What do Anwar Sadat, Indira Gandhi and Julius Nyerere have in common? They enhanced their understanding of America through of the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Montana Center for International Visitors, is an affiliate of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) based in Washington, D.C. We are one of 92 U.S., non-profit centers dedicated to promoting global understanding through citizen diplomacy. One of the ways we try to foster global understanding is by facilitating the International Visitor Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In Montana, we host approximately 150 international leaders through this program each year.

MCIV staff arrange meetings between these international visitors and their professional counterparts to discuss common interests and to share ideas. These appointments often lead to continued contact overseas with mutual benefits. When appropriate, the MCIV guests visit schools in the community to share their culture with our students. We also invite MCIV members to meet socially with these distinguished guests at our receptions held throughout the year. Often, visitors attend dinners in MCIV members’ homes adding a welcomed touch of Montana hospitality to their experience.

MCIV, in collaboration with Friends of the Bozeman Public Library, also hosts “Great Decisions,” a foreign policy discussion group. This series is free and open to the public. MCIV welcomes new members, financial supporters and professionals who would like to meet with their foreign counterparts, and local residents who would enjoy inviting a foreign leader to their home for dinner. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer, please contact us. We would love to hear from you!