Council of International Programs USA

Council of International Programs USA CIPUSA promotes international understanding through professional and cross-cultural exchanges.

As we continue celebrating 70 years of CIP, we're proud to honor Dorothy Faller and her many years of service and lastin...
08/12/2026

As we continue celebrating 70 years of CIP, we're proud to honor Dorothy Faller and her many years of service and lasting contributions to our organization. 💙🌍

We're grateful to the Cleveland Jewish News for sharing Dorothy's story and highlighting the impact she has made throughout her remarkable career with CIP.

Read more about Dorothy, her legacy, and this special recognition in the full article below.

https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/retired-council-of-international-programs-executive-director-honored/article_a028e584-f3b6-48fd-9333-0084d1890169.amp.html

08/04/2026

Today we celebrate something we've believed in for 70 years: bringing people together changes lives.

Happy International Exchange Day!

Friday's daytime celebration brought together alumni, host families, board members, partners, and friends to honor the p...
08/03/2026

Friday's daytime celebration brought together alumni, host families, board members, partners, and friends to honor the people and relationships that have shaped CIP over the past 70 years.

We were privileged to welcome Dr. Flavio Marsiglia (CIP 1983, Uruguay) as our keynote speaker, whose inspiring journey reflects the lasting impact of international exchange. Guests also enjoyed a vibrant performance by Ukrainian dancers, celebrating the richness of cultural exchange through music and dance.

A special highlight of the day was the presentation of a beautiful hand-painted artwork from CIF International to CIP in honor of our 70th anniversary. This thoughtful gift symbolizes the enduring partnership between our organizations and serves as a lasting reminder of our shared commitment to international understanding.

We were also honored to welcome Frank and Jane Ollendorff, son and daughter-in-law of Dr. Henry Ollendorff, whose presence served as a meaningful reminder of CIP's rich history and enduring legacy.

Thank you to everyone who joined us as we reflected on seven decades of building bridges, fostering understanding, and creating lifelong global connections.

We're excited to officially kick off CIP's 70th Anniversary Celebration Week!Today marked the beginning of CIP's 70th An...
07/29/2026

We're excited to officially kick off CIP's 70th Anniversary Celebration Week!

Today marked the beginning of CIP's 70th Anniversary festivities as we welcomed our board members and guests to Cleveland for our first Board of Directors meeting. We're looking forward to an incredible week of reconnecting with friends from around the world and celebrating 70 years of international exchange.

Stay tuned!

Congratulations to our President & CEO, Lisa Purdy, on being recognized as a 2026 Progressive Woman Honoree at Smart Bus...
07/10/2026

Congratulations to our President & CEO, Lisa Purdy, on being recognized as a 2026 Progressive Woman Honoree at Smart Business's Smart Women Breakfast!

Lisa's journey with the Council of International Programs (CIP) USA began as an Executive Assistant. Through dedication, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission, she advanced into program management before serving as President & CEO for more than two decades.

Throughout her leadership, Lisa has guided CIP through periods of growth as well as unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving landscape of international exchange. Her steadfast commitment to fostering global understanding has strengthened partnerships around the world while deepening connections throughout the Greater Cleveland community.

Under Lisa's leadership, CIP continues to create meaningful opportunities for professional exchange, cross-cultural learning, and building bridges of understanding that extend far beyond borders.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for Lisa's vision and dedication to advancing international exchange.

Congratulations, Lisa, on this outstanding honor!

As part of our 70th Anniversary celebration this month, we're proud to recognize the partnerships that have made seven d...
07/03/2026

As part of our 70th Anniversary celebration this month, we're proud to recognize the partnerships that have made seven decades of international exchange possible.

One of those enduring relationships is with IJAB - Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit – the International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany, a longtime partner that has worked alongside CIP to create meaningful professional exchange opportunities between Germany and the United States. Together, our partnership has helped generations of social work professionals broaden their perspectives, strengthen their leadership, and bring new ideas home to their communities through international exchange.

In a special Q&A published by IJAB, our President & CEO Lisa Purdy reflects on 70 years of transatlantic exchange, discussing what has made the collaboration so enduring, how professional exchanges continue to foster innovation and mutual understanding, and why investing in people-to-people connections is more important than ever. We also look ahead to the future, reaffirming a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders through international exchange.

We invite you to read the conversation and learn more about this remarkable partnership and more in our monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cipusa/whats-happening-monthly-newsletter-17239296?e=43eb32b7e5

07/02/2026

As we celebrate 70 years at Council of International Programs, we're honored to share messages from alumni around the world whose lives and careers have been shaped by their exchange experiences.

Today we're featuring Flavius Ilioni, Expert in Social Policies in the Social Assistance Department of the Municipality of Timișoara, Romania. In his special anniversary message, Flavius reflects on his time with CIP, the lessons and relationships that have stayed with him throughout his career, and the lasting impact the program has had on his work as a leader in public service.

Flavius came to Cleveland through the Congressional Office for International Leadership on a Combating Human Trafficking program in 2023. At the time, he was the president of a Romanian NGO dedicated to preventing human trafficking of migrants and refugees. He now dedicates his life to this mission as a public administrator.

His story is a wonderful reminder that the connections made through international exchange continue to strengthen communities and inspire leadership long after a program ends.

We are grateful to Flavius and to our thousands of alumni around the world who continue to embody the spirit of international understanding and collaboration that has defined CIP for seven decades.

Happy 70th Anniversary, CIP!

The success of every CIP exchange program extends far beyond professional meetings and site visits. It is made possible ...
06/29/2026

The success of every CIP exchange program extends far beyond professional meetings and site visits. It is made possible by the generous individuals and families who open their homes, and their hearts, to our international visitors.

During our Open World program with delegates from Azerbaijan this past February, our host families created welcoming spaces where cultural exchange flourished. What started with uncertainty quickly grew into genuine friendships and memories that will last long after the program ended.

Whether exploring Cleveland together, making music, or simply sharing stories around the dinner table, these moments reminded us that the strongest connections are often built through everyday acts of kindness and hospitality.

To Ann and Alistair, Christine, Cynthia, and all of our host families—thank you for your generosity and for helping make this exchange such a meaningful experience. Your willingness to welcome others into your homes plays an invaluable role in fostering cross-cultural understanding and building bridges that span the globe.

Thank you for being such an important part of the CIP community.

The dedication to bringing professionals together to strengthen communities is at the core of CIP's history. The Interna...
06/25/2026

The dedication to bringing professionals together to strengthen communities is at the core of CIP's history. The International Professional Exchange Program (IPEP), which is run by CIF Alumni branches, is one initiative that carries on this tradition. CIP and CIF alumni from all around the world make up the Council of International Fellowship. IPEP gives professionals the chance to expand their professional knowledge and cultural awareness as part of the global Council of International Fellowship (CIF) network, which is spread across over 30 countries.

Through IPEP programs, social workers and other professionals in the social welfare and human services fields come together to explore different approaches to addressing social challenges from around the world. Participants gain firsthand insight into the social, political, and cultural systems of their host country while exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and building meaningful professional relationships.

This year alone, IPEP exchanges have taken place in countries including Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, and Spain, continuing a tradition of international collaboration that has connected professionals around the world for decades.

When CIP was founded 70 years ago, our focus was on bringing together youth workers, social workers, professionals in co...
06/16/2026

When CIP was founded 70 years ago, our focus was on bringing together youth workers, social workers, professionals in community development and public administration from around the world to learn from one another and strengthen their communities.

As the world changed, so did we.

Beginning in the 2000s, CIP expanded beyond its social work roots to welcome professionals from a growing range of fields from architecture and engineering to nonprofit management, education, public policy, and more.

What hasn't changed is our belief in the power of international exchange. Whether participants are sharing professional expertise, building cross-cultural understanding, or developing lasting global connections, the goal remains the same: learning from one another to create positive change.

Today, we continue to honor our social work foundation through programs like Building Bridges and International Professional Exchange Programs (IPEPs), while creating opportunities for professionals across countless sectors to gain hands-on experience and broaden their perspectives.

70 years later, CIP's story is still being written by the professionals, communities, and partnerships that prove meaningful exchange can make a difference anywhere in the world.

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