Our Programs
Beyond Washington
Understanding the U.S. heartland
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Our Programs
Understanding the U.S. heartland
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Up to 20 staffers who work in the offices of Members of the German Bundestag (MdBs) will be accepted to participate in the program each year. Staffers for MdBs from all political parties (as well as unaffiliated MdBs) are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be primarily employed in the office of a German MdB, have an interest in U.S. affairs, and speak English proficiently so that they can engage in meaningful conversations while in the United States.
Special consideration will be given to staffers whose MdBs represent districts that have shared challenges with the area to be visited in the U.S. Staffers employed directly by their MdBs in Berlin, as well as staffers working in district offices, are all encouraged to apply. Applicants who have not previously spent a significant amount of time in the United States will also be given special consideration in the application process.
Participants in the Beyond Washington program will share the lessons learned during the program with a wider audience via a post-program report and an event in the district of their MdB, acting as multipliers and spreading an understanding of the primary issues impacting the United States’ heartland.
Following a review of all applications by Cultural Vistas and an approval of the final selection by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, applicants will be contacted with information on whether or not they have been accepted as a participant in the Beyond Washington program.
Following review of all applications, Cultural Vistas will make a pre-selection of candidates who are the most qualified to participate in the program according to the eligibility requirements. Cultural Vistas seeks a participant group that reflects the political landscape of Germany and who work for MdBs from all political parties (as well as unaffiliated MdBs). This pre-selection list, based on criteria evaluated by Cultural Vistas, will be sent to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. The U.S. Embassy in Berlin will make the final selection of participants.
Monday, March 9 to Sunday, April 26, 2026: Application Period
Week of May 11, 2026: Announcement of application results
August: Virtual pre-departure meeting
Sunday, August 16, 2026: Program starts in Columbus, OH
August 17-21, 2025: Meetings in Columbus, OH and surrounding area
August 22, 2026: Program ends in Columbus, OH
September 2026 through November 2026: Participants organize events to share the lessons learned during the program with a wider audience in the electoral districts of their MdBs.
The program covers accommodation in Columbus, OH, all on-the-ground transfers during the program, health insurance, meetings with leaders from government, business, and civil society, a home hospitality visit, and cultural activities.
Selected participants need to cover their travel costs to and from Columbus, OH. They are free to choose their preferred means of transportation but need to ensure timely arrival at the start of the program. Selected participants need to also cover their own meals during the program in the U.S.
Between 2018-2023, Beyond Washington was funded by the Transatlantic Program of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through funds of the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. Since 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin is the sole funder of Beyond Washington.