Israel has instructed its embassies in 10 European countries, including the UK, each to recruit 1,000 members of the public to act as advocates for its policies in a new public relations offensive.

Rolfe was one of seven people honored for their efforts in fostering cross-cultural understanding. The awards, which included one for actor Robert Redford for founding the Sundance Institute, were presented during the U.S. Summit and Global Initiative for Citizen Diplomacy conference Nov. 16-19.

Community and business leaders gathered in Washington this week to promote "citizen diplomacy," the process of boosting international understanding through direct contact between citizens of different countries.

More than 500 people are attending a summit in Washington D.C. this week to address what’s called “citizen diplomacy.” The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy is a Des Moines based organization that encourages every American to seek opportunities to work with people in other countries.

Last week I was in Prague, meeting with young leaders from across Central Europe and other young leaders from the United States. Before that, I was in Dubai attending a conference of young entrepreneurs from across the Middle East and their American counterparts. This is indeed citizen diplomacy at work.

Naomi Leight, Assistant Director for Research & Publications at CPD, will participate in a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy held on Nov. 18 at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

The International Voluntary Service Task Force will look at innovative volunteering projects based in the U.S and abroad with a view to not only increase the number of Americans participating in international service but also the effectiveness of the volunteers through services of non-profit organizations, religious institutions, and professional associations abroad.

Conveying information and selling a positive image is often best accomplished by private citizens; today, the soft sell may prove more effective than the hard sell. The main strength of the government broadcasting and mass media approach to public diplomacy is its audience reach and ability to generate public awareness and set the agenda