Kids to Kids has more than 650 members across the U.S. who are raising money and awareness in their schools and neighborhoods about kids living in underserved communities around the world. Through their efforts, Kids to Kids has funded more than 300 projects in eight countries impacting more than 30,000 kids.

Sometimes effective public diplomacy can be conducted through a simple and unambiguous gesture. Such was the case when President Barack Obama recently commemorated the 50th anniversaries of 17 African nations’ independence at the White House.

Posing the question, "If you had the opportunity to speak to world leaders, what would you say?" the United Nations is holding a video contest to encourage world citizens to voice their opinions to world leaders and weigh in on decisions made by members of the United Nations and become a 2010 Citizen Ambassador.

It's been important for me … to do these shows because it shows the world that the people of the Middle East are global citizens and appreciate laughter just like anyone else," [comedian Maz] Jobrani says afterward. "It helps bring the East and West closer with laughter. Kind of a comedic diplomacy.

[Program of Academic Exchange] works diligently to bring international teens and American families together for 5 or 10 month stays. The U.S. Department of State recognizes the high school exchange program as the single most influencial outreach of citizen diplomacy in our country today.

We need recognition for what we achieve in the normal run of life," Abdulhadi says. "Like people everywhere we love our children, we're chefs, businessmen, carpenters, farmers, industrialists, shopkeepers, we're participants in the society of the world. We're not just a resistance movement fighting the occupation.