Volunteer
Home Hosting
We are seeking overnight home hosts for adults in May and June 2024, and for youth this summer. Click on the form link below to see and express interest in all upcoming overnight and meal hospitality opportunities, of which there are many.
When you invite international guests to stay in your home, you have an opportunity to see your own life in a new light. You see your shared challenges in a new context with new possibilities for solutions. You get a chance to see what is unique and special about your own city and culture.. You get to remember that we’re all basically the same. You get to laugh and make memories and contribute to making the world a more connected place.
You don’t have to plan anything out of the ordinary. Guests enjoy being included in your regular activities so they can personally experience life as a local in Kalamazoo. Unlike someone who visits as a tourist, or even for cultural exchange in a big city, our guests place great value on being able to enjoy the farmer’s market, school sporting events, family reunions, museums, nature hikes, visits to Lake Michigan, and other local favorites.
Responsibilities include providing a bedroom with a bed, breakfast and dinner, bathroom access, and transportation (when bike/walk/public transit is not accessible).
Home stay durations vary, from 3 days to a month.
Email us or share your interest by taking our 2024 in person hosting survey!
Volunteer Appreciation & Events Committee
We're seeking committee members to help us celebrate our volunteers.
Dinner Diplomacy
Meals with IVLP and other visitors all year long
Many short term visitors stay in hotels, but weekend or dinner hospitality with local people is often a major highlight of their time in this country (between 3 and 5 guests). We ask you to host a meal (homemade or otherwise), with casual conversation. (We are VERY open to a broad interpretation of this).
This gives visitors a glimpse into an aspect of U.S. culture in a home environment, and gives local people the chance to learn about life in another country. Please consider conducting citizen diplomacy from the comfort of your living room!
Winter 2024 opportunities are as follows (stay tuned as this page is updated regularly as new programs are added):
YLAI - Young Leaders of the Americas - 14 Entrepreneurs in Kalamazoo March 7 - April 7 (cultural activity or meal)
Edward R. Murrow Program For Journalists: Research and Investigation IVLP - 7 International Leaders with 1 liaison, April 10-16. Hospitality April 13 or 14.
Apr. 25 - Promoting Service Learning and Career Counseling in Education IVLP - 5 leaders from Georgia with two liaisons April 24 - 28
Apr. 27 or 28 - Bridging the Gender Divide through Inclusion of Women Entrepreneurs in Gaming, Tech, and Freelancing IVLP - 10 leaders from Pakistan with 2 liaisons- April 25 - May 1
May 17 or 18 - Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists – New and Traditional Broadcast Media IVLP - 11 leaders from across Latin America with three liaisons. May 15 - 21
Email us or share your interest by taking our 2024 in person hosting survey !
Theme-based Hosting
Meet with your colleagues from around the world! Our distinguished visitors are leaders in their fields, and are in the U.S. to have an exchange of ideas with counterparts in their fields. This valuable networking experience often leads to future collaboration.
Send us an email to join our Professional Resource list and we will contact you when an International Leader in your field comes to Kalamazoo
Job Shadow/Fellowship Hosting
We’re thrilled to welcome our second cohort of Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in 2024. Young entrepreneurs from all across the Americas, in Kalamazoo Mar. 7 - Apr. 7.
We deeply value our field placement organizations for this month-long experience in Kalamazoo. You too can offer a field placement, for Jordanian fellows from May 13 - June 6, 2024. Contact us to learn more.
“One evening, one kitchen table, ten distinct stories, united by efforts to communicate similarities and differences. United in the effort to make tomorrow better. This was a spectacular evening of hospitality!”
-Thom Kostrzewa