Building global understanding and respect, one exchange at a time.
International Focus’ mission is to promote mutual understanding between the people of North Carolina’s Triangle region and the international community through education, cultural exchange, arts, and the celebration of achievements.
Given the uncertainty of the pandemic and our desire to keep our community safe, we have postponed the International Festival to 2022– at the earliest. Please stay tuned, we are as eager as you are to get together soon to celebrate our diverse cultural heritage.
How You Can Get Involved
Call (919) 782-0552, Donate, or Contact Us to get Involved
Volunteer or Intern
Whether you are interested in event planning, designing programs for international delegations, connecting with the business community, or crafting stories and outeach tools, we have a spot for you. Positions and assignments are tailored to your interests and the time commitment you can make.
International Exchange
We host delegations of emerging leaders around the world. Our exchange guests are identified by U.S. embassies as persons of rising influence with whom the U.S. wishes to build and foster strong bilateral relationships.
Business Partnership
Our business partners receive unique promotional and networking opporutnities, the ability to connect with international leaders through special receptions and events, and access to adiverse demographic of highly educated and globally-minded inviduals.
What We Do
International Focus supports the Triangle’s multicultural communities and international exchange through cross-cultural diplomacy and communication. Year-round, we host visiting international delegations to the area and connect them with Triangle businesses, institutions, and people for exchange and dialogue. Each spring, we bring our area’s international and native communities together at the International Festival of Raleigh for 3 days of international dance, food, and cultural exchange.
We also host community and membership events and collaborate on a variety of artistic, diplomatic, professional, and cultural projects.
We’ve made an economic impact of over $18M
8,800
Int’l Visitors
1,500 Exchange Programs
Online Diplomacy Series
We are currently hosting 2 virtual diplomacy series:
Global Diplomacy Dialogue, a diplomacy series that involves leaders from around the world. They are alumni who visited our area and are interested in sharing the latest news and information from their corner of the world.
E-Talk, a diplomacy series that focuses on local leaders and their impact across our state and beyond! Attendees will get to know inspiring voices working in the arts, diplomacy, faith, law, business, politics, science and humanities. Guests will reveal their thoughts, giving us further insight into their character and work towards the building of resilient communities.
Welcome Y’all Yard Sign
So no matter where you live in the Triangle, you can show your southern hospitality and pride in the great diversity in NC!
$17
Festival T-Shirt
These 100% cotton t-shirts feature Bob Rankin’s latest International Festival Poster design and come in S, M, L, and XL in both Men’s and Women’s cuts.
$18
Festival Mug
Our festival mug features our annual International Festival of Raleigh logo.
$23
Flavors of the Triangle Cookbook
Our Cookbook features 177 favorite recipes from our Festival participants. From Afghan Raviolis to Zairian Porridge, you can taste the world in your very own kitchen.
$27
Featured Partners
