Volunteer Opportunities
Help us welcome our international guests;
Showcase Cleveland as a place of hospitality and economic potential;
Take an active role in the international visitors program, there are so many possibilities...
Contact
Maura O'Donnell-McCarthy, International Visitor Program Officer, at 216-255-9004 or modonnellmccarthy@ccwa.org
Become a Volunteer
Home Hospitality Hosts
Home Hospitality Hosts are regular citizens (called "citizen diplomats" at the State Department) who open their homes to visiting delegations and host them for an afternoon or evening meal. The informal meeting provides a unique opportunity to get to know the members of our delegation on a more personal level and to give our guests a glimpse into typical American life. Hosts are not expected to have extravagant homes or to cater the meal, but to simply invite the visitors in for a normal dinner for a great conversation. Dinners can be as simple as a pizza party with several neighbors or friends or as elaborate as a themed dinner. The most important aspect of the evening is the connections made – which can have a tremendous impact on both sides. Past volunteers have visited international visitors in their home countries, experiencing those countries in ways most tourists never can. Children of Home Hosts have grown-up and gone to study in the home country of the visitors their family hosted for dinner. Stereotypes are broken, friendships are formed, and lifelong connections are created- all through a shared meal.
Home Stay Hosts
Home Stay Hosts are persons who welcome a member of a visiting delegation into their home for a period of one to three weeks. The home stay exchange allows for an in-depth sharing of thoughts, ideas, and lifestyles between two cultures. Hosts are typically expected to have a spare bedroom for sleeping accommodations, to share breakfast and dinner with your guest., and to open the eyes of your guests to typical American life. Simply taking the guest to activities that you participate in your life, religious services, golfing, joining you on a trip with the family to a water park or a little league baseball game, etc. All transportation, lunches, day programs, and some evening and weekend activities are organized by the Council. Opening your home to a visiting professional creates lasting friendships and provides the foundation for peace by helping individuals from different countries communicate on a more personal level.
Driver
Drivers are needed to provide transportation to visiting delegations made up of a small portion of people , usually for 1-4 guests. As drivers, your role would be to show our city to our guests, take the guests to professional appointments, cultural excursions and possibly home hospitality. As a driver, you are welcome to join the group to all of their meetings and dinners to observe the various issues they have come to explore.
Professional Resource
If you are a member of the professional community (Government, Private Sector, Non Profit, Religious Institution, School or University, etc) and would like to meet with one of our visiting delegations, we are interested in hearing from you. A professional resource is someone who hosts their international professional counterparts in order to share their knowledge and expertise concerning their career. The appointment may include a site visit and an overview of their business philosophy and practice. The meetings are typically 60-90 minutes in length and are a wonderful time for a mutual exchange of information. The appointment also provides all participants with business and personal contacts that could last a lifetime.
Sponsors
The International Visitors programs in one of the key components that establishes ties of our region to the world. Our goal is to always make sure that each program is pertinent and creates the proper connections with community leaders, businesses, and citizens while promoting our region to our guests. We also aim to ensure continual growth of visiting groups. While the majority of the International Visitor Program is funded through federal and local grants, we are still in need of Individual and Corporate Sponsors to help support the vibrancy of the program . Sponsorship may include actual dollars or in kind donations ranging from hosting receptions for the group, sponsoring lunches, or even donating things such as office space for meetings or concert/theater/baseball etc. tickets to visiting guests. All donations are tax deductible.
Become a volunteer! We don't know where these delegates will be in the future, but we can establish our connections today!