AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT
A Free Domestic Exchange Program . A Civic Rite of Passage . A More Connected America
AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT
A Free Domestic Exchange Program . A Civic Rite of Passage . A More Connected America
Meet American Exchange Project
American Exchange Project is a first-of-its-kind domestic exchange program that sends high school graduates on a free, all-American adventure: After graduation, they’ll spend one week exploring an American community vastly different from their own, and another week welcoming students to their town for the same immersive experience. The organization was founded in 2019 as a nonpartisan solution to growing divisions in our country. These transformative adventures have been designed to create lasting connections between Americans from different backgrounds; foster deeper empathy among neighbors; and give students the chance to see themselves and their country in new ways.
“After 35 years in the classroom...I am stunned by what an opportunity [this] is—not only for my students, but for genuine civic engagement in our community.”
—Lois MacMillan (Exchange Manager | Grants Pass, Oregon)
District and School Involvement
Each district or high school must have one educator or administrator serve in the part-time role of Exchange Manager. Exchange Managers are responsible for facilitating a one-week exchange in their hometown over the summer, among other responsibilities throughout the academic year.
The Exchange Manager role includes a generous stipend, which can range from $6,900 to $8,600. Payment is dependent on the size of the exchange cohort. Educators or administrators who participate as Exchange Managers serve as independent contractors for American Exchange Project and not as representatives of their school or district.
“I learned more after five days in Texas than I did in four years of high school.”
—Will (Scranton, Pennsylvania → Cotulla, Texas)
Exchange Manager Responsibilities
Exchange Manager responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Fall
- Recruit high school seniors who are on track to graduate to participate in the program
- Work with community members to recruit host families and volunteers
Winter
- Host regular in-person meetings with student participants to create community, connect to the mission, and cultivate leaders
- Plan your school’s American Exchange Project Day celebration, a special event during which students discover their travel location
Spring
- Work with your students to plan an eight-day itinerary for the exchange you’ll be facilitating over the summer
- Attend a virtual training session around risk mitigation and management
- Coordinate virtual meetings between home students, travel students, and host families
Summer
- Lead and accompany your exchange cohort on all itinerary activities during your eight-day exchange
- Be in communication with National Staff as needed around unexpected issues or situations