Introduction:  The Harvard Arab Alumni Association and the Harvard Society of Arab Students organized a symposium entitled "Promoting Understanding between the Arab World and the US" at Harvard University in April, 2003. In this time of increasing misunderstanding between the Arab world and the United States, education and open dialogue are fundamental to breaking both the real and artificial barriers created by politics, language, geography, and religion. This has become even more important in light of the recently heightened political tensions between the Arab World and the U.S. This symposium addressed some channels through which such misperceptions can be corrected. The objective was to identify concrete methods to promote understanding through education, economic corporation, and open dialogue, and to come up with actionable next steps that allow participants to have a personal impact beyond the symposium.