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
All Kansas City Ambassadors must fill out an application and be accepted into our home hospitality program. 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.
Engage with Global Leaders
Sign up for the Global Ties KC mailing list to learn about upcoming opportunities for hosting international visitors.
All Programs
Citizen Diplomacy
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I host an international visitor?
Traditional home hospitality means picking a small group of visitors up from their hotel, feeding the a home cooked meal, and taking them back to their hotel at the end of the evening. 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.
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.