Community & Schools Outreach

Each year IIE West Coast Center receives over 700 distinguished leaders, most identified and selected by the U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassies around the world. They are chosen after being recognized as a current or emerging leader in their respective field, deemed to show promise as decision makers. The mission of these exchanges is to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through carefully designed visits that reflect the participants’ interests and support U.S. foreign policy goals.

To that end, IIE West Coast offers these distinguished international visitors a variety of cultural and social activities to maximize their stay in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ongoing activities include visits with American host families in the Bay Area for an evening of dinner, conversation and a stimulating exchange of ideas and perspectives on our commonalities and diversity. IIE West Coast also arranges for these distinguished leaders to visit local schools to share their experiences and perspectives in inter-active dialog with American youth. These face-to-face exchanges enable students to gain a better understanding of current international affairs and world geography as well as increase their awareness of world cultures and languages.

IIE West Coast has a long history of creating unique, enriching exchange experiences for both visiting international leaders and Bay Area residents of all ages.