What is Exchange Day?

Learn more about Exchange Day and how to celebrate it!

Exchange Day, previously known as “J-Day”, is an annual celebration of the power of international exchange. The worldwide celebration started in 2014 as an amazing initiative from the Alliance for International Exchange to raise awareness of the importance of educational and cultural exchange programs and spread the word about the many ways in which people and communities benefit from people-to-people diplomacy.

This year’s celebration of Exchange Day will be held on Monday, August 7, 2023. Traditionally, international exchange participants and community stakeholders come together under the slogan "Eat, Play, and Give", to organize local community events, share cultural diversity and American customs, give back to their communities, and have some fun.

Local Exchange Day Events

Together with Odyssey International Exchange and important stakeholders, we organize local events for Exchange Day each year. This August, we will host an event for Exchange Day in Denver, Colorado. Together with our BridgeUSA J-1 Exchange Visitors from the area, we will get involved in community service, #EatPlayGive, and have some fun. We are excited to celebrate Exchange Day together!

In addition, several host company partners will hold additional local events, together with the BridgeUSA J-1 Exchange Visitors.

You can also organize a local event or find an event near you if you wish to celebrate in different locations across the United States.

Last Year’s Events

At last year’s volunteering event, our teams, together with the representatives from Montage Palmetto Bluff and our BridgeUSA J-1 Exchange Visitors from South Carolina, organized and got involved in a volunteering activity to clean up the May River. Moreover, we had fun while connecting, enjoying nice food, kayaking, and fostering cultural diversity.

In 2019, we celebrated Exchange Day in Dana Point, California, and organized a volunteering activity that had the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the beautiful area of Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area. Together with the J-1 Exchange Visitors, we provided community service, enjoyed local pizza, and spent time connecting and appreciating the splendid views of the Pacific Ocean.

Going way back to 2017, we collaborated with ReLeaf Utah to organize a volunteer activity in Marion, Utah. Our event attracted the local news, which reported on the extraordinary community service. Moreover, we had fun while connecting over a great meal and exploring the beautiful area in Marion.

Join us in celebrating #ExchangeDay2023 by engaging your community. Find out more information about how to participate in or organize an Exchange Day event here.

We are excited to share highlights from the Exchange Day celebrations this year. Keep an eye on our social media channels to stay updated.