The Stevens Initiative

U.S. : Ready to strengthen your leadership skills and expand your network? Join a network of professionals in Washington, DC on July 17 for DC: Showcasing American Excellence. Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4edQKn5 U.S. Department of State

Join fellow JCSVEI U.S. alumni at The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Tomorrow Lab: Innovating for Impact in the Next 250 Years, August 7–9, 2026, for an unforgettable fully funded experience focused on leadership, innovation, and impact. Not in the U.S.? Members of the global JCSVEI alumni community can still participate virtually in select keynote sessions.

As the United States marks 250 years of independence, leadership, innovation, and excellence, our tech-driven future will be shaped by people like you. No boring lectures—just access to collaborative learning, practical tools, and meaningful connections that can help shape your future, all supported by Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State.

Apply by June 26, 2026! Spaces are limited, and we encourage eligible alumni to submit their applications early. https://form.jotform.com/261588109134156

Alum Chanelle McKenzie recently teamed up with Center for Rising Generations to share about how the global connections formed through her Soliya shaped the educator and leader she is today. Read this Groundbreakers piece to learn more about her experience. https://centerforrisinggenerations.substack.com/p/groundbreakers-how-a-virtual-exchange

We recently brought together our 2026 cohort of the Alumni Fellowship Academy. From following in Christopher Stevens's footsteps at the Tangier American Legation to exploring the U.S. foundational value of civic responsibility, our participants’ week in Morocco was full of powerful action planning about shared opportunities and the enduring legacy of American diplomacy. This is just the beginning—we can't wait to see what this week will inspire in these rising leaders https://www.stevensinitiative.org/alumni-fellowship-academy/ Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

Today, we celebrated and our 10th anniversary in Morocco—a place of great meaning to Ambassador Stevens and our program. Morocco, one of America's oldest friends and the first nation to recognize the United States in 1777, is where the Stevens Initiative was announced. Our alumni joined U.S. Exchange alumni Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State, American and Moroccan leaders, and fellow participants to build the global connections Ambassador Stevens valued—strengthening U.S.-MENA partnerships through engagement that will continue long after our time in Rabat.

2026 Alumni Fellowship Academy - Stevens Initiative The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative is excited to announce the 2026 participants of the Alumni Academy.

What happens when young people take global challenges into their own hands? In this Center for Rising Generations Q&A, two Stevens Initiative alumni reflect on how their IREX and Soliya virtual exchanges helped them see their communities and their leadership potential in a new light. Their work is a reminder that real change often starts close to home and that can spark action where it’s needed most. https://centerforrisinggenerations.substack.com/p/groundbreakers-global-exchange-today?r=5xlr5v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Big things are ahead for our 2026 cohort of the Alumni Leadership Academy!

They're kicking off the 2026 Rabat Leadership Workshop: Advancing United States-MENA Partnerships and Engagement, where they'll spend the week working alongside mentors from the United States and the Middle East and North Africa. In this solutions-focused workshop, alumni will develop practical solutions to real-world challenges impacting the U.S. and MENA region. Partnering with local organizations, they'll apply the leadership and professional skills they've been building since January to deliver concrete results that strengthen U.S.-MENA collaboration.

We're excited to see the solutions they develop together.

Follow along as we share updates, and learn more about our alumni here: https://www.stevensinitiative.org/alumni-fellowship-academy/ Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

The 2026 cohort of our Alumni Academy is here. As alumni, they know firsthand the power of global engagement and are seizing a new opportunity to take action within their communities. These 33 young leaders are activating critical professional and leadership skills and advancing local and regional prosperity through innovative community projects, thanks to support from Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State. Stay tuned to see how these Fellows are turning ideas into impact and connection into meaningful change, including next week when we come together in Rabat, Morocco. Learn more: https://www.stevensinitiative.org/alumni-fellowship/

In Center for Rising Generations' latest Groundbreakers feature, Soliya alum Amr Elattar was so moved by his virtual exchange experience—the tough conversations, the global perspectives, the bold and cautious moments—that he returned not just as a participant, but as a trained facilitator. This journey is proof that virtual exchange can cause a ripple effect, with one experience leading to many more. https://centerforrisinggenerations.substack.com/p/groundbreakers-circles-that-never?r=5xlr5v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Alumni: did you know that it’s Teacher Appreciation Week? Your virtual exchange may not have been possible without some pretty incredible educators. Whether you participated in an exchange as a high school student many years ago or as a university student last semester, help us thank the educators who connected you with peers around the world for an unforgettable experience. Be sure to tag us and use so we can help highlight the educators who brought the world to your classroom.