Contact your representative and urge him/her to cosponsor House Resolution 569: Supporting the work of citizen diplomacy organizations and encouraging the convening of a Presidential Summit on Global Citizen Diplomacy. 

This comprehensive resolution is an important component of the National Initiative on Global Citizen Diplomacy called for by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) and a broad coalition of organizations and leaders in international affairs.  The goal of the Initiative is to substantially increase the number of Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy activities around the world.  The Resolution comes at a time of increased focus on our nation’s tools of diplomacy, as evidenced by multiple pieces of legislation currently being introduced or passed in support of various citizen and public diplomacy programs and organizations that work to increase citizen involvement in international relations.  

The Summit will bring together hundreds of organizations and individuals and launch a nationwide campaign heeding the President’s call to help “restore respect for our country throughout the world.”  The campaign will work to mobilize millions of Americans by expanding available resources and opportunities for citizens to make a positive impact “one handshake at a time.”   Citizen diplomats of all ages engage with counterparts around the world in a wide variety of ways including education and study abroad programs, development assistance, commercial enterprise, international volunteer service, community-based initiatives, and exchanges in the arts and humanities, as well as through sports and tourism.