Claes Nobel, senior member of the Nobel Peace Prize family, will be keynote speaker at International Services Council’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Von Braun Center on March 5. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – International Services Council of Alabama (ISC) has scheduled another youth exchange visit and a gala celebration for its 50th anniversary.

ISC is aligned with the Department of State. ISC youth leadership programs intend to advance mutual understanding between the United States and other countries, ISC Executive Director Jacqui Shipe said.

ISC helps foster awareness of global cultures and facilitates tolerance of diversity of cultures among Alabama’s elementary and middle school children. ISC also sponsors international exchange students in partnership with local host families and high schools throughout Madison County and Alabama.

In March, ISC will again host a Central American Youth Ambassadors delegation. Organizers need host families to accommodate 30 youth. Families who are interested in serving as hosts can send email to Shipe at jbgaat@aol.com.

In other plans, ISC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner in the North Hall of the Von Braun Center on March 5. “Our guest speaker will be Claes Nobel, senior member of the Nobel Peace Prize family,” Shipe said.

The VIP reception will open at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6 p.m. The Army Materiel Command Band will perform. For more information, call 256-532-3560.

“Madison Mayor Trulock will be one of the honorees,” she said. In addition, Trulock will meet with an Open World delegation from Tajikistan on Feb. 23. At 6 p.m. that day, Trulock will introduce the delegation to Madison City Council at its regular meeting.

ISC was founded in 1965 when international military personnel in training at Redstone Arsenal found a lack of venues for after-hours interaction. ISC has coordinated more than 80,000 visitors.

ISC’s local headquarters are in the Humphreys-Rodgers House, 102 Gates Ave. SW in Huntsville. For more information, call 256-532-3560 or visit iscalabama.org or Facebook/ISC Alabama.