CIEE BridgeUSA Community Impact Initiative

The Young Civic Leadership Summit (YCLS) is CIEE’s bi-annual leadership experience for international changemakers, bringing together emerging leaders to build the skills, perspective, and cross-cultural understanding needed to create positive change in their communities and around the world.

Through hands-on service projects, fellows work alongside local communities to create meaningful, real-world impact – from supporting food security initiatives and youth education programs to advancing early childhood development, environmental stewardship, and community clean-up efforts. Learn more

One World Café™ is a network of physical community hubs in key BridgeUSA destinations (e.g., Cape Cod, Ocean City), bringing together participants, local residents, employers, host families, and partners in a shared space for connection and support.

Each Café hosts cultural events—especially food-centered gatherings—that foster community and a sense of belonging, while also providing practical, on-the-ground support to help participants succeed.
In addition, One World Café™ functions as a local job clearinghouse, matching participants already in the U.S. with secondary job opportunities to support employers with their staffing needs and maximize placements.

Together, these hubs serve as both cultural and operational centers—strengthening communities, enhancing the participant experience, and reinforcing CIEE’s local presence.

CIEE’s annual International Exchange Conference (IEC) brings together global exchange leaders to foster meaningful connections, share innovative ideas, and promote the power of public diplomacy.

As the only conference of its kind, IEC convenes the full exchange community — from host employers and families to international agents, participants, alumni, and leaders across government, industry, and local communities.

Beginning in 2026, service will become an intentional part of the conference experience. By incorporating community service projects into the event, attendees will have the opportunity to give back to the host city while demonstrating the broader social value of international exchange. Learn more

CIEE BridgeUSA High School students engage in community projects and events as a core part of their exchange experience. 

This experience encourages students to build meaningful local connections, deepen cultural understanding, and contribute positively to their host communities.

The Host Family Summit & Advisory Council brings experienced host families together to strengthen the hosting experience and guide best practices for family support and retention across the BridgeUSA community. 

Through shared learning at the yearly summit and year-round collaboration, Advisory Council members help shape resources, strengthen support systems, and create welcoming environments where students, families, and communities can grow together.

Launched in 2025, CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour is a nationwide, three-year initiative highlighting the economic, cultural, and social impact of exchange across communities in the United States.

At each of nine Tour stops to date, roundtable discussions bring together local community partners, business leaders, host families and employers, government representatives, local officials, and participants to share perspectives, strengthen connections, and highlight the role BridgeUSA plays in supporting local communities.

While these events are not solely service-based, they celebrate the businesses, families, participants, and communities that make exchange a force for prosperity. Learn more

Created by Congress in 1961, BridgeUSA builds bridges between nations by bringing more than 300,000 young leaders each year to live, work, and learn in the United States through transformational cultural and professional exchanges. As the largest and longest-serving BridgeUSA sponsor, CIEE helps make these experiences possible – welcoming over 30,000 participants annually who strengthen American businesses, enrich communities, and share their cultures and ideas, making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. 

Learn more about BridgeUSA