CIEE Launches One World Café to Connect International Students

The program creates dedicated physical hubs where participants from over 140 countries can engage in cultural exchange, language practice, and local volunteer projects. By hosting neighborhood gatherings and community suppers, the organization intends to bridge the gap between visiting students and local residents, transforming temporary stays into meaningful, long-term connections.

Initial locations are scheduled to open this summer in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Galveston, Texas, with a broader rollout planned for additional regions across the United States. According to Martine Mangion, Senior Vice President of International Exchange Programs, the initiative was developed following feedback from host employers and community leaders who sought more robust support structures for the exchange experience. CIEE President and CEO James P. Pellow noted that the project builds on the organization’s 1961 inception, aiming to leverage the existing 300,000 annual BridgeUSA visitors to strengthen local communities through shared traditions and collaborative work.