Since 1996, I’ve been a proud Board member of Citizens Diplomacy International of Philadelphia. The organization was formally known as the International Visitors Council, which I joined when I moved back to Philadelphia in 1989. As Citizen diplomats, we believe that personal interactions, from business meetings to shared meals, have an impact on how the United States is viewed around the world. We strive to create a friendly and welcoming environment that encourages open discussion and fosters mutual understanding that we hope will lead to a more peaceful and prosperous world.