Global Lunch Forums
Public Lunch Meetings with International Visitors
Global Lunch Forums are open-to-the-public discussion events organized by the Georgia Council for International Visitors. These forums bring together Georgia residents and distinguished international visitors for timely, informed conversations on global and local issues.
Designed for community members interested in international affairs, public policy, culture, and global perspectives, Global Lunch Forums provide an accessible setting for meaningful exchange beyond formal diplomatic environments.
Lunch with International Leaders
Who Participates?
Participants in Global Lunch Forums include:
International leaders and professionals visiting Georgia under the auspices of federally sponsored professional exchange programs
Georgia residents from diverse professional and civic backgrounds
Students, educators, and globally engaged community members
Global Lunch Forums are open to the public and encourage broad participation from across the community.
Role of Georgia Attendees
Community members play an active role by:
Participating in respectful, informed discussion
Sharing local perspectives and experiences
Asking questions and engaging directly with international guests
GCIV facilitates each Global Lunch Forum to ensure conversations are inclusive, balanced, and focused on mutual understanding.
International Visitors Experience
Through Global Lunch Forums, international visitors:
Share firsthand accounts of current events and issues in their home countries
Discuss professional experiences and sector-specific insights
Engage directly with U.S. community members in open dialogue
These conversations offer international visitors an opportunity to better understand American perspectives while contributing their own global viewpoints.
Global Impact
Global Lunch Forums contribute to:
Increased public understanding of international issues
Stronger people-to-people connections between Georgia and the world
Informed dialogue that bridges local and global perspectives
Ongoing engagement in citizen diplomacy at the community level
Global Lunch Forums exemplify how open conversation can strengthen international understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Questions?
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All Global Lunch Forums are open to the public.
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No. Global Lunch Forums are designed for community members from all backgrounds with no prior diplomatic experience.
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Discussions range from current events and global issues to international visitors’ professional expertise and shared challenges across countries.
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International visitors are nominated by U.S. embassies around the world and selected by the U.S. Department of State to participate in bipartisan professional international exchange programs. For Global Lunch Forums, GCIV looks for smaller groups and program themes of strong community interest as well as appropriate host venues. If you’re interested in partnering with GCIV on a Global Lunch Forum, please send us a message.
Still have questions? Email Emily Shaw at emily@gciv.org.
Get Involved
Host a Global Lunch Forum
GCIV is always looking for partners and unique venues to host Global Lunch Forums.
Partner With Us
Collaborate with GCIV to advance international understanding through community programs.
Visit GCIV’s calendar to learn about upcoming Global Lunch Forums and participation opportunities.