The Citizen Ambassador Program

Citizen Ambassadors gain valuable insights into their profession by connecting with peers from around the globe. Through round table discussions, one-on-one conversations, meetings with experts and government representatives, and immersive cultural experiences, Citizen Ambassadors will have the opportunity to collaborate and expand global networks.

Dawn Davis, the Program Director, has been leading this program for over 30 years. The Citizen Ambassador Program is defined by its focus on professional development and global networking.

A Cultural Vistas Program

Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas promotes global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions through international exchange experiences.

Alongside our partners across the globe, we can tap into a network of local expertise in the countries where we operate our programs.

Cultural Vistas employs a dedicated staff across the United States while maintaining a U.S. Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and a European Headquarters in Berlin, Germany.

We continue to expand our community, built on our history, while innovating for the future!

Program Structure

Citizen Ambassadors Programs are developed in partnership with the top US professional associations and academic institutions.

• Delegations are led by an association-appointed delegation leader who represents the association and its desired outcomes.
• Delegation Leaders define the professional goals and anticipated outcomes for the exchange.
• Most programs offer Continuing Education Credit for participating delegates awarded by the professional association.
• Delegation members are selected by the association/delegation leader for their expertise and contribution to the overall exchange.
• Partner associations have included the International Literacy Association, the American Bar Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Organization for Nurse Executives, and many more.
• Over 100,000 high-level professionals have served as Citizen Ambassadors.
• The programs are designed as bilateral exchanges intended to develop professional bonds between international counterparts.
• Delegations include 10-50 persons, with most delegations including 15-20 members.
• As a private citizen initiative, delegates provide their own funding, demonstrating their commitment to furthering the vision of individuals making a difference in the world.

Delegation Experience

Participants routinely report on the fulfillment of sharing common interests with people who, at first, seemed so different. Participants are able to discuss different approaches to areas of research, methods of application, and theories. Citizen Ambassadors and their international counterparts form durable bonds through the mutual exchange of information and ideas.

With over 30 years of coordinating international delegations, we have refined the keys to successful meetings. Our experience and relationships with our overseas partners ensure that the program is well-organized, focused, and productive. By recognizing and following local customs and protocol, we lay the foundations for participants to exchange information and connect on a truly human level.

Delegates get an insider’s view of facilities and experience the culture in ways most travelers never do, observing professional counterparts in their element and facilities, and sharing best practices, challenges, and innovative ideas.

Delegation Leaders are respected and accomplished members of the professional fields they represent, they are known for their dedication to their professions, enthusiasm for intellectual discovery and exchange, and respect for other cultures and approaches.

Global Partners and In-country Delegation Support Team

The Citizen Ambassador Program works with global partners to support the implementation of the professional exchange, the accompanying guest program, the optional cultural exchange, and added services. Our partners have a long history of working with our Washington DC team to ensure the smooth logistics involved with high-level exchanges of this nature.

Our In-Country Support Team is deployed to manage the delegation experience. These teams will include a Delegation Manager and Local Representatives and can be found on your Delegation communication site.

The Delegation Manager is responsible for:

• Meeting the delegation upon arrival.
• Assisting with luggage issues after clearing customs.
• Communicating with professional hosts to confirm and finalize meeting arrangements.
• Finalizing local transportation.
• Confirming restaurant reservations and meal selection in advance of arrival.
• Managing special needs of delegation members.
• Handling any on-site medical emergencies or crises.
• Facilitating the thank-you letter distribution, if needed.
• Handling tipping and entrance fees related to the program and its supporting members.

Local Representatives are experts in the specific city or region.

The Local Representatives’ role is to provide information and context on a particular city and the cultural and professional activities during the visit. The Local Representative will be your point person throughout the delegation. They have essentially the same duties to the delegation as a Delegation Manager, except that their role is limited to the activities in one particular city. A Local Representative will meet you upon arrival and see you off to your next city on the itinerary or on your way home. Many delegations will have a Delegation Manager and Local Representative. Look to the Local Representative/interpreters as great resources for answering questions about protocol. The Delegation Manager and Local Representative(s) will be able to help with any problems or questions.