Global Ties Iowa

Global Ties Iowa Global Ties Iowa (formerly CIVIC): Connecting the World and the Heartland Global Ties Iowa's Mission is to engage and connect.

Global Ties Iowa, formerly The Council for International Visitors to Iowa Cities (CIVIC):

-Is a community-based, member-driven non-profit organization that hosts emerging international leaders who work in both public and private sectors.
-Collaborates with the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) as a member of Global Ties U.S.
-Encourages citizen diplomacy by pro

moting the exchange of ideas and fostering mutual understanding between our visitors and eastern Iowans.
-Arranges meetings with our visitors’ professional peers, schedules home hospitality dinners and plans cultural excursions. We work to provide eastern Iowans with opportunities to meet current emerging leaders who come from a variety of countries and who work in diverse fields. Through its citizen diplomacy activities, Global Ties Iowa seeks to:

-Foster understanding between Americans/Iowans and up-and-coming leaders and professionals from around the world.
-Develop new professional and business networks for our international visitors and our local participants and hosts.
-Improve international relations through people-to-people contacts and exchanges that help transcend stereotypes.

In the latter half of 2025, Samantha Dahlby, the Director of K-12 Education at New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (Ne...
06/12/2026

In the latter half of 2025, Samantha Dahlby, the Director of K-12 Education at New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) in Cedar Rapids, IA, hosted Elham Amiri of Denmark through YTILI.

Earlier this year, after Elham’s reciprocal exchange proposal was accepted to receive funding, Samantha traveled to Denmark to implement their project, part of which included Samantha working on the facilitation for a “quantum mingling” event.

Read more about Samantha's experience with YTILI hosting and her reciprocal exchange in our blog "Iowa to Denmark: A YTILI Reciprocal Exchange."

Are you interested in becoming a professional host? Email [email protected] to learn more.

Since 2024, local hosts in eastern Iowa have welcomed and home hosted bright international young leaders, sharing Americ...
06/10/2026

Since 2024, local hosts in eastern Iowa have welcomed and home hosted bright international young leaders, sharing American life and building cross-cultural friendships.

This July 15-28, you can be part of this growing tradition by opening your home to a participant aged 15-17. Create meaningful connections, exchange perspectives, and show the best of everyday America.

Read about the summer 2024 program on our blog! Interested? Email [email protected] today!

We’re thrilled to welcome María, a sophomore at the University of Iowa from Bogotá, Colombia, who is double‑majoring in ...
06/01/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome María, a sophomore at the University of Iowa from Bogotá, Colombia, who is double‑majoring in International Studies and International Relations.

María applied to Global Ties Iowa because she believes in the power of international exchange and cross‑cultural understanding. She’s especially excited to support IYLEP and help empower young leaders from around the world.

Read more about María, her university involvement, and interests on our blog: https://www.globaltiesiowa.org/post/meet-maria-jose-blanco-arias-iylep-program-intern

Hosting an international high school student isn’t just about sharing your home—it’s about building connections that spa...
05/29/2026

Hosting an international high school student isn’t just about sharing your home—it’s about building connections that span cultures, languages, and borders.

From July 15-28, welcome bright, engaged international young leaders into your home. Share meals, swap stories, and create friendships that last a lifetime. It's your chance to show the warmth and hospitality of everyday America.

Read about previous home hosting experiences on our blog: https://www.globaltiesiowa.org/post/iowa-and-iylep-forging-long-lasting-connections

Are you ready to host? Email [email protected]

Since 2024, local hosts in eastern Iowa have welcomed and home hosted bright international young leaders, sharing Americ...
05/25/2026

Since 2024, local hosts in eastern Iowa have welcomed and home hosted bright international young leaders, sharing American life and building cross-cultural friendships.

This July 15-28, you can be part of this growing tradition by opening your home to a participant aged 15-17. Create meaningful connections, exchange perspectives, and show the best of everyday America.

Interested? Email [email protected] today!

This July, a group of 23 international youth will be visiting eastern Iowa. While here, they will explore the best of th...
05/20/2026

This July, a group of 23 international youth will be visiting eastern Iowa. While here, they will explore the best of the culture that eastern Iowa has to offer. They will also get to develop professionally through meetings with local leadership.

We are looking for volunteers to home host the visiting students! If you are interested in hosting an international youth in your home, contact us at [email protected].

From May 6-12, 2026, our Belarusian leaders explored how creativity, free expression, and community partnerships shape i...
05/19/2026

From May 6-12, 2026, our Belarusian leaders explored how creativity, free expression, and community partnerships shape innovation across eastern Iowa: from Fairfield’s entrepreneurial spirit to Cedar Rapids’ cultural landmarks and Iowa City’s artistic legacy. Swipe through to see the highlights, then head to our blog for the full story of their time in the heartland: https://www.globaltiesiowa.org/post/freedom-of-expression-as-a-driver-of-innovation-and-economic-growth-a-project-for-belarus

Calling All Hosts! Open Your Home, Open the World 🌎Looking for an opportunity to make a real difference? We need home ho...
05/18/2026

Calling All Hosts! Open Your Home, Open the World 🌎

Looking for an opportunity to make a real difference? We need home hosts for young leaders aged 15-17, helping them experience American life while building global connections.

From July 15-28, you can host these leaders! Be the bridge that fosters understanding and creates lifelong friendships. DM us or email [email protected] to learn more!

This spring, Global Ties Iowa welcomed four fellows from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fello...
05/16/2026

This spring, Global Ties Iowa welcomed four fellows from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP). One of those Fellows, Wachirasorn “Olive” Kitudom from Thailand, was home-hosted by Casey Baustian.

“Hosting re‑affirmed to me that sharing time and space with others is always possible — you don’t have to wait for the ‘perfect’ time," Casey shared.

At Global Ties Iowa, we’re proud to work with incredible professional hosts across eastern Iowa, and equally proud of the home hosts like Casey who make these exchanges personal, welcoming, and unforgettable. Read more about Casey and Olive's story here: https://www.globaltiesiowa.org/post/open-your-home-open-your-world-casey-olive-s-story

Interested in becoming a home host? In June, Global Ties Iowa is hosting emerging leaders from eastern Europe as part of the Professional Fellows Program - U.S. Department of State. Our four fellows will be needing home hosting from May 29-June 27. Reach out to [email protected]!

Address

26 E. Market Street
Iowa City, IA
52245

Telephone

+13195691115

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