Our Mission

Our Guiding Principle

Citizen diplomacy is the concept that every individual has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations one connection at a time.

 

Our Mission

Gulf Coast Diplomacy is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization facilitating and strengthening
connection, collaboration, and fellowship between the people of the Gulf Coast and the global
community.

 

Program Pillars

Gulf Coast Diplomacy is part of the Global Ties U.S. national network of organizations focusing on international exchange and achieves its mission through the following three program pillars:

• • International Exchange and Citizen Diplomacy: Gulf Coast Diplomacy facilitates professional and personal interaction between international leaders during official visits to the central Gulf Coast and their local counterparts in specific industries and areas of interest. Much of this work is supported through the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other federal exchanges.

• • Education: Gulf Coast Diplomacy promotes a greater understanding of global affairs by providing public events and educational activities for both youth and adults that enable people in our community to explore topics of global importance. Such programming includes Great Decisions programs and Youth Diplomats.

• • Hospitality: Gulf Coast Diplomacy’s activities and partnerships promote the central Gulf Coast as an important center of commerce, culture, and tourism. In addition, Gulf Coast Diplomacy facilitates opportunities for local residents and professionals to socialize with and host international visitors.

 

Community Impact and Benefit

By forging cultural, educational, and business relationships with the global community through citizen diplomacy, Gulf Coast Diplomacy’s activities and initiatives have a significant positive impact on our
region. Our programs:

• • Increase trust, respect, and understanding between local residents and people from throughout the
    world;

• • Enable access to expertise from the global community to address local issues and challenges;

• • Advance learning and educational goals for both youth and adults;

• • Support career preparation and workforce development by providing opportunities to work in and
    understand the global economy;

• • Support the cultural and hospitality economy of the Gulf Coast; and

• • Support U.S. foreign policy and national security goals through citizen diplomacy.