Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, Akron— Akron International Friendship Welcomed Jamaican delegates to Akron. The group is part of the International Visitors Leadership Program through the US State Department. Akron International Friendship (AIF) is the local program agent for this and other international leadership groups. AIF helps promote Akron as a great place with many local resources in a variety of business and peaceful change themes.
The delegation, on “Democracy and Human Rights: Conflict Resolution and Gender Based Violence,” will focus on a variety of topics such as: local government, law enforcement, assistance for victims and prevention of hate crimes, public awareness of the LGBT community, state-wide hotlines and victim assistance networks. While here in Akron, the group will meet with representatives from the Akron Police Department, Akron Peace Makers, PFLAG, Ohio Domestic Violence Network and Victims Assistance.
Akron International Friendship is located in Quaker Square Suite 233, and AIF was founded as Hosting International Travelers in 1977. Its visionary founders realized that our community is enhanced by the presence of international dignitaries, scholars and guests.
Each of AIF’s volunteers – local and international – is a citizen diplomat. Citizen diplomacy is the understanding that it is each of our responsibility to better understand global diversity, cultures, religions, and situations. It is also our privilege to share the best of American values: goodwill, volunteerism, professionalism, hospitality, diversity and pride in our democratic nation- with our international guests.