Listening and Leading: What You Told Us About the Future of Utah Global Diplomacy
Dear Friends of Utah Global Diplomacy,
Diplomacy starts with you—through relationships, conversations, and a shared desire to understand our world more deeply. That’s why when our March and April International Exchange Programs were canceled and our 15-day federal funding freeze expanded well beyond the designated date, we had to ask ourselves the uncomfortable question: What do we do if we no longer welcome international guests to Utah?
That is when we turned to you—our community—to help us determine where we grow next.
We asked you to weigh in on five potential initiatives, exploring how valuable you thought these initiatives were to the broader community and if you would engage with these initiatives if we launched them:
- A Research Institute & Public Policy Program examining international relations' impact on Utah.
- Trainings & Continued Education for professionals and lifelong learners.
- Outbound Exchanges for Utahns to travel abroad as citizen diplomats.
- Focused Lectures & Dialogues with global leaders and policy experts.
- A Membership Model offering structured benefits and engagement.
What Resonated Most
Outbound Exchanges topped the charts in every category. The idea of Utahns connecting with the world as citizen diplomats outside the U.S. and returning with stories, perspectives, and friendships deeply inspired you. We have already begun conversations with potential partnering nonprofits to explore this idea.
Deep dives into world affairs topics with policy experts and global ambassadors through lectures and dialogues also struck a chord. You value hearing directly from international voices, whether it’s an ambassador, a policy leader, or a human rights champion. These conversations not only inform—they inspire action. We're committed to bringing these powerful, global moments to Utah, one keynote at a time.
You value trainings and continued education. The thirst for knowledge never ends, and you're eager to engage with learning that deepens your global awareness and professional skills.
Finally, the Research Institute & Public Policy concept sparked interest as many of you saw it as a great tool to inform the community about how world affairs impact the people of Utah, as well as using it as a tool to educate and advocate for change to our congressional leaders and local elected officials.
What We Learned
You also made it clear what matters just as much as the program itself—accessibility. You told us that what you value most is ensuring our programs remain financially inclusive, and we wholeheartedly agree. That’s why we will not be moving forward with a membership model. A paywall should never gate diplomatic engagement.
You also reminded us that diplomacy thrives in collaboration—with students at colleges and universities, elected officials who create policies around international matters, and individuals who want to connect globally while traveling and right here in Utah. These are our priorities, too, and we’re committed to strengthening connections and collaborations.
Where We Go From Here
As mentioned, our March and April delegations were canceled; however, we’re thrilled to share that we’ll be back in full swing by May, and we’ll need your help more than ever. We need volunteers to host dinners for our international guests or serve as host families. Host families include Armenian Members of Parliament and high school Iraqi students in July, New Zealand leadership and high school students from Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize in September, and mining experts from Tajikistan in October. Let me know if you'd like further information about these groups.
We also have some fun and exciting events that will happen in May, including our Dining Around the World: Passage to Peru Fundraising Gala and our Music Diplomacy Symposium; in July, we will host the Global Security Symposium, and in September, we will host our annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium: Building Genocide Resistance. Please join us for these events. Your presence demonstrates the need for global engagement in Utah.
Finally, in the months ahead, we will explore the following:
- Launching an outbound exchange program,
- Expanding our event offerings to bring global voices to Utah,
- Examining education opportunities that support the globally curious and career-minded,
- and seeking to deepen Utah's understanding of international relations in our state.
Above all, we’ll keep listening. Your input helps us adapt, evolve, and occasionally stretch the boundaries of diplomacy—right here in our backyard. Together, we’re building global connections in Utah, one handshake at a time.
Warmly,
Felecia Maxfield-Barrett
President & CEO
Utah Global Diplomacy
