FALL 2013 PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D. C. November 6 - 9, 2013

*Sponsored by the U.S. State Department

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development

with WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. – Contract Agent and Manager

Website: http://www.glc-teachdemocracy2.org/ Facebook: GLC_TeachDemocracy

Contact: glc_teachdemocracy2@hotmail.com

At the end of the 6-week fellowship program on “Building Grassroots De-mocracy in Minority Communities”* GLC’s 18-member delegation of Profes-sional Fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia joined with 240 other fellows from 50 countries from around the world at the Professional Fel-lows Congress organized by the World Learning with support and funding from the U.S. State Department.

The Fellows Congress provided opportunities for Fellows to network with program colleagues working within their professional sphere, learn about best practices and creative solutions in their respective fields, share key insights into effective leadership models, and explore ways to apply their learning and expertise to a number of concrete and innovative activities upon their return home.

During these days fellows got a chance to build an international network of professional fellows involved in Eco-nomic empowerment, Media, Legislative Process and Governance. In addition to new contacts, participants of the Con-gress gained additional experience in establishing a broader network of the U.S. State Department alumni that they

may use after returning home. The Congress started with a fun

Bingo game to allow participants to get to know each other. Agenda included small group exercise with sharing experi-ence on the U.S. fellowship, skill build-ing workshops, interesting speakers and forums. The Ambassadors Luncheon gave an opportunity for the fellows to meet with representatives of their respec-tive embassies in Washington D.C., and our fellows enjoyed the meeting with the leaders from all of our 4 embassies

(Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slo-vak Republic) and were able to share experience about their program in the U.S. and at home. The Poster Show also allowed to share and compare activities from around the world. Allison Jarus, from Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's office, leaders from the U.S. State De-partment and our Program Officer David Gustafson also came to the Poster Show and talked with our fellows.

THANK YOU TO ALL!

Fall 2013 Professional Fellows Congress November 6

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The Ambassadors Luncheon November 7

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The morning of the 2nd day on Pro Fellows Congress delegates spent in small mixed groups to share fellowship experience. Then, during the "Ambassadors Luncheon" Dr. Tomicah S. Tille-mann-Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Civil So-ciety and Emerging Democracies addressed audi-ence with representatives from different embassies joined the Professional Fellows. This time we were very fortunate that repre-sentatives from all of our 4 embassies - Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovak Republic - joined our delegation and they were able to share some experience with them about this exchange program and their work in their home country. It was great opportunity to connect with the different embassies and also learn about their activities in the U.S. and establish connections that can be useful in a future.

Workshops & “Solution Salon” November 7-8

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Afternoon on November 7 was a “Global Issues” panel discussion at the U.S. State Department where leaders of regional offices made short presentations on various topics and answered questions. Presentation of the Distinguished Alumnae Award was also included in the program for two former fellows. The 3rd day of the Congress November 8 included professional development workshops and a Solution Salon, the Poster Show and the closing of the Congress. On the last evening a dinner cruise on the Poto-mac River was the final program.

Our fellows had two poster shows. First on October 3, 2013 in the Stay-bridge Suites hotel in Maumee (Toledo). The purpose was to learn at the beginning of the U.S. trip about each other’s work and to practice short introduction and presentation skills. Our delegation voted for the best post-ers within our group.

Our first place winner is Boba (Bozena) Baluchova (Slovakia) with her poster: “Innovative Ways in Social Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination”. The second place winner is Roman Tycka Kollarik (Slovakia) with his poster: “To Be Myself or Not to Be”. The third place has two winners both from Hungary: Zsofia Lenart with

her poster: “Community on the Hori-zon” and Robert Bekefi with his poster: “Enabling Roma Communities with the Projects of Kurt Lewin Foun-dation”. Congratulations to our winners of the Poster Contest and “Thank You” to delegation for creating all wonderful posters.

Poster Session at the Congress November 8

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Our posters were shipped to the Congress to participate in their Poster Show with fellows posters from around the world. On afternoon November 8, at the end of the Congress, each of our delegation members presented their posters. Everyone was able to learn about other's work, compare posters

and make closer bonds. The posters of our delegation did not win, but attracted much interest, and our fellows enjoyed the opportu-nity to talk about their activities in mi-nority (Roma, LGBT, immigrants, dis-abled) communities in Central and Eastern Europe. Our fellows were also

very impressed with the posters of other fellows. Our delegation made many con-nections and we hope to continue some communication and possible collabora-tion with other delegates. It was a great opportunity for GLC representatives from Toledo to meet leaders of differ-ent community organizations such as from Hyderabad & Sind region of Pakistan, which is the Sister City of Toledo. We are looking forward find-ing ways for collaboration on future projects.

Poster Session at the Congress November 8

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November 8 Farewell Evening: Cruise on Potomac River

This cruise with 250 people from around the world was a great ending of the Congress and our 6-weeks program in the United States. Profes-sional Fellows made a lot of friends and strengthened the bonds with each other and between their countries. THANK YOU WORLD LEARNING AND THE U.S. State Department for providing this great farewell pro-gram! Everyone had fun and enjoyed a lot!

Congress’ Certificates of Completion

Thank you to Boba Baluchova, Kalina Hristova Valova, Oana Botezan, Vladislav Petkov, Roman Tycka Kollarik, Elizabeth Balint, Laura Stefanut, and all others whose photographs were used for this publication! Our sincere

thank you to Viktoriya Maryamova for creating this publication!

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photo with all the alumni on it from around the world who participated in the Fall 2013 Professional Fel-lows Congress. Our fellows re-ceived a small gift from David Gustafson, our Program Officer. Martin Nagy also shared a small gift with the fellows as a Native American tradition. Fellows also thanked the U.S. State Department, GLC/WSOS, Elizabeth Balint and Martin Nagy for their support. They emphasized that will continue their work with minority communities at home us-ing the ideas and methods in com-munity organizing they learned at many community organizations around the United States! They promised to keep in touch through social media and post regular up-dates on their accomplishments and to keep in touch with each other.

tion of their 6-week Professional Fellows Program and presented a certificate of completion from the U.S. State Department along with a Professional Fellows Congress

After the cruise GLC fellows gathered at the hotel. From GLC Elizabeth Balint and Martin Nagy thanked GLC fellows for their par-ticipation and successful comple-

THANK YOU TO

the U.S. State Department for sponsoring the Fall 2013

Professional Fellows Congress and to World Learning to organize

all the Congress related activities in Washington, D.C.!