CIEE Community Impact Initiative

The Young Civic Leadership Summit (YCLS) brings together selected Summer Work Travel participants from around the world to develop leadership skills, cross-cultural understanding, and a commitment to civic engagement.

Through hands-on service projects, fellows work alongside local communities to address needs such as food security, youth education, environmental stewardship, and community revitalization. Learn more.

One World Café™ is a network of community hubs in key BridgeUSA destinations where participants, employers, host families, and local partners come together for connection, support, and community.

Through cultural events and practical resources, One World Café fosters belonging while helping participants succeed. It also serves as a local workforce exchange through One World Crossroads, connecting participants with additional job opportunities and helping employers meet seasonal staffing needs. 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.

As the premier gathering of the global exchange community, CIEE’s annual International Exchange Conference (IEC) brings together leaders to connect, collaborate, and advance the impact of international exchange.

Beginning in 2026, community service will become an intentional part of the conference experience, giving attendees the opportunity to support the host city while demonstrating the broader social value of exchange. Learn more.

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.

The CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour is a nationwide, three-year initiative highlighting the impact of exchange in communities across the United States. 

Roundtable discussions have brought together community leaders, employers, host families, participants, and local partners to share perspectives and strengthen connections. These events celebrate the people 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