Donna Briggs, Director of Development for Britt Festivals, received the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) Citizen Diplomat Pillar Award at a special event in Washington, D.C. on February 16. Briggs was recognized for her leadership in advancing citizen diplomacy – the concept that individual citizens have the right to help shape U.S. foreign relations “one handshake at a time.”
As part of its 50th Anniversary observance, NCIV presented special Citizen Diplomat Awards in four categories: Corporate, Media, Pillar and Bridge. Briggs received a Pillar Award, which recognizes
individuals who have contributed significant leadership and support to the NCIV network at the local and national level. The Awards were presented at NCIV’s 50th Anniversary Gala, an event attended by more than 750 guests, including NCIV members from across the U.S., Members of Congress, representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and citizen diplomats from around the globe.
Before moving to Medford, Briggs served as President of Sister Cities International of Tulsa and the International Council of Tulsa, which merged in 1995 to form the Tulsa Global Alliance (TGA). Briggs was instrumental in this merger and became the first Executive Director of TGA, serving for a decade in that capacity. In 1993, she started the award-winning Kids’ World, an International Children’s Festival. Briggs chaired the NCIV National Meeting in Tulsa, one of only two occasions when it was held outside Washington, D.C., and the NCIV Millennium conference held in Washington, D.C. After leaving Tulsa, Briggs founded the Wyoming Council for International Visitors and served as its Executive Director. She served on the NCIV Board of Directors for six years and is a member of the 50th Anniversary National Meeting Planning Committee.
–About the National Council for International Visitors–
NCIV is a non-profit membership association currently marking 50 years of leadership in citizen diplomacy – the concept that in a vibrant democracy, the individual citizen has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape foreign relations “one handshake at a time.” NCIV’s membership includes individuals, program agencies, and more than 90 organizations in communities throughout the U.S. who design and implement professional programs, provide cultural activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign leaders and specialists participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchange programs. With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations are expert at matching the resources of their communities with the needs of international visitors. Each year the aggregate efforts of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 volunteers. More information is available at www.nciv.org.
Britt Festivals invites audiences and artists to celebrate the joy of live performance, the power of community, and the magic of the Britt Experience. Through on-going education and audience development programs, Britt educates new generations of listeners, helping them discover the wonder of music and performance. In addition to presenting concerts, Britt Festivals maintains a formal education program through the Britt Institute. Established in 1985, the Britt Institute hosts a wide variety of learning opportunities through a multi-faceted approach of summer camps, workshops, grade school programs, lectures and adult learning opportunities.
Festivals, received the National Council for International Visitors
(NCIV) Citizen Diplomat Pillar Award at a special event in Washington,
D.C. on February 16. Briggs was recognized for her leadership in
advancing citizen diplomacy – the concept that individual citizens
have the right to help shape U.S. foreign relations “one handshake at
a time.”
As part of its 50th Anniversary observance, NCIV presented special
Citizen Diplomat Awards in four categories: Corporate, Media, Pillar
and Bridge. Briggs received a Pillar Award, which recognizes
individuals who have contributed significant leadership and support to
the NCIV network at the local and national level. The Awards were
presented at NCIV’s 50th Anniversary Gala, an event attended by more
than 750 guests, including NCIV members from across the U.S., Members
of Congress, representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and
citizen diplomats from around the globe.
Before moving to Medford, Briggs served as President of Sister Cities
International of Tulsa and the International Council of Tulsa, which
merged in 1995 to form the Tulsa Global Alliance (TGA). Briggs was
instrumental in this merger and became the first Executive Director of
TGA, serving for a decade in that capacity. In 1993, she started the
award-winning Kids’ World, an International Children’s Festival.
Briggs chaired the NCIV National Meeting in Tulsa, one of only two
occasions when it was held outside Washington, D.C., and the NCIV
Millennium conference held in Washington, D.C. After leaving Tulsa,
Briggs founded the Wyoming Council for International Visitors and
served as its Executive Director. She served on the NCIV Board of
Directors for six years and is a member of the 50th Anniversary
National Meeting Planning Committee.
–About the National Council for International Visitors–
NCIV is a non-profit membership association currently marking 50 years
of leadership in citizen diplomacy – the concept that in a vibrant
democracy, the individual citizen has the right, even the
responsibility, to help shape foreign relations “one handshake at a
time.” NCIV’s membership includes individuals, program agencies, and
more than 90 organizations in communities throughout the U.S. who
design and implement professional programs, provide cultural
activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign
leaders and specialists participating in the U.S. Department of
State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other
exchange programs. With leadership and training provided by NCIV,
member organizations are expert at matching the resources of their
communities with the needs of international visitors. Each year the
aggregate efforts of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 volunteers.
More information is available at www.nciv.org.
Britt Festivals invites audiences and artists to celebrate the joy of
live performance, the power of community, and the magic of the Britt
Experience. Through on-going education and audience development
programs, Britt educates new generations of listeners, helping them
discover the wonder of music and performance. In addition to
presenting concerts, Britt Festivals maintains a formal education
program through the Britt Institute. Established in 1985, the Britt
Institute hosts a wide variety of learning opportunities through a
multi-faceted approach of summer camps, workshops, grade school
programs, lectures and adult learning opportunities.