On the heels of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s video message last week, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ann Stock, followed up with her own message encouraging more Americans to “[open] their homes and hearts and personally [engage] with people from all over the world”:

“Hosting not only makes a difference in the life of an exceptional student; it is also an enriching experience for host families and communities. Host families and communities have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and traditions, and often establish friendships that last a lifetime. Some of the thousands of exceptional young people who come to study in the United States each year are participating in Department of State-sponsored exchanges.

“…Host families exemplify some of our country's greatest values -- tolerance, generosity, civic engagement -- and the goodwill they exhibit helps to create a positive view of the United States that lasts a lifetime and has a ripple effect through American communities and the exchange students' communities abroad. Hosting is a wonderful way to share ideas, celebrate commonalities, bridge differences, challenge stereotypes, and experience a different culture.”

Note: Assistant Secretary Stock will speak at the Alliance Membership Meeting on October 5 in Washington, DC.