The 40th Consular Ball themed “Stronger Together: A Global Commitment to Health”

Written by: GCIV Executive Director Emily Shaw

Atlanta’s international community gathered for the 40th International Consular Ball on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Porsche Experience Center

GCIV’s largest single fundraising event for the year, the annual gala is the premier diplomatic event in Atlanta honoring the 70+ members of Georgia Consular Corps for their role in promoting international ties in business, education, science and culture. Residing in Georgia, the Consular Corps, which include both career and honorary consuls represent foreign governments across the southeastern U.S.

The 40th Consular Ball was chaired by GCIV Board Chair Dr. Rashad Richey and themed “Stronger Together: A Global Commitment to Health.” Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp and Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, provided video remarks. The Dean of the Georgia Consular Corps and Consul General of Mexico in Atlanta, Ambassador Javier Díaz de León, gave remarks.

Emceed by Emmy Award-winning news anchor/reporter Monica Kaufman Pearson, the evening featured exciting live performances by Naach Dance Academy, Atlanta Young Singers and TEOTL Foundation Inc. followed by an open dance floor with tunes provided by DJ DT.

The 40th International Consular Ball silent auction was a tremendous success. Proceeds from the Consular Ball enable the continuation and expansion of GCIV’s vital work to bring the world to Georgia through international exchange programs and honor the Georgia Consular Corps for their role in building and promoting international ties. All of these efforts contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

The mission of the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV) is to foster professional, cultural and educational experiences that connect Georgia citizens and international leaders to cultivate positive global change. Our vision is to be the Georgia organization that allows every citizen the opportunity to be more globally engaged through people to people connections.

GCIV is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1962. We work with the U.S. Department of State to develop a broad spectrum of professional and cultural exchange programs for emerging global leaders. Our non-partisan citizen diplomacy programs provide Georgians with unique opportunities to share best practices, insights, and friendship with distinguished visitors to the United States.

GCIV administers the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program in Georgia. Launched in 1940, the IVLP seeks to build mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through carefully designed professional visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. U.S. ambassadors consistently rank the IVLP as most effective in a long list of public diplomacy tools at their disposal. In 2001 our national network was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to foster international understanding. Over 660 alumni of the program have gone on to serve as heads of state or government of their respective countries.

In 2024, GCIV hosted 352 international visitors from 105 different countries and territories. The programs in 2024 ranged from global health equity to combatting trafficking in persons and new and traditional American media in the digital age. For these programs, we arranged 250 meetings for the visitors and their professional counterparts as well as over 30 “home hospitality” dinners. Dinner hospitality gives international exchange participants the opportunity to share a meal in an American home, meet everyday citizens and learn about the culture of the United States. International visitors seek to get to know hosts to acquire a better understanding of the culture of the United States. International visitors frequently rate dinner or home hospitality as the experience that most clearly demonstrated true America as well as the highlight of their exchange program.

GCIV also serves as the state coordinator for the Foreign Policy Association (FPA)’s Great Decisions program. In this role, GCIV helps coordinate discussion groups and lecture series that give participants the opportunity to expand their understanding of world affairs. Topics change annually and are based on the FPA’s non-partisan briefing book. More than 100 people participated in the virtual 2024 Dunwoody Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lecture Series with speakers coordinated by the Atlanta Global Studies Center with topics ranging from “Mideast Realignment” to “U.S. – China Trade Rivalry”.

For more information about GCIV or to become a member, please visit www.gciv.org or contact Executive Director Emily Shaw at emily@gciv.org

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