can make a difference…We need U.S. citizens from all ages, of all professions from throughout America to be actively engaged in the world. The mission of the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy is to support and dramatically increase opportunites for American citizens to be involved internationally.” Thomas W. Gittins
“The Center is dedicated to one critical and important objective: to promote opportunity for all Americans to be citizen diplomats and affirm the indispensable value of citizen involvement in international relations. This is no more important goal for our country at this time than to make every effort to engage more Americans in a wide variety of opportunities that enable them to become more enlightened and educated citizens about the world about us.” The Honorable Neal Smith
“The Center is poised and uniquely placed to facilitate and encourage Americans from all walks of life to seize the opportunity to exercise their voices and play positive roles in the formulation of policies that affect them and others.” Marshall Harris |
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