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History
International House
322 Hawthorne Lane
Charlotte, NC 28204
 
International House traces its roots back to 1981, when the Charlotte Area Clergy Association founded a unique ecumenical ministry dedicated to meeting the needs of the international community in Charlotte. The nonprofit organization was incorporated in May of that year as the Community College and International Ministry of Charlotte, Inc. (CCIM), and initiated programs and activities geared toward cultural interaction and public awareness. Shortly after its inception, the organization began to work toward the goal of creating a central location that would serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources as well as a focal point for international cultural activities. In 1983, the congregation at St. John's Baptist Church voted to donate the property next door to the church as the site for this future international center, and fundraising efforts began in earnest for the project. By October of 1984, the original fundraising goal of $50,000 was reached and St. John's Baptist Church began to negotiate a lease agreement with CCIM. The dream came one step closer to reality as the Board of Directors at the church approved and signed the lease agreement on the evening of December 12, 1984, the prologue of which eloquently detailed the goal of this new endeavor:
"The concept of International House is a joint venture of the Community College and International Ministry of Charlotte, Inc., St. John's Baptist Church, and the Charlotte religious and business communities and an assortment of persons and institutions that share a concern for Internationals in Charlotte and surrounding Metrolina area. Our community has become a melting pot of various cultures and peoples and there is a distinct need to establish a visible central location that will serve as a symbol of friendship and understanding. International House will be a place where Internationals and Americans can meet to share ideas and concerns, where personal faith commitments can be strengthened, where the boundaries of distance, language and culture can be broken in exchange for care, peace and compassion. It is the sincere hope of the parties of this agreement that International House shall become in this community a shining example of all the elements of mankind's nature that will one day lead to a world of peace and understanding."
The property in question at 322 Hawthorne Lane, the James L. Staten mansion, was designed in the neoclassical style by noted Charlotte architect Franklin Gordon. The house was first occupied in 1914 by James Lloyd Staten and his wife Lillian. By the 1940s, the building was used as a rooming house, and counted former US Ambassador to Brazil Herschel V. Johnson as one of its residents. In 1959, the residence was then converted into a funeral home. In 1985, however, the house became a home for Charlotte's growing international community, as International House opened its doors there for the first time on November 23rd.

Among the earliest programs of International House was the "Friendship Connection" (formerly called "Practice Your English" under the auspices of the CCIM), a program to allow internationals to make new friends and develop English language skills in an informal setting. This was but one of many programs geared toward helping internationals better understand and adapt to US culture, among them "Living in America: A Program for International Women," which provided practical information on living in Charlotte and the US, as well as an opportunity to discover new friendships and share cultural awareness.

However, International House also focused on raising interest and awareness among the local population about international themes and issues. Americans were invited to weekly "Foreign Language Lunches," to break bread and practice various foreign languages such as Spanish, French, German and Italian. The monthly "International Dialogues" focused on a different country each month, and brought together a native of the spotlight country as well as an American with experience there to offer insight into its culture.

Over the years, International House expanded its offerings in both of these areas, introducing new arrivals to life in the US while at the same time expanding the worldview of the local community through informative lectures and presentations. The "Cultural Awareness Series" introduced such topics as Chinese New Year, Indian folktales, African culture, and Japanese tea ceremonies to participants. Programs such as the "Living in the U.S." series helped internationals become better acquainted with US culture, while "Doorway to the US" brought together American and international women for social and cultural exchange.

As Charlotte grew into an increasingly diverse community, International House helped not only adults understand and adjust to these changes, it also developed programs to broaden the cultural awareness of children as well. Through various summer camp programs and periodic workshops, International House has taken children on imaginary journeys around the world to experience other cultures and languages. School groups, Girl Scout troops, and youth groups have convened upon International House to explore the art, music, food and languages of various cultures.

Yet while International House has worked to introduce Charlotte to the world, it has also invited overseas visitors to city to experience local business and community resources firsthand. In 1986, the organization became home to the International Visitors Program(IVP), a member of the National Council for International Visitors, a network of more than 100 programming organizations across the US under the auspices of the United States Information Agency. IVP hosts business, governmental and academic leaders from around the world and arranges meetings and interviews with local professionals tailored to their areas of interest. In the spring of 1994, the Business for Russia program got underway, arranging participatory business internships and family home-stay placements, complemented by group training and social activity, for professions from Russia. In 1997, the program expanded into the renamed Community Connections/Business for Russia, extending its focus to additional republics of the former Soviet Union, including Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova.

At present, International House boasts more than twenty different programs and services, including citizenship classes, the English Tutor Program, Doorways Womens Group, International House Book Club, and more. It continues to serve as a resource center serving individuals, social service organizations, schools, businesses, the media, and others. International House referral directories include information on interpreters and translators, language tutors, ethnic clubs and organizations, speakers, places of worship, entertainers, and a variety of other categories. Throughout the year, International House sponsors special events such as musical concerts and its annual Amateur Davis Cup Tennis Tournament, and reaches out to the community through participation in neighborhood events, international festivals, and its own WorldFeast.

Throughout its 27 year history, International House has remained faithful to its mission and has sustained its commitment to the community. It is supported entirely through its own fundraising initiatives, private donations from individuals and corporations, and grants from foundations, community agencies and other not-for-profit organizations.