Akofa Edjeani Asiedu from Ghana an actress and producer for Calabash Images, shares a poetry reading at Soka Gakkai Chicago. The exchange was a multi-regional group looking at promoting interfaith tolereance through the arts.

The International Visitor Leadership Program is administered by the U.S. State Department. Emerging leaders in government, politics, media, education, science, labor relations, the arts, and other fields visit Chicago to meet their professional counterparts, explore their interests, and experience American social and cultural life. These emerging leaders from around the world are selected by our US Embassies abroad and visit Chicago for three to five days before traveling to other US cities. WorldChicago is one of 92 non-profits around the US that hosts this program.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program.  Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders.  These visits reflect the International Visitors professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

Under the professional association of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), local members (like WorldChicago) develop professional programs, arrange cultural activities, and provide home hospitality for International Visitors. There are currently more than 90 organizations like WorldChicago in 45 states. Alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program include 290 current and former chiefs of state and heads of government, more than 2,000 cabinet level ministers and thousands of prominent figures in various disciplines around the world.

FILL OUT AN EVALUATION!