Iowa: The Hub of Diplomacy and Innovation

At Global Ties Iowa, we strive for our community members to think about and answer the question “What is citizen diplomacy?” As this year celebrates 85 years of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and 40 years of Global Ties Iowa in the eastern Iowa community, this question is all the more important.   

Per the U.S. Department of State website, more than 230,000 international leaders have taken part in the IVLP since it was started in 1940. This number includes 500+ alumni that have become heads of state or government, more than 1000 members of parliaments, 12 Nobel Laureates, and numerous leaders in industry, science, and academia. 

As a member of Global Ties U.S., we at Global Ties Iowa collaborate with IVLP to host current and emerging international leaders who work in both public and private sectors. And unlike formal diplomacy that relies on government organizations and people, citizen diplomacy is driven by individuals who engage in cultural exchange and build international understanding, respect, and connection. At Global Ties Iowa, we offer opportunities for these types of diplomacy through airport guides, professional meeting escorts, cultural exchange escorts, Iowa Table dinner hosts, and professional resource guides.  

Lynn Hanson Ouedraogo, Global Ties Iowa Board Member, had a background in the biological sciences before moving overseas to Burkina Faso. This move prompted her professional pivot to public diplomacy work at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou. Now living in eastern Iowa, Lynn has experienced many types of diplomacy and can speak on the profound impact of citizen diplomacy.  

“Eastern Iowa has a lot to offer, but we can also learn so much,” Lynn says. “We don't have to wait for national or international influence or someone else to make these connections. We have the possibility to bring international connections to our doorstep through people-to-people exchange, in turn learning through, sharing with, and benefiting from other people.” 

From October 1-4, 2025, we have the opportunity to showcase the amazing and impactful work that we do at Global Ties Iowa to a national audience. Global Ties Iowa was selected as the city to host the Diplomacy Begins Here (DBH) Regional Summit, an opportunity to bring together leaders in business, government, and nonprofit organizations to discuss the important of international exchange and exchange programming. This event is hosted in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and Global Ties U.S. 

We encourage anyone interested in citizen diplomacy, whether they are involved in Global Ties Iowa or not, to participate in and register for our Diplomacy Begins Here: Space for Innovation Summit. We will start with a welcoming dinner for everyone in the community to attend on October 1. Then on October 3, those who have registered will explore entrepreneurship in science and technology: how it starts, how it grows, and how it changes the world. Additional topics of discussion include the following: economic development in science and technology, featuring strategies adopted by companies and communities to attract investment and talent; space, physics, and NASA; the challenges and opportunities that AI present for fostering citizen diplomacy and conducting international relations; and a student track exploring a diplomacy simulation and careers in international affairs and diplomacy. Tickets for both the dinner and Summit will be coming soon.  

Additionally, we have three upcoming opportunities for Iowa Table Dinner hosts and group volunteers. Home hospitality opportunities will be available for Preserving Cultural Heritage and Combating Trafficking of Conflict Antiquities - A Regional Project for the Near East and North Africa, U.S. Economic and Trade Policy – A Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere, and American Language & Culture – A Multi-Regional Project who will arrive and spend Thanksgiving in eastern Iowa. Additional volunteer opportunities will be available for these groups and for Combatting Trafficking in Persons: A Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere. 

As you prepare to register for the DBH dinner, DBH summit, and IVLP volunteer opportunities, we encourage you to think about the impact that citizen diplomacy has had on you and your life. Now more than ever, it is important to support and celebrate international connection and understanding. Not only should you ask yourself, “What is diplomacy?” but also, “What does citizen diplomacy mean to me and what can I do to support it?”