American Voices has been fostering cross-cultural engagement worldwide for more than 20 years. With a focus on nations emerging from conflict or isolation, American Voices has taken its unique brand of cultural engagement programs, including Jazz Bridges, Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academies and Hiplomacy, to nations ranging from Iraq and Syria to Sudan, Pakistan and Burma. In recognition of its work, American Voices was selected as a Best Practices Organization by the International Cultural Engagement Task Force and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) in 2010.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 300 current or former heads of state and government.