The need for global citizens and citizen diplomats that are engaging internationally with U.S. nonprofits has never been more urgent.  In order to compete educationally and economically in today's world, America needs to increase the number of global citizens and citizen diplomats that are engaging the world, as well as supporting nonprofits that provide opportunities for these global citizens.  This can be done through implementing global curriculum standards in our schools, providing study abroad opportunities to our students, increasing volunteer programs that work to help developing countries abroad, providing cultural training programs for businesses that work abroad, increase the number of students and individuals that speak a foreign language, and the list goes on and on.

While America's image abroad is improving, numerous polls and studies prove anti-American sentiment still exists around the globe. We need to dramatically increase our capacity to reach out to the rest of the world to foster mutual understanding and find common interests and values.

Citizen Diplomacy is the concept that individual citizens have the right to help shape U.S. foreign relations, "one handshake at a time." In an era of increasing globalization, more and more people develop their most lasting impressions through face-to-face, personal encounters, when people visit the United States or when Americans travel abroad. In this context, the 'citizen diplomat' is a powerful force in defining the United States to the rest of the world.

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy is calling on all Americans to sign a Letter to the President urging President Obama to convene a National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in order to bring this issue to the forefront and provide opportunities for global engagement at all levels of American society.