“Today we are faced with the preeminent fact that if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships
- the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together,
and work together, in the same place, in peace.”

— President Frankin D. Roosevelt
from an unpublished speech, 1945

Since 1980, the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles has been arranging exchange programs for nearly one thousand visitors from more than one hundred countries each year. Our programs provide participants with a first-hand experience of the way of life in the U.S., our institutions, our values and our culture. These exchange programs challenge stereotypes and forge solid links in the global marketplace, informing the visitors about the people, organizations and businesses.

The success of our work depends upon the participation of our volunteer Citizen Diplomats who host visitors in their homes for dinner and conversation, meet with visitors at their businesses for professional meetings and take visitors sightseeing. All of these experiences provide the visitors with insight on how we live and work, and our Citizen Diplomats with a better understanding about the rest of the world. Many Citizen Diplomats make connections with international visitors that last a lifetime. These exchanges build relationships that are the best insurance for a world of peace and prosperity for our children.