“CITIZEN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES” PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. May 2 – May 5, 2012 At the end of the 6-week fellowship program organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development our 16member delegation from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia joined with other fellows from around the world at the U. S. State Department Professional Fellows Congress in Washington D.C. for a 3-day program. With about 250 participants from 50 countries around the world, fellows
Mike Stanton and David Gustafson, U.S. Department of State officers
felt like coming to a United Nation's Assembly! The delegates were able to meet and talk with many people about their countries and got ideas from around the world! The program included Open Space activities, interesting speakers and forums, poster presentation, a dinner with representatives of different embassies, meeting with leaders from the U.S. State Department, and opportunities for discussion and fun. incl. a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. (continue on page 4)
Remarks at the Professional Fellows Congress By Maria Otero Maria Otero, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and the Human rights, made opening remarks at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. on May 3, 2012: “Good Morning. On behalf of the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, welcome to Washington D.C.
It’s a pleasure to be with you today. You have traveled a long way to be here today, from nearly fifty countries on almost every continent. You speak different languages, practice different faiths, and come from different professions. But you have many things in common. You are committed to public service. You are skilled professionals who are eager to share your knowledge.
And you’re here to learn, both about others working in your field and about the United States − the place, its people, and our desire to partner with you. The need for people-topeople exchanges, like the Professional Fellows Congress, is more compelling than ever today…” For whole article follow the link: http://www.state.gov/j/189237.htm
*/ Sponsored by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Find us on Internet: Website - http://www.glc-teachdemocracy.org/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/GLC_Teach-Democracy/145023818929367 “GLC_Teach Democracy, Community organizing and exchange programs 2011-2013”
Professional Fellows Congress (May 2 - 4, 1012)
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“Citizen Legislative Advocacy in Minority Communities�
Professional Fellows Congress (May 2 - 4, 2012) Poster Presentation Session
Professional Fellows in the U.S. (March 26 - May 5, 2012)
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Professional Fellows Congress 2012 The dinner cruise on May 4th on the Potomac river was a memorable evening for our delegation. The weather was great and everyone had a great time to relax, to dance and to enjoy the scenery and other fellows!
May 5th was the end of the Professional Fellows Congress, and also the final day for our delegation before returning home. On the last day of their 6-weeks program in the U.S. they get together with Mr. David Gustafson, Program Officer from the U.S. State Department for a final discussion and evaluation of their experience and for summarizing their individual and group action plans with new ideas that they intend to implement after returning home. Mr. Gustafson (second from right) presented a certificate to our delegation.
THANK YOU TO the U.S. State Department for sponsoring the 2012 Spring Professional Fellows Congress and to World Learning to organize all the Congress related activities in Washington, D.C.!