“Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities” Testimonies from the Spring 2013 Professional Fellows European Delegation visiting the United States in April 1 — May 11, 2013
April 8, 2013, Celebrating International Roma Day: Martin Nagy and 19-member Spring delegation from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia on International Roma day in Whitehall hotel in Chicago, IL. (L-R) row 1. Anita Vodal, Timea Eva Kovacs, Ioana Petrache, Simona Nicoleta Barbu, Delyana Mihneva, Daniela Batova, Hajnalka Kiss, Martin Wallace Nagy; row 2. Csaba Szikra, Miroslav Ragac, Georgi Georgiev, Milenko Milenkov, Raluca Negulescu, Ruxandra Borca, Laszlo Jakab, Dzhevid Mahmud, Maros Chmelik, Silvia Ursu, Monika Vaskovicova and Martin Klus.
Participants from Bulgaria Dzhevid Mahmud, Dobrich Internship in Boston (MA) and Manchester (NH) “During my experience in the U.S., I found that the U.S. is not what you see in the movies, it is much more than that, and surely it is much more different. I had the chance to meet great people in Toledo OH; Chicago IL; Boston MA; Manchester NH who all showed me that U.S. is not about external politics or action movies, but it is about the people residing in the country. I was pleased to discuss with the people from Toledo how they bring positive emotions into their community organizing work. I found it difficult to assimilate the authoritative style of community organizing in Chicago, yet I learned that at the other end of the carrot is the stick. It was very emotional to be in Boston and go through the tough week of the unfortunate event where three people died after a homemade bomb blasted downtown Boston at the annual marathon run. The residents of one of the oldest towns in the country held firm that the marathon would be continued in the future, and found the power within themselves to confront the militarization of the city. It was also in Boston where I met great compassionate people, the real American solidarity, people assisting people who needed water, food, shelter or prayer. I also met the people of Manchester and the beautiful nature of New Hampshire, its charming rivers, lakes and mountains, incredibly friendly people with big souls - I might say friends for eternity. In Washington DC, I saw politics at its high and tried to grasp as much as possible from this dynamic interaction. I look forward to sharing all my experiences gained through the exchange program with my colleagues”.
Delyana Mihneva, Plovdiv Internship in St. Louis (MO) “The USA: The state of contrasts. As a participant in the Professional Fellows Program “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities” I had the unique opportunity to experience American democracy, to explore the American culture and lifestyle, and last but not least, to come face-to-face with the contrasts in the U.S. On the one hand, the tempting state where dreams come true does not live a movie-like life. People have the same problems everywhere, they struggle for the right to live, not to survive. Fancy skyscrapers and famous chain shops cohabit with the homeless and beggars. In their eyes you can see despair, their only thought is how to live one more day. Divided areas, poor neighborhoods, unfair treatment … a mindset challenging reality I face in Bulgaria as well. On the other hand, America knows what Power To-The-People means. Americans trust not only in God, but in their democracy. They know that their voice is a weapon and many people are not afraid to use it to teach others to do the same, to challenge the reality and the system as a whole, to dare to speak out and to follow their dreams. Inspiring...”
Georgi Georgiev, Lom, Bulgaria Internship in Chicago (IL) “During the past five weeks, I realized that there is only one country, the U.S.A., where people do not judge you by what color your skin is or if you are Romani, Turkish, Asian or African. A place where people want to help you live normally and not try to hurt you as much as possible, i.e. a place where there is no ethnic and racial discrimination. Observing human rights, regardless of race, color, religion, gender and more is something that is missing in Bulgaria. I now understand how community organizing in the U.S. tries to unite people by mutual problem solving. In the U.S., the real leader does not teach others what to do, but shows others how to do it by themselves. I am happy to learn this so I can help more people in my country learn this attitude. In Bulgaria, people fight for their rights, but the people just talk to each other and are afraid to come out to defend their rights. They wait until someone with a magic wand comes to solve the problem in no time. In the U.S., people know and respect the law. In Bulgaria, many people do not know or want to know because it would create ‘unnecessary work’ for them. I believe the training I received helped me to realize where I am now, what needs to change, how and why I changed, and what my ultimate goal is – the ability to help more people realize what I learned in the U.S.”
April 2, 2013, Maumee, Ohio, 4-members of the delegation from Bulgaria at the Staybridge Suites hotel during the presentation discussions and Poster show.
Milenko Milenkov, Lom Internship in Charlotte (NC) “The last forty-two days were so interesting for me. This fellowship was so important because I learned so many new things and I had the opportunity to meet so many people, see so many different communities and gain skills for community organizing. I was so surprised in Charlotte, NC when I saw so many poor people in the role as facilitators of meetings, as a motivated people to bring change as a active citizens. This was very important for me because I want to motivate the Roma people from my region to act like this. I am so grateful that I was part of this exchange.”
Participants from Hungary Hajnalka Kiss, Budapest Internship in Richmond (VA) “I am a volunteer community organizer in Hungary. I came to the U.S. through the program “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities” that was organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development. My purpose was to learn more about community organizing, and methods and strategies aimed at assisting minorities. I can say that I learned a lot more than I hoped. I have seen that community organizing is really a tool to build democracy in the U.S. because community members learn that they can have a voice and can achieve something together. I learned that if people have a personal relationship with their elected officials – officials will listen to the people and will ask for their suggestions. By using the tool of ‘community organizing’ neighborhoods can be organized from the bottom up, building themselves on the real need of the community. I saw that networks are very important and people in the U.S. cooperate a lot, they share tasks and put much more effort to find somebody who is good at a task, rather than to solve a task as a one person show. Organizations are more stable because they work a lot on identifying and developing leaders. I hope that all the lessons that I learned, I will be able to put in practice back home in Hungary.”
Csaba Szikra, Budapest Internship in Detroit (MI), Boston (MA), New York (NY) “Friends, ideas, responsibility - these are the most important things that I gathered when I was in the United States for the Professional Fellows Program. I was involved in various projects on plenty of interesting issues including gun violence prevention, immigration reform, fighting Islamophobia, and the list is not complete. I live and work in a diverse, multicultural quarter of Budapest, Hungary. I found the good practices of my American colleagues really useful regarding community organizing among the Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of color. Actually, my own neighborhood is like a small U.S. with ethnic and religious minorities living together with the majority group and our aim is to help them organize a real community among themselves. I really like the methods of inter-cultural and inter-faith organizations and I know that I want to adopt these ideas for the children’s education in afterschool programs on community organizing. Yes, we can do it!”
Laszlo Oliver Jakab, Kistelek Internship in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (PA) “During my internship in the U.S., I got a very good picture of what community organizing is. It was very useful that what we learned in theory, we could try out in practice. My host organization in Philadelphia PA, Action United, gave me space to practice the door knocking, one on one’s, phone calls, what is agitation, polarization, etc. I learned from them what power of the people is, what direct action is, what a house meeting and an effective meeting is. I am inspired, ready for action in Hungary, and I can recommend this program for those who work with communities and really want to see change, are ready to learn, and employ a very useful structure in their profession.”
Timea Eva Kovacs, Debrecen Internship in Seattle (WA) “I was having my first cup of coffee and a cigarette early one morning on the terrace watching a cloudy sky, the mountains and water of Lake Washington. My senses were awake and thinking - how did I get there from another part of the world. My mind stopped thinking abruptly when I recalled my first experience of organizing in the refugee camp of Debrecen. Yes, that was the first step on the road that led me to the U.S. I met wonderful people day by day, did things I had never done before, or in a way I never thought things could be done. But I dreamed. I always dreamed that this could be for real: a society where everyday people know that they have the power to change things; where democracy and its institutions are not just theatrical scenery; where people gather to fight for an issue and share their stories without a sense of fear or shame. I used to dream about this kind of world, now I know that it is for real. - What am I going to do now? My country’s reality is still far away from this… In a moment, the picture of a wise man comes to mind again. He was talking to our group in Toledo, OH about the program and he told us that this experience will change our life forever. The memory gives me the chill again. His name is Peter Ujvagi, and he was right. I take a look at my clock. I am a bit late as usually, just like my country… I smile. Let’s get to work.”
Anita Vodal, Budapest Internship in Chicago (IL) “I am a lawyer at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union’s Roma Program. We deal with issues such as institutional discrimination, ethnic profiling by the police and hate crimes against the Roma people. Because I work on legal empowerment of Roma communities, my main expectation during my internship was to learn how to combine legal empowerment with community organizing. After those six weeks I spent in the U.S., I realized that it is impossible to work with Roma communities by using legal tools alone, and it is essential to organize them. These communities have to use their personal stories, experiences and knowledge as their power in order to fight against social exclusion. Because of my experience in the U.S., I am now able to support them by introducing new ideas and effective methods that lead to self-empowerment. This experience has given me the tools I need for effective organizing and has also connected me to community leaders in both Europe and the United States. These new connections will provide constant support and will enable us to be more successful in our work in our own countries.”
April 2, 2013, Maumee, Ohio, 5-members of the delegation from Hungary at the Staybridge Suites hotel sharing experience with Carol LaBounty, one of the leaders of the Toledo-Szeged Sister City Committee
Participants from Romania Raluca Negulescu, Bucharest Internship in Manchester (NH) “This professional fellows program was one of the most enriching and empowering experiences in my life. I left the United States with the conviction that building grassroots democracy through community organizing is precisely the missing piece in our efforts as a society to authentically empower citizens, and particularly members of the Roma minority. I believe that community organizing is the long term key to breaking the cycle of marginalization of the Roma people in Romania. The six week experience provided me with a complex picture of community organizing in both a theoretical and a practical manner. During my internship time with Granite State Organizing Project (Manchester, NH), not only did I have the chance to engage in concrete organizing activities in various minority communities, but I was also exposed to an inspiring model of building leadership while strengthening the voice of the communities. Learning about cultural and system differences shed light on both challenges and accomplishments of community organizing and on various ways to cope with both positive and negative outcomes. Of course, one of the most challenging tasks is to adapt the model to the particularities of my work in Romania, but I am confident that I can transfer the knowledge in a meaningful way. One of the most important lessons I have learned in the U.S. that becoming a community organizer is a journey that is not easy, nor simple, and that persistence is a fundamental trait of any community organizer who builds on the unaltered belief that all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or racial background, are entitled to their rights and they have the tremendous power to hold their representatives accountable.”
Simona Barbu, Ilfov County Internship in Seattle (WA) “The six weeks that I spent in America can be described as very intense. From the point of view of the program, of the information received and of the people I met, it was challenging and interesting. I gained a lot, personally and professionally, by participating in this program and I trust that the experiences will help me in the work I am doing in Romania. I learned a lot about organizing from professional organizers and how important grassroots are in community organizing. All the organizations I met are doing a great job and they shared with all of us their issues and the methods they work with. During the internship at Washington CAN! Seattle WA, I had the opportunity to learn new things and I always reflected on how I could use these back home. There were topics and ideas like organizing direct meetings with politicians, how to organize the people that they represent to hold politicians accountable, how to create campaigns on issues that affect the community, fundraising activities, but I guess the most impressive and fun activity for me was canvassing with the team of Washington CAN! Even though I had gone door to door before and talked with people, the membership and fundraising I did with them was different, and I learned that the saying: “If you think you can, you can! If you think you can’t, you can’t!” is very true and that the most important thing is to have a positive attitude and find the people that you need to work with. In summary, I would say this was a great experience for me because it has allowed me to see the real U.S. and meet amazing people. I found many similarities in my work and in their work, and between our problems and their problems despite the fact that we came from different parts of the world.”
Ioana Petrache, Bucharest Internship in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (PA) “During these past six weeks, I learned about the history of community organizing in the United States and I had the opportunity to observe and practice efficient community organizing techniques inside a professional and mature organization. It was a great opportunity for me to understand minority issues in the U.S. and to reflect upon the general dynamics of ethnic discrimination. Most of all, this was a great opportunity to connect with wonderful people from the U.S., as well as from Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.”
Ruxandra Borca, Petrosani Internship in Chicago (IL) “My three week internship at Logan Square Neighborhood Association, (LSNA) Chicago IL, was a great opportunity to learn about community organizing in immigrant communities, and about new, good working practices that I can apply in Romania too. It gave me the chance to talk with people living in a multi-ethnic community that are facing economic and social issues to understand their self-interests, and see how they can organize and work together for a solution. I now understand how important it is to give people the power to take action and not to do for them what they can do for themselves. Our work in Chicago focused on the empowerment of immigrant mothers through the Parent Mentor program initiated by the LSNA and supported through a variety of actions – from leadership development trainings to meetings with legislators, rallies, and fundraising campaigns. Shadowing people supporting the Comprehensive Immigration Reform was also a very enriching experience that gave me insight on one of the most important ongoing issues in the United States at the moment. This exchange was a great chance to make new contacts, see people deeply committed to their work, and therefore I would like to continue the cooperation with LSNA and all the other organizations I met in the United States. I am really thankful to my mentor, Joanna Brown, for everything she has taught me about community organizing in Chicago, and I hope I can have the chance to share my experience in Romania with as many organizations as possible.”
Silvia Ursu, Bucharest Internship in St. Louis (MO) “This Professional Fellows Program was very important for me because I got a new perspective on how to engage more people with disabilities in the community and how to make them feel like they are part of an organization. In Central and Eastern Europe, the struggle is to make a switch from the medical model in which persons with disabilities are seen as patients, to the social model where they are seen as active citizens who are part of the community. I think that the social model can be easily implemented by using community organizing and giving the chance to persons with disabilities to speak for themselves. I was very lucky to be part of a powerful organization, Paraquad, based in Saint Louis, MO where I could actually see how community organizing works and how it completes the advocacy work. Also, I had a really amazing mentor, an activist for disability rights, a believer in human rights and a very remarkable lobbyist, Sarah Durbin. She explained more to me about lobbying and advocacy in the disability movement field. Sarah played a huge role in my internship experience and gave me a powerful overview of the disability movement in the United States. I will take home the many skills and knowledge that I learned to contribute to our disability movement. I have been working for more than two years in the National Organization of Disabled People in Romania and I have family and friends with disabilities. I know how great these people are and I believe they just need a little push to organize, speak for themselves and to fight for their rights. Being part of the community should be a priority for everyone, and it is also our duty to make sure that people with disabilities can fully take part in their community.”
April 2, 2013, Maumee, Ohio, 5-members of the delegation from Romania at the Staybridge Suites hotel during the presentation discussions and Poster show.
Participants from Slovakia Maros Chmelik, Zvolen Internship in Charlotte (NC) “Participation in this program was extremely powerful, educational and unforgettable. The combination of professional workshops, an ideal internship and the best colleagues from all four countries made me feel that this was a most memorable life changing experience for me. Especially my experience in North Carolina – with Action NC, where I spent three weeks in an internship was just amazing. I learned from their good practices and experiences and compared it with mine. I am certainly sure that this American experience will help me to better understand my community through listening, story sharing and empowering them. My work in Slovakia and the start of community organizing work will be challenging, but I still believe that with common effort, good motivation and the right agitation, communities in my country will definitely achieve changes and make their cities better places to live.”
Monika Vaskovicova, Banska Bystrica Internship in St. Louis (MO) “It took the United States around seventy-five years to reach democracy. I correlate the democracy in the U.S. to a seventy-five year-old human being – wise, realistic, altruistic, persistent and with a personality. It is been twenty-three years since democracy came to rule our system of government in Slovakia. And again, it is like a twenty-three year-old human being – forming its values, experimenting, energetic, but insecure and just ready to start a new beginning – a "serious life". Being in the U.S.A. was like listening with respect to a wise seventy-five year-old person talking about life, people, movements and changes. I learned that with great power also comes great responsibility and that power is not a bad thing if it is divided wisely among people. I have experienced that change happens through community organizing and not through super heroes. Now coming back to Slovakia, I see the path to change because I received the light of knowledge within those forty-two days there. The word "change" suddenly appears in a whole different perspective.”
Miroslav Ragac, Banska Bystrica Internship in Chicago (IL) “This exchange program gave me a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas about community organizing. It gave me new skills and methods and how to apply community organizing in my country, Slovakia. Thanks to my internship at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, I learned new methods to challenge our legislative representatives and our society. It is about empowerment and about giving people the opportunity to speak for themselves. I learned how important it is to find common interests, to show understanding, and to involve people in different tasks so they become strong leaders.”
April 2, 2013, Maumee, Ohio, 5-members of the Slovak delegation at the Staybridge Suites hotel during the presentation discussions and Poster show.
Martin Klus, Banska Bystrica Internship in Little Rock (AR) “As community organizing, grassroots democracy building, and the rights and protection of minorities within the countries all around the world today are extraordinarily different, it was a huge challenge for me personally to understand these differences during my fellowship exchange. Furthermore, this fellowship program in the U.S.A gave me the opportunity to expand my current knowledge and apply it locally, nationally and even at the European level in the near future. There are several options as to how to manage it. As a university associate professor, I will write a special blog and later a complex paper comparing grassroots democracy, communication, mobilization, various kinds of event organization, and politics as such in the U.S.A and Central Europe (particularly Slovakia); and of course, present it publicly at various kinds of conferences and workshops internationally. Furthermore, as a volunteer and chairman of an NGO, I will prepare special training programs for our NGO volunteers based on the knowledge I obtained on the fellowship program in the U.S.A. I hope to improve the lives of not just dozens, but hundreds or thousands of people in Slovakia this way.”
Daniela Batova, Bratislava Internship in Richmond (VA) “The six weeks that I spent in the exchange program really broadened my horizons and helped me understand that change should be done mainly from the bottom up level. I saw people from poor neighborhoods who are often invisible to decision-makers facilitating meetings and presenting like real leaders of the community. My stay in the U.S. and Virginia organizing helped me better understand the importance of building relationships in the community, listening to the people in need, letting them take responsibility for their lives, share their personal stories and raise their voice for their rights. Moreover, I met many inspiring people, found really good friends and had a lot of fun too!”
May 11, 2013, Washington D.C., 5-members of the Slovak delegation at the U.S. State Department before a session of the Spring 2013 Professional Fellows Congress
Sponsored by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division. Locally organized by Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development