CIEE Celebrates Relaunch of the Coalition for American Public Diplomacy and Leadership (CAPDL)

Today, the Coalition for American Public Diplomacy and Leadership (CAPDL) announced its relaunch with a focus on education, best practices sharing, and storytelling in support of the whole BridgeUSA community.

Founded in 2020, CAPDL is an independent non-profit whose mission today is to strengthen and expand the US Department of State’s BridgeUSA programs by:

• Educating key constituents on the history and power of BridgeUSA to advance US public diplomacy, national security, and economic prosperity and
• Cultivating a global network of supporters who promote best practices in BridgeUSA program delivery.

“I am excited to see CAPDL bring together so many constituencies and beneficiaries of BridgeUSA,” said CAPDL Board Member and Former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Rick Ruth. “I am honored to be on the board of CAPDL, because – in my mind – all BridgeUSA programs are about learning [which] leads to understanding, the most valuable commodity in the world.”

CAPDL membership is open to hosts, international agents, sponsors, alumni, service providers, chambers of commerce, community groups, and allies of all sizes and locations.

“By welcoming all stakeholders around the world, CAPDL can advance excellence and deliver even more benefits to participants and the United States,” noted CAPDL Executive Director Carmen Iezzi Mezzera. “There is so much we can achieve together.”

Thanks to the generosity of its incubating host, the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE), CAPDL will not assess dues for the first year of operation. Instead, all support during this time will go to the new Scholarship Fund for BridgeUSA. The Scholarship Fund will enable individuals to participate in any of the thirteen categories via any CAPDL member.

"Our BridgeUSA community grows stronger when we engage all stakeholders," says Carye Duffin, CAPDL Board Chair and CIEE Senior Vice President of External Affairs. "By cultivating an inclusive environment focused on best practices, we create a powerful culture of shared learning and accountability – ensuring that we uphold the highest standards to protect and expand these life-changing programs. Additionally, through our commitment to storytelling, we can complement others’ work and ensure that more communities across the US recognize the transformative impact of BridgeUSA programs.”

Learn more about CAPDL, find resources, and sign up for an upcoming event at www.capdl.org.

In the video above, hear what CAPDL Boardmembers have to say about the relaunch! Featuring:

• Jon Baselice, Vice President of Immigration Policy, US Chamber of Commerce
• Denise Beckson, Vice President of Government Affairs and Human Resources, Morey's Piers & Beachfront Waterparks
• Carye Duffin, Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Council for International Educational Exchange
• Russ Hedge, President and CEO, Hostelling International USA
• Rick Ruth, Former Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
• Bastian Weinberger, CEO, Cleverstream
• Bettina Wiedmann, Executive Director, Experiment in International Living in Germany (Experiment e.V.)