International Visitor Leadership Program

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is ICDLA's primary exchange program. Launched in 1940, IVLP is one of the U.S. Department of State's most effective public diplomacy activities. The program strengthens U.S. engagement with countries around the world and cultivates lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their U.S. counterparts.

Most IVLP exchanges are three weeks long and include visits to four U.S. communities, such as Los Angeles. Through carefully designed programs, IVLP participants meet with professional colleagues, visit U.S. public and private sector organizations, and participate in cultural and social activities.

There is no application for IVLP. Participants are nominated and selected annually by the staff at U.S. embassies around the world. Nearly 5,000 exchange participants come to the U.S. on the IVLP each year. Alumni of the program include more than 335 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government. ICDLA hosts on average 700 IVLP participants each year.

Watch the video below of the 80th Anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program

"It was my pleasure to have this opportunity to visit L.A. and I would love to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to [International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles] for the design of such an outstanding program providing an exceptional experience. I came back to Armenia inspired with innovative ideas and concepts which could be useful and effective for our museum, and could become a base for future exchange projects."

~ Participant from Armenia on a program about Museum Management

OUR COLLABORATING PARTNERS

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HIDDEN NO MORE

The award-winning 2016 film Hidden Figures inspired an IVLP program called #HiddenNoMore that brought more than 40 women in STEM from different countries around the world to the United States.

This project generated worldwide discussions on racial and gender equality and the important contributions of women and girls in STEM. Since 2017, 235 women leaders from 119 countries have participated in this program and continue to advance the meaningful participation of women and girls, in all their diversity, in STEM fields.

CITIZEN DIPLOMACY MAP

ICDLA (formerly IVCLA) was honored to participate in in the launch of Global Ties U.S.' Citizen Diplomacy Map: a Journey of International Friendships! Global Ties collected stories from across the national network to highlight and celebrate the power of exchange programs and relationships built through citizen diplomacy.

This narrative map highlights the various nonprofits throughout the U.S. who work with the Department of State Bureau of Education Affairs to host international programs and the alumni who have joined us.

Read their stories here!