It begins with a welcome.

News Release

THIS for Diplomats Has a New Name:

Cultural Exchange for Diplomats

September 3, 2024

THIS for Diplomats has a new name – Cultural Exchange for Diplomats – and it will start its fall season with a new logo.  Its volunteers voted overwhelmingly to approve the new name, which was one of many suggested by members during a year-long process.

“It is based on the visibility and strength of our many cultural exchange events,” explained President Peggy Letter. “The new name and the new logo will better reflect the organization’s mission and focus, and it will be easier to say and remember.”

Cultural Exchange for Diplomats (CED) was founded in 1961 at the request of the US Department of State to support the diplomatic community in Washington DC.

“In our cultural exchange gatherings, we share American traditions and culture with diplomats, and they share theirs with us,” she continued. “Our fifteen cultural exchange groups held 70 events last season.”

Diplomat members and volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of programs. These range from tours of the White House, Supreme Court, and Capitol to ballet, symphony and opera performances at the Kennedy Center.

“Like many other organizations that have been around for over 60 years, our mission is the same, but our audience has changed,” she continued.  “We feel that this new name and new logo will better represent who we are today, and how we do outreach into the diplomatic community. Overall, our diplomats are younger, and many working diplomats are female with male accompanying spouses. So we have broadened our offerings, with 20 different committees and weekly programs, allowing our diplomats to be busy every day if they wish.

Nearly 100 programs and cultural exchange events were held during the last season. Total diplomatic attendance was nearly 700 people from 60 embassies.

CED volunteers are people who are interested in international relations and enjoy supporting and making friends with diplomats. Its 170 volunteers speak 33 languages and have lived in 88 countries.

“We have strong relationships with embassies and like-minded organizations around town, and offer joint programming, thereby increasing our visibility,” she concluded.

Since 1961, Cultural Exchange for Diplomats, formerly THIS for Diplomats, has been dedicated to promoting international understanding and friendship through educational, informational, and cultural exchanges with members of the diplomatic community in Washington, DC.  Its website is culturalexchangefordiplomats.org. For more information, contact us at 202-232-3002 or office@culturalexchangefordiplomats.org.