Project Interchange Explained

Project Interchange
Size:	174px
Formation:	1982
Founder:	Debra Berger
Headquarters:	Washington, D.C.
Leader Title:	Director
Leader Name:	Nisha Abkarian
Parent Organization:	American Jewish Committee (since 1992)

Project Interchange (PI) is an American program that arranges education visits and seminars to Israel for American and international leaders in different fields. Established in 1982, PI is run by the American Jewish Committee.

Each year, PI invites 300 professionals from journalism, religion, government, health care, security, and academia to participate. Since 1982, over 6,000 participants from over 115 countries have attended PI programs.^[1]

Each PI delegation's week-long visit is customized to emphasize their specific interests. Activities include site visits and meetings with both Israeli and Palestinian professionals, policy-makers, civil society leaders, and government officials.^[2]

Impact

In 2008, PI offered 25 seminars for more than 300 participants, including university presidents, clergy, journalists, public health leaders, state officials, Rhodes Scholars, UN ambassadors, immigration and integration experts, and environmental experts.

On their return to their home countries, PI encourages participants to write articles, give interviews, begin collaborations with partner organizations in Israel, and get involved with local issues of common concern with the Jewish community.^[3]

Notable Alumni

• Gillian Bird, Former Australian Ambassador to the United Nations^[4]
• Lonnie Bunch III, Founding Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Juan José Gómez Camacho, Former Ambassador of Mexico to the United Nations
• Steve Chabot, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[5]
• Michael V. Drake, Former President, The Ohio State University
• Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India^[6]
• Michael Fitts, President, Tulane University^[7]
• John Anderson Fry, President, Drexel University^[8]
• Carlos Giménez, Former Mayor, Miami-Dade County, Florida
• Christy Haubegger, Founder, Latina magazine
• Alberto Ibargüen, CEO of the Knight Foundation
• Ioannes Kasoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cyprus
• Ro Khanna, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[9]
• George Muñoz, banking executive^[10]
• Péter Niedermüller, Former Member, European Parliament^[11]
• Annise Parker, Former Mayor, Houston, Texas
• Martha E. Pollack, President of Cornell University
• Kasim Reed, Former Mayor, Atlanta, Georgia
• Ramona Romero, Former General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Jacky Rosen, U.S. Senator from Nevada^[12]
• David Skorton, Former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
• Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
• Ted Strickland, Former Member of Congress
• Holden Thorp, Former Chancellor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Barbara

Further reading

• Selected list of participants 2011
• Selected list of participants 2013
• Selected alumni quotes

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-12-13 . Our Story . Project Interchange . . en.
2. Web site: 2018-12-19 . Sample Project Interchange Itinerary AJC . 2023-02-11 . www.ajc.org . en.
3. Web site: 2018-12-10 . About Project Interchange AJC . 2023-02-11 . www.ajc.org . en.
4. Web site: 2018-12-10 . Government Officials and Diplomats AJC . 2023-02-11 . www.ajc.org . en.
5. Web site: Ohio congressman sees Israel for the first time . 2023-02-11 . Cleveland Jewish News . en.
6. Web site: 2018-12-12 . Delegations AJC . 2023-02-11 . www.ajc.org . en.
7. Web site: Tulane president visits Israel to explore collaboration opportunities . 2023-02-11 . Tulane University School of Medicine . en.
8. Web site: 2011-07-05 . NAICU President Co-chairs Visit to Israel by Presidents of Major U.S. Universities . NAICU.
9. Web site: Kassel . Matthew . 2022-02-24 . Ro Khanna reflects on his first trip to Israel as a congressman . 2023-02-11 . Jewish Insider . en-US.
10. Web site: Committee . American Jewish . Latino Alumni of AJC Project Interchange Seminars in Israel to Discuss Experiences, Impact at Reunion . 2023-02-11 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
11. Web site: 2018-06-20 . AJC Project Interchange Moment: Na’el Zoabi and Péter Niedermüller . 2023-02-11 . AJC Transatlantic Institute . en.
12. Web site: 2019-10-18 . Campus Notebook: Idahoans in Africa highlight congressional travel . 2023-02-11 . Roll Call . en.