Due to globalization, the internet, rising education levels, and long-term democratization, citizen diplomacy is growing, and becoming a more important part of diplomacy and international affairs. Thus, in 2020, the Public Diplomacy Council of America (PDCA), a US-based NGO devoted to advancing the field of public diplomacy, formed the Citizen Diplomacy Research Group (CDRG) to advance the research and practice of citizen diplomacy. In 2023, the CDRG became Citizen Diplomacy International(CDI), a network and program of Learning Life, a Washington DC-based nonprofit devoted to developing innovative learning communities in order to widen and deepen participation in democracy and diplomacy.
CDI meets every three months online via Zoom for 1.5 hours to share research and news on citizen diplomacy developments worldwide with an eye to building a vibrant global CD sector for a more participatory, equitable and sustainable world.. Meetings typically begin with two presentations on CD research or practice, followed by discussion of the presentations, then news and announcements of past or upcoming international CD-related initiatives, publications, funding, conferences, etc.
Anyone — including scholars, students, citizen diplomacy practitioners, current and retired official diplomats, and others interested — can join CDI to learn, network, and/or present substantial research or practice in citizen diplomacy. For more information or to join the CDI email list, contact email@learninglife.info. You can also connect with CDI members via our Facebook group and Linkedin group, to which you can post citizen diplomacy-related articles, books, events, funding, etc.
Review the agenda. During this time everyone is encouraged to post to the chat a one-paragraph bio about themselves. Introductions via chat saves us time, provides written details about you, and allows us to share your info after the meeting with those who could not attend.
Paul Lachelier, Founder & Director, Learning Life: “Family Diplomacy for a More Caring World”3) Questions & Discussion about the Presentations (35 minutes) 4) Announcements (15 minutes).
A) 2022 CDRG meeting dates (all times are in New York time):
Wed Feb 9, 12:00-1:30pm
Tues April 5, 11:00am-12:30pm
Wedn June 8, 10:00-11:30am.
Tues Aug 9, 11:00am-12:30pm
Wedn Oct 12, 10:00-11:30am
Tues Dec 6, 11:00am-12:30pm
B) The latest CD Bulletin.
C) Meeting participants will have the opportunity to publicize citizen diplomacy events, publications, projects, programs, and related needs. Participants can also post details and links to the Zoom chat box. Following the meeting, the chat box messages will be shared to the CDRG email list along with a video record of the meeting.
Sixth 2021 International Family Dialogue Focuses on Education & Leisure
On Sunday, November 14, 40 people from 17 countries worldwide — Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, Nigeria, Burundi, Uganda, Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia — engaged in a rich, wide-ranging discussion of games, religion, cell phones and social media’s impacts on family health.
This was the last in a series of six dialogues that started in May this year focused on the overarching question: what do families worldwide need to be safe and healthy? The dialogues were part of the Family Diplomacy Initiative, Learning Life’s flagship program devoted to connecting families across borders to share and learn together. The November 14 dialogue started with a brief video about the dialogues, then some context from Learning Life’s founder, Paul Lachelier. To view the full video-recorded dialogue, click here.
All six family dialogues held from May to November this year were free, and held, in English, on Sundays, 12:00-1:30pm EST (New York time) via Zoom. Each dialogue had a different date and topic as follows:
June 27: Global Trends in Family Life:How are families changing worldwide, and how does this impact family health and security? Topics might include global patterns and trends in family demographics, parenting, childhood, family life, aspirations and viewpoints, etc.
July 25: Health Care Systems: How do health care systems shape family health and security? What exists and what’s lacking in local-to-global health care institutions? What are some of the major global health trends, threats, and some of the most promising large-scale solutions?
August 15: Work & Economics: How do economic forces affect family health and security? Topics might include work and unemployment, workplace safety, automation, income and wealth inequality, economic migration and remittances, work-life balance, etc.
September 12: The Environment:How do natural and man-made environmental conditions, local to global, impact family health and security? Topics might include home and neighborhood crime and safety, community life, green space, housing and segregation, transportation, pollution, climate change, etc.
October 10: Politics: How do local to global politics influence family health and security? Topics might include government service provision, leadership, civil society, governmental power inequalities between and within nations, immigration and refugee policy, war, human rights, rule of law, corruption, legal discrimination, etc.
November 14: Education & Leisure: How do education and leisure time activities influence family health and security? Topics might include formal and informal education, leisure patterns and trends, literacy, early childhood education, gender and class inequalities, etc.
Learning Life will be back in 2022 with more international dialogues. In the meantime, check out our Youtube Channel for all six 2021 dialogue videos, plus other videos. To participate in future family diplomacy dialogues, please complete this Family Diplomat application survey.
New Report: Growth, Milestones, Awards & More!
Learning Life is pleased to release the following highlights from a new report, “Democracy & Diplomacy for a More Caring World.” The report offers a glimpse into Learning Life’s growth and impact, significant milestones, and some of the many people helping and benefiting from our work.
Democracy & Diplomacy Event Draws Participants from 18 Countries Worldwide
On Sunday, October 24, Learning Life’s live international event, “Democracy & Diplomacy for a More Caring World” attracted 74 participants from 18 countries: the USA, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Israel, Iraq, Germany, Poland, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
Participants learned about Learning Life’s democracy and diplomacy work, discussed ways to grow that work, and celebrated some of Learning Life’s outstanding 2021 volunteers across the world, featured below.
The event also helped Learning Life reach its initial goal of $10,000 raised toward the ultimate goal of $20,000 from individual donors by December 30 of this year. Want to help support Learning Life’s innovative democracy and diplomacy work? You can donate here. We’re asking individuals to donate $100 to $1,000 to help us reach the $20,000 goal.
Learning Life is a Washington DC-based nonprofit devoted to innovating education and citizen engagement. Our flagship program, the Family Diplomacy Initiative, connects families online across borders to nurture mutual understanding in our divided world. Our International Mentoring Program connects caring U.S.-based mentors with kids in Washington DC and abroad to help open the world to children from lower-income families. Our Democracy Dinners bring together metro DC academics, professionals and activists to talk about democracy’s local to global challenges and opportunities amidst authoritarian resurgence.
