hosting international visitors

Be a Kansas City Ambassador

 

Host international visitors in your home

Who is a Kansas City Ambassador? You! Global Ties KC seeks individuals, couples, family units of all backgrounds who make up the diverse populations in Kansas and Missouri. We provide opportunities for you to host international visitors and entertain global leaders in your home; whether that is with a home-cooked meal, family game night, a tour of your college campus, or a handicap-accessible community room in your apartment complex. The options are endless!

How it Works

How hosting international visitors works

When visitors arrive in Kansas City, Global Ties KC staff will reach out on a rolling basis either through our monthly newsletter or an email with a date and visitor bio information. If the date aligns with the host’s schedule, the Global Ties KC staff will partner with you to create the home hospitality atmosphere you deserve to showcase to the visitors.

Please note that home hospitality will take place during weekday evenings or weekends.

Who you’ll meet

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts.

Over 500 past visitors to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program are current or former Heads of Government or Chiefs of State. Alumni include: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gordon Brown of The United Kingdom, President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India, Prime Minister Tony Blair of The United Kingdom, and President F.W. deKlerk of South Africa.

Quotes

Featured Stories

Global Ties KC reminds me how much I love sharing Kansas City with the world and how many incredible people there are around the globe.  Each time I host or attend a Global Ties KC event I meet new friends and can feel the bias I didn’t even know I had melt away.  It is the same feeling I get when I travel except I get to sleep in my own bed at night. We are incredibly lucky to have Global Ties KC to connect the middle of the map to the rest of the world.

Tracy Hull

Manager Teen Recruitment and Engagement, Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & MW Missiouri

Featured Stories

Hosting students and adult mentors from around the globe has enriched our lives beyond measure. We are so grateful to Global Ties, KC for expanding our world of friendships!

Robin Villa

Homestay host

Featured Stories

Being a youth diplomat with Global Ties KC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I’ve met so many encouraging, supportive people who have helped me improve my community and myself. From networking dinners to being taught origami, to meeting students from El Salvador, Global Ties KC has provided me with eye-opening opportunities I would have never had without the Youth Diplomats program. This organization is truly devoted to helping people and teaching them about this world.

Andrew Shelton

Youth Diplomat 2021-2022

Featured Stories

Through my experience with Global Ties KC as a member of the Board of Directors, I’ve been able to see first-hand the incredible impact that the wide range of GTKC programs have, whether facilitating high-level government and industry leaders or working with KC youth to meet their peers across continents . By connecting visitors from around the globe to Kansas Citians, GTKC has made itself a vital part of the citizen-diplomacy effort, allowing our community to proudly represent the best of what our community and country has to offer.

Sujal Shah

Global Ties KC Board Member

Featured Stories

Through my experience as a Global Ties KC Youth Diplomat, I was able to establish meaningful connections and friendships through incredible experiences. I learned so much about leadership and communication that I know I will be able to apply in the future. Thank you Global Ties KC!!

Riley Martin

Youth Diplomat 2020- 2021

Featured Stories

Through my experience as a Global Ties KC Youth Diplomat I was able to retain and learn new cultural experiences, interact with peers that have the same interests, and gain lots of experience.

Yoselyn Banuelos

Youth Diplomat 2021-2022

Featured Stories

Through my experience as a Global Ties KC Youth Diplomat Facilitator, I got to grow my knowledge on what I wanted to find in my career post college. I was trusted in a facilitator role for the Kansas YD program where I found my passion for helping others learn about careers, community building, and find what they are most passionate about. GTKC provided me the space to grow and learn the value community strength can create.

Rose Priebe

Youth Diplomats Institute Facilitator 2021-2022

Featured Stories

Going into the Youth Diplomats Program, I did not fully understand what I was getting myself into. As I progressed in the program, I was equipped with skills and resources not available at school, peers in my age group driven and motivated to make and see change, and leaders who really care. This program increased my interest in global matters, and build my confidence in myself and in my abilities.

Faith Obiesie

Youth Diplomat 2021-2022

Featured Stories

Through my experience as a Global Ties KC Board Member the pain of witnessing environmental  decimation, warring nations, political divisions, and mass murders is lessened when involved in the work GLobal Ties does. Our Youth Diplomat Institute is a rich, rich resource for KC area high school students.  As well, the foreign diplomats, students, educators and other guests who visit KC through the Global Ties International Visitor Leadership Program leave stimulated by new ideas and energies. During these visits, GTKC pours unparalleled resources into the development toolkit of countries’ future leaders. Because the world is smaller and more interconnected than ever, I believe that understanding and respecting cultural, religious or ethnic/racial differences can be the  catalyst for removing obstacles to achieving world peace. Global Ties KC, by being a champion of citizen diplomacy, practices spreading understanding and respect for all.

 

Shelley McThomas

Global Ties KC Board Member

Featured Stories

Through my time as a Global Ties KC Board Member, I have been able to connect with people across the globe. From hosting for a short stay to having international visitors over for dinner to online exchange programs, I have been able to learn how to be a better world citizen.

Darin Challacombe

Global Ties KC Board Member

Engage with Global Leaders

Sign up for the Global Ties KC mailing list to learn about upcoming opportunities for hosting international visitors.
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Citizen Diplomacy

Frequently Asked Questions 

How do I host an international visitor?

Traditional home hospitality means opening up your home to a small group of visitors (3-4), feeding them a home cooked meal, and engaging in conversation. The idea is for international visitors to have a safe, casual space where they can learn about ‘average’ Americans. Break bread. Share stories of their work, family, and home country. Visitors will be dropped off and picked up by a rideshare service.

What if I am a horrible cook?

Our visitors spend most of their time eating in restaurants, and home hospitality is their main opportunity to eat a homemade meal and unwind. That said, we are open to alternative ways of hosting! Have some friends bring pieces of a potluck. Order in a pie. Cook mac and cheese. No three-course meals are needed!

What about dietary restrictions?

We’ll let you know whether visitors have any allergies or dietary restrictions before they come to you.

I really don’t have space in my home. How else can I meet these visitors?

At times, visitors are able to take part in unconventional hospitality, cultural activities, etc. Additionally, we regularly have community events where we are joined by visitors as our featured guests and speakers.

All Programs

Home Hospitality

We provide opportunities for you to host international visitors and entertain global leaders in your home.

Learn more about Home Hospitality

Citizen Exchange Circle

Citizen Exchange Circles are a way to strengthen relationships between international visitors and Americans they encounter while on their exchange program.

Learn more about Citizen Exchange Circles

Custom Exchanges

Global Ties KC is uniquely positioned to provide custom international exchanges in the Heartland, through speakers and cultural experiences.

Learn more about Custom Exchanges

Student Exchanges

We facilitate multiple youth programs per year that ask for a 1–3 week hosting commitment.

Learn more about Student Exchanges

Professional Exchanges

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic, free-market economy, and examine practices and experiences that may be adapted back home to address local challenges.

Learn more about Professional Exchanges

Youth Diplomats Institute

The Youth Diplomats Institute is a nine-month (September to May) real world program that equips teens in Kansas and Missouri with the tools necessary for success in a global society.

Learn more about the Youth Diplomats Institute

Student Explorers

Student Explorers is the at-large group of youth who want first word on cultural opportunities.

Learn more about Student Explorers

Internships

Successful applicants will be invited to work with Global Ties KC and will be expected to take on a significant role with the organization

Learn more about Internships

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