Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

U.S. : Ready to strengthen your leadership skills and expand your network? Join a network of professionals in Washington, DC on July 17 for DC: Showcasing American Excellence. Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4edQKn5 U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of State exchange programs prepare Americans with the skills, knowledge, and international experience needed to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and leadership at home and abroad.

U.S. alumni: Looking for a way to build on your exchange experience? Applications are currently open for Career Connections DC: Showcasing American Excellence.

Career Connections DC helps U.S. exchange alumni turn their exchange experiences into careers in the private sector and professional opportunities in civic engagement.

Alumni engage with peers and industry experts through insightful panel discussions, interactive masterclasses, and skill-building sessions focused on career advancement, leadership, and mentorship. Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4edQKn5

⚽ 11 U.S. cities are preparing to welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2026™. 🏟️ Hosting matches gives our great country a chance to show the very best of America.

Cross border engagement = cross border opportunities.
State Department exchange programs such as YLAI create relationships that can turn into openings for Americans and American businesses. Exchange programs plant seeds for a more prosperous future.

Something big is happening across the Americas this year. 🌎

The United States is marking Freedom 250, the 250th anniversary of our nation, and YLAI is celebrating 10 years of connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders across the Western Hemisphere.

To mark both milestones, we are launching the Leaders of the Americas Spotlight Series, recognizing Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State fellows, alumni, partners, mentors, and community leaders whose work reflects shared values and creates real impact through entrepreneurship, service, and collaboration.

We are honored to begin by spotlighting Raquel Ruiz of Nogales, Mexico!

As Executive Director of CANACINTRA Nogales, Raquel is helping transform the industrial and small business landscape of northwest Mexico. Drawing on her YLAI network, she has revitalized the chamber through AI for business workshops, innovation programming, and partnerships with the U.S. Consulate.

As founder of Colmena - Negocios Eficientes and Nogales’ Coordinator for Economy and Tourism, Raquel has coached women and youth entrepreneurs, strengthened public-private collaboration, and expanded opportunities for cross-border engagement. An AWE alumna and mentor, she has also supported more than 60 women entrepreneurs through mentorship and binational networking initiatives.

Raquel’s leadership reflects the future of the border economy: innovative, collaborative, and community-driven.

Throughout this anniversary year, we will continue featuring inspiring stories from leaders across the Americas.

Know someone who deserves to be recognized? Fellows, alumni, partners, mentors, and community leaders across the Americas are all eligible: https://forms.gle/Ye6MJsUju1pRAdZa8

U.S. Consulate Nogales Embajada Estados Unidos en México

In safeguarding cultural heritage, the United States is protecting the past to secure the future.

ECA’s Senior Bureau Official, Darren Beattie, spoke recently with cultural heritage professionals from Chile and Peru as part of the Cultural Heritage Forward exchange. This pilot program, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, positions the U.S. to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of cultural property.

Why does this work matter to the United States?

Enhancing Security: Collaborative efforts to protect cultural property reduce the risk of illicit trafficking, which funds criminal networks and destabilizes regions.

Leading by Example: Setting the international standard for how institutions navigate research, shared stewardship, and the return of sacred objects. By demonstrating these high-level technical practices, the U.S. establishes the benchmark for ethical heritage management.

Strengthening Alliances: Deepening ties with key partners in Chile and Peru through exchange and professional development.

This initiative builds on decades of work— including recent successes, such as the five-year extension of the U.S. and Chile cultural property agreement and the return of scared objects to Peru—to ensure that history remains a source of pride, not conflict.

U.S. Department of State exchange programs build skills and connections to advance American interests at home and reinforce U.S. leadership abroad. 📅 The State Department helps American alumni of these programs network and expand their career opportunities.

The first Career Connections of 2026 will bring U.S. together in Dallas-Fort Worth for hands-on workshops, structured networking, and conversations with entrepreneurs and regional leaders—offering practical tools that support career growth.

The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) helps U.S.-citizen design and implement projects that strengthen U.S. communities through innovation and English language learning. Alumni apply skills and perspectives gained through exchange to create tangible outcomes across the United States.

The Native American International Museum Exchange (NAIME) program connects Native American Tribes with international museums and cultural institutions to strengthen relationships, foster collaboration, and advance the repatriation of Native American cultural heritage held in overseas collections. NAIME also creates a space for cultural heritage and knowledge sharing, highlighting Native American best practices in stewardship and enduring traditions. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and implemented by the .S. Department of Interior’s Office on International Affairs in coordination with the Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center.

Click the link in the comments to learn more and apply. ⬇️