ADVOCACY DAY

On March 3 and 4, the Alliance held its annual Congressional Reception and Advocacy Day. We welcomed 147 advocates from 41 Alliance member organizations across the country to Washington, D.C. Advocates met with 121 Congressional offices to make the case for exchange programs. 

 Additional community partners and government officials joined us at the Congressional Reception for an evening celebrating international education and exchange programs. We are grateful to Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) for sponsoring the event and for his inspiring remarks, and all the Department of State officials who joined us. 

On March 5 and 6, the Alliance held its annual Congressional Reception and Advocacy Day. We welcomed 160 participants from 42 member organizations across the country to Washington, D.C. Additional community partners and government officials joined us for an evening celebrating international education and exchange programs at the Capitol Visitor Center (photos from the event can be found here). We are grateful to Senator Cory Booker (NJ) for sponsoring the event and for his inspiring remarks, and all the Department of State officials who joined us, including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Weinhold who also provided remarks. 

On March 6 and 7, the Alliance held its annual Congressional Reception and Advocacy Day. We welcomed 89 participants from 28 member organizations across the country to Washington, D.C. Additional community partners and government officials joined us for an evening celebrating international education and exchange programs at the Capitol Visitor Center (photos from the event can be found here). We are grateful to all of the Department of State officials who joined us, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Rebecca Pasini who provided opening remarks. 

On March 8 and 9, the Alliance held its first in person Congressional Reception and Advocacy Day since 2020. We welcomed 101 participants from 30 member organizations across the country to Washington, D.C. Over 30 additional community stakeholders and government officials joined us for an evening celebrating international education and exchange programs at the Capitol Visitor Center. We are grateful to all of the Department of State officials who joined us, including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Weinhold, who provided opening remarks. Senator Cory Booker ended the event on a high note, praising exchange programs and the common cause we serve: “These exchange programs breakdown borders, breakdown walls, eliminate separation and help to understand our oneness. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it so eloquently, “We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a common garment of destiny.”” On Advocacy Day, participants engaged in 106 meetings (55 Senate, 51 House, 1 Meeting with a Member of Congress) across 34 states. 

The 2022 Advocacy Day was held March 2-3. We’re grateful to the 2022 sponsors who helped make this event possible: 

Special Event Sponsor: 

• Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) 

Advocacy Day Sponsors: 

• AIFS 

• International Student Exchange (ISE) 

Given the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person meetings with Congressional offices could not take place in 2021. However, the need to advocate for the value of exchanges in communities across the United States was more important than ever. To maintain engagement with a new Congress and the Biden administration, the Alliance launched the Campaign for International Exchange.    

Through this Campaign, the Alliance facilitated member interaction with policymakers in four events throughout the year: Exchange Week in Washington, Exchange Week in the District, Exchange Day, and International Education Week.   

The Campaign’s first key event of the year, Exchange Week in Washington, was held in lieu of our traditional in-person Advocacy Day. For this event, the Alliance held an advocacy training and facilitated virtual meetings between Alliance Members and Congressional representatives from March 1-5.   

During the course of the Campaign for International Exchange, 36 Alliance Members worked with 104 congressional offices across 33 states. 

The 2020 Advocacy Day and Congressional Reception were held on March 4 and 5. 108 individuals representing 35 member organizations came to Washington, D.C. to advocate for international exchange programs. Alliance Members participated in meetings with 127 congressional offices (56 Senate, 71 House) across 35 states, including 4 with Members of Congress. 

World Learning CEO and Alliance Chair, Carol Jenkins, provided opening remarks for the fourth annual Alliance Congressional Reception. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce followed and spoke about the importance of public diplomacy as demonstrated through the 80-year legacy of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). We were also fortunate to have Congressman Rob Bishop provide remarks, sharing memories from his experience on an exchange program in Germany and how it impacted his life.  

We’re grateful to everyone who made Advocacy Day 2020 a success, including the Congressional Reception sponsors listed below. 

Gold 

• American Councils for International Education 

• Institute of International Education (IIE) 

Silver 

• AIFS 

• Alliance Abroad Group 

• American Work Adventures 

• Council of American Overseas Research Centers  

• Cultural Homestay International  

• Intrax 

• IREX 

• World Learning 

Bronze 

• AFS-USA 

• Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) 

• Cultural Vistas 

• FHI 360 

• Global Ties U.S. 

• InterExchange 

• LifeTRAVELED 

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 

• Spirit Cultural Exchange 

• STS Foundation 

On March 6 and 7, the Alliance held its annual Advocacy Day and Congressional Reception. This year, 120 participants representing 44 member organizations came to Washington, D.C. to advocate for international exchange programs. Alliance Members participated in a record number of meetings with 146 congressional offices (70 Senate, 76 House) across 38 states, including 9 with Members of Congress. 

193 attendees including Alliance Members, representatives from congressional offices and the U.S. Department of State convened at the third annual Congressional Reception. World Learning CEO Carol Jenkins gave opening remarks and introduced Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, who spoke about her passion for people to people exchanges. Congressman French Hill also provided remarks at the reception, emphasizing the importance of international education and expressing gratitude for those who participate in and facilitate exchange programs. 

Thanks to all who participated in Advocacy Day this year, and special thanks to the following organizations for sponsoring the Congressional Reception: 

Gold 

• American Councils for International Education 

• AIFS 

• Global Educational Concepts 

• World Learning 

Silver 

• AFS-USA 

• Alliance Abroad Group 

• American Work Adventures 

• CCUSA 

• Cultural Homestay International 

• Council of Americans Overseas Research Council 

• CIEE 

• Hostelling International USA 

• InterExchange 

• International Exchange of North America 

• IREX 

Bronze 

• American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST) 

• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) 

• Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) 

• Cultural Vistas 

• French-American Chamber of Commerce – New York 

• GeoVisions 

• Global Ties U.S. 

• Greenheart International 

• LifeTRAVELED 

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 

• STS Foundation 

• Sunset Pool Management 

Thank you to all who participated and supported the 2018 Advocacy Day events! The Alliance is pleased to announce that we hosted both a record number of participants – 108 – and coordinated a record number of congressional office meetings – 96. 

The Alliance hosted an in-depth Issues & Messaging briefing for participants on the current policy agenda and our related goals for the international exchange community.  

The Congressional Reception began with remarks by the Alliance’s Vice Chair Carol Jenkins, followed by Executive Director Ilir Zherka, followed by U.S. for Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley then Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Jennifer Zimdahl Galt. Ellen Hoggard, Alliance’s Treasurer, concluded the evening with a brief closing remark. 

The reception offered opportunities for industry colleagues and government officials to network over light hors d’oeuvres and drinks while celebrating the impact of exchange programs. 

Participants went to Capitol Hill on Thursday and attended 96 meetings with congressional offices to show their elected officials how exchanges foster mutual understanding and economic gains in the very communities they represent. By the end of the day, participants had engaged in meetings with officials from 31 states. 

The Alliance would again like to express its gratitude to all those who made Advocacy Day possible – the participants who represented the community, the officials who lent their ears, and the Congressional Reception sponsors listed below. 

Platinum 

• AIFS 

• Global Educational Concepts 

Gold 

• American Councils for International Educations 

• CCUSA 

• Cultural Homestay International 

• Communicating for America 

• Council of American Overseas Research Centers  

• InterExchange 

• IREX 

• World Learning 

Silver 

• American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST) 

• Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED Georgetown) 

• Council for Global Immigration 

• CIEE 

• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) 

• Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) 

• Cultural Vistas 

• GeoVisions 

• Greenheart International 

• Intrax 

• STS Foundation 

Thank you to all who participated and supported the 2017 Advocacy Day events! The Alliance is pleased to announce that we hosted both a record number of participants – 112 – and coordinated a record number of congressional office meetings – 171. 

On Wednesday, the Alliance hosted an in-depth Issues & Messaging briefing for participants on the current policy agenda and our related goals for the international exchange community.  

The Congressional Reception began with remarks by the Alliance’s Executive Director Ilir Zherka, followed by Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Mike Taplin. A representative from the Office of Congressman Steve Pearce also addressed the audience. The reception offered opportunities for industry colleagues and government officials to network over light hors d’oeuvres and drinks while celebrating the impact of exchange programs. 

Participants visited Capitol Hill on Thursday and attended 171 bicameral meetings with congressional offices to show their elected officials how exchanges foster mutual understanding and economic gains in the very communities they represent. By the end of the day, participants had engaged in meetings with officials from 39 states. 

The Alliance would again like to express its gratitude to all those who made Advocacy Day possible – the participants who represented the community, the officials who lent their ears, and the Congressional Reception sponsors listed below. 

Platinum 

• AIFS 

• American Councils for International Education  

• Communicating for America 

• Council for Global Immigration  

• Global Educational Concepts 

Gold 

• Council for American Overseas Research Centers  

• GeoVisions  

• Greenheart International  

• Intrax  

• IREX  

• World Learning 

Silver 

• CCUSA  

• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) 

• Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) 

• Cultural Vistas  

• STS Foundation