HISTORY
GlobalTexas started in 1960 to create a way for international students studying at the University of Texas to have a “family away from home”. Founded as the International Hospitality Council of Austin, a small group of 6 families invited international students into their homes for monthly dinners, to local parks for picnics and games, and into Austin itself to learn more about American culture and to help these students feel more comfortable in their new community. With the support of other local organizations, those 6 families grew to over 100, and we’ve been inviting and hosting international visitors to our communities, to our homes, and to our hearts ever since.
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When we first started, Austin was a college town whose economy was driven by The University of Texas and state government. But soon the Austin Chamber of Commerce, encouraged by a UT Bureau of Business Research study, began a concerted effort to attract light manufacturing to the city. An IBM manufacturing facility came in 1963. Motorola, Advanced Micro Devices, and 3M soon followed. Entrepreneurs started their own companies – notably Michael Dell and Dell Computer Corporation. Today, Austin’s reputation as ‘Silicon Hills’ draws investors, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, academics, and emerging leaders from throughout the world.
Over the same period, Austin became more international, not only because of the business generated by the presence of multinational companies but also because of specific community efforts. The Sister Cities Program, established in 1965, has resulted in regular exchanges with 13 sister cities and 3 friendship cities in Europe, Africa, and Asia. A series of international marketing campaigns, conducted by city and state offices, has brought foreign tourists and business groups to the city. Still other foreign individuals and groups have come as a result of local college and university programs on global issues, focusing on areas such as Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.
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Following our founding in 1960, the IHCA continued to serve international students, operating largely with volunteers and using donated office space in UT’s International Office. With the inauguration of the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Program, we began hosting foreign dignitaries who came to Austin to learn about higher education, state and local government, business, technology, and other topics, and in honor of our 50th Anniversary, IHCA became GlobalAustin to better reflect our work in international exchange.
In 2017, GlobalAustin was asked to add Houston and the surrounding communities to the areas we serve and in honor of our 65th Anniversary, GlobalAustin became GlobalTexas to better reflect our work in Houston and east and southeast Texas.
Today, GlobalTexas also works with the Congressional Office of International Leaders and their Open World Program as well as individual embassies from across the world.
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In addition to serving our international community, GlobalTexas also provides opportunities for Texas residents to learn more about international affairs and the world. Through events such as Peace Through Diplomacy, our Distinguished Speaker Series, and conferences such as Diplomacy Begins Here, GlobalTexas seeks ways to promote citizen diplomacy and engage Texans in the international community.
Welcoming 200+ international visitors per year, GlobalTexas depends on over 250 volunteer hosts to invite the visitors into their communities, promoting international understanding and peace – and connecting Texas to the world. Since our founding, we have hosted an estimated group of over 12,000 people who have visited Texas to learn more about our businesses, our schools, our communities, and our cultures.