Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Professional Fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia in the United States, April 1 - May 11, 2013
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of the Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division
The Great Lakes Consortium through WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. as Contract Agent and Manager received a grant for a two-way exchange between September 2012 and August 2014 from the U.S. Department of State for the Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities with at least 32 participants from four countries of Europe and for 18 U.S. mentors. The overall goal of this exchange is to provide a professional development opportunity for up-and-coming and mid-level professionals to gain knowledge of the U.S. practices in citizen participation and advocacy, engaging minorities, and marginalized populations in civil society and politics, collaborating with community leaders to inform changes in legislation that make a difference in minority communities (incl. Roma, disabled, homeless) and building grassroots democracy. Foreign participants will be exposed to diverse community organizing methods for citizens in solving problems in their own communities and gain hands-on experience at both public and civil society institutions in the U.S. and a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture and people. They will examine the relationship between civil society and government and learn U.S. practices on transparency and accountability. Through internship placements at national, state or local organizations across the U.S. they will gain knowledge and experience as well as adaptable approaches that they can implement after their return. U.S. mentors will travel for a reciprocal visit overseas. They will have an opportunity to share professional expertise and gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures and people of other countries. This citizen civic exchange will promote mutual understanding, create long-term professional ties, enhance the collaboration between GLC and its partners. The first delegation with a total of 19 fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slova-

April 2013

GREAT LAKES CONSORTIUM for International Training and Development (GLC) GLC is a collaborative effort of the Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, The University of Toledo, and WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc - Contract Agent and Manager. Established in 1999.
Dr. Elizabeth Balint Project Manager Juli Bertalan, Barbara Dennis, Viktoriya Maryamova Program Coordinators GLC Toledo Office P.O. Box 352424 Toledo, OH 43635 Phone: 419-725-0440 Cell: 419-973-8007 Email: GLC_teachdemocracy2@hotmail.com Website: www.GLC-Teachdemocracy2.org www.gl-consortium.org Find us on

kia visit the U.S. from April 1 May 11, 2013 to participate in group seminars, round-table discussions, site visits, and will have interactions with United States leaders. A tailored 3-week internship with mentoring, multicultural events, and participation in volunteer activities as well as in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. will be also included in the 6-week professional fellows program. Participants will prepare a 6-9 month individual and group Action Plan for follow on activities. They have various opportunities to experience the American family life and the diversity in the U.S. through staying with American host families during their internship in Little Rock (Arkansas), Chicago (Illinois), Boston (Massachusetts), St. Louis (Missouri), Manchester (New Hampshire), Raleigh (North Carolina), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Charlottesville (Virginia), Seattle (Washington). A second European delegation is expected in the U.S. from September 30 November 9, 2013. The Out-Bound component will include at least two American mentors teams to travel to Europe (between June 2013 and March 2014) for up to 21 days to provide joint workshops with the alumni and on-site consultation and fieldwork, and conduct wider outreach programs. U.S. and foreign participants will be involved in alumni activities through an alumni social network in each country. We will also establish an online network for continued learning. This program is a collaboration between GLC and its overseas partners: CEGA in Bulgaria, Civil College Foundation in Hungary, CeRe in Romania and Center for Community Organizing in Slovakia as well as the European Community Organizing Network (ECON) and many U.S. partner organizations involved in the joint program and the tailored internship, and follow up mentoring activities.

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Pa rticipa nts fro m B ulg aria Milenko Milenkov

Lom, Bulgaria E-mail: milenko_georgiev@mail.bg
Milenko Milenkov works at the Labor Bureau in Lom, Bulgaria as a Job Mediator. His main responsibilities include information and counseling of inactive and discouraged Roma people for registration at the Bureau of Labor Lom, promoting the registration and inclusion on the labor market through professional classes and trainings and also advice and assistance to job seekers for inclusion in employment. His daily activities include labor mediation in finding jobs and training courses for unemployed Roma, correspondence with employers and so on. Mr. Milenkov also works in two NGOs in Lom. One of them is Community Fund Lom, where he is Member of the Board, since the establishment of the foundation in 2005. He is involved in the activities of Community Fund Lom related to stimulation of public dialogue and participation of local resources to solve social issues. He provides support for talented children and preservation of life style and culture and works for citizens initiatives development and charity traditions revival in Lom region. Mr. Milenkov is an important part of the team of the organization, who contributes to the timely implementation of activities and tasks in different projects of the foundation. For example he was the Project Manager of "Together in Diversity through Ages", a project financed by the Open Society Foundation in Budapest. The other organization is the Mladenovo Foundation, where Mr. Milenkov is the Chairman. in Economics and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Both degrees obtained at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. Also Mr. Milenkov completed several trainings in fields of computer knowledge and literacy certificates and fundamentals in web-design, and took part in training for teamwork, project writing, project management, etc. He is fluent in English, German and Russian. Mr. Milenkov had several reasons to apply for this fellowship, and one of them is that he might be one very good example for the young Roma from the town of Lom in Bulgaria. He wants to make change in the thinking of the young people in Lom. The young people have to be active and they have to bring the changes in the Bulgarian society. It will be his first visit to the United States. While in the U.S., Mr. Milenkov would like to gain experience in different programs for developing talents. After he will be back to Bulgaria, through the two organizations (The Community Fund Lom and Mladenovo Foundation), and using all of the local, regional and national media as partners, Mr. Milenkov will inform the community about the best practices in the U.S. He will try to apply some of these practices in his community, city and, if he has the tools, Milenko will organize a national campaign for some identified problem. In his free time Milenko enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, searching the internet for new technologies, and also old audio equipments - speakers, amplifiers and so on. He is also taking care of two aquariums full with little fishes and that also is his hobby.

The organization is new, registered in August 2012. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the development of talents in Lom and in the region of Northwestern Bulgaria. Primary task for Milenko is the recognition of the foundation as an active working NGO for the development of Lom. All actions in the organization are focused on talented children and youngsters in the field of arts, education, culture, sport and dependences prevention. In addition Mr. Milenkov is involved in the activities of the Municipality of Lom, related to social, education and cultural activities, and also other activities for integration of Roma people from Lom. Previously, Mr. Milenkov has worked for the Regional Governor of Montana in Bulgaria. He was responsible for the implementation of policies in the ethnic and demographic issues, religious, cultural activities and education in the region. Mr. Milenko shows perfection in organization, conducting and moderating all kind of events, including presentations, fairs, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, workshops, missions, forums, etc. Mr. Milenkov has a Bachelors Degree

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PROJECT ADVISORS AND SUPPORTERS

David Beckwith, Cris Doby, Paul Cromwell, Chuck Hirt, James Mumm, Bill O'Brien, Greg Markus, Deb Martin, Peter Ujvagi, Ramon Perez, Martin Nagy

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 3 Hungary. During his student years, Mr. Mahmud participated in the Roma Access Program which aims at preparing young promising Roma for entering quality international post-graduate studies. His second Masters degree in Law was completed at the Varna Free University in Bulgaria. In addition in 2008, Mr. Mahmud won an internship with the European Commission situated in Brussels, Belgium, sponsored by the Open Society Institute Roma Initiatives. He speaks fluently in English, Turkish, Russian, and Bulgarian. The community where Mr. Mahmud is interested in organizing is geographically situated in the North/East of Bulgaria consisted of Christian and Muslim Roma, who face everyday exclusion, discrimination, poverty, unemployment and lacks access to services and goods. Mr. Mahmud has never visited U.S.A. before, yet has been always interested in getting to know more on minority community organizing and its ways of implementation in the setting of Eastern Europe. In his free time Dzhevid enjoys studying Romani culture from around Europe and practicing sports.

Dzhevid Mahmud
Dobrich, Bulgaria Email: djakolinus@gbg.bg
Dzhevid Mahmud has been working until recently at the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), an organization based in Budapest, Hungary, combating antiRomani racism and human rights abuse of Roma through strategic litigation advocacy, human rights education, research, and policy development. At the ERRC Mr. Mahmud held the position of Legal Fellow as his task included assisting in developing and implementing legal strategy, handling selected cases, drafting amicus curiae briefs and legal submissions to domestic and international tribunals, working with lawyers, judges, human rights organizations and other relevant institutions. He was involved in legislative and policy review and drafting, advocacy and lobbying, providing appropriate substantive input into research reports, donor reports and funding proposals. Mr. Mahmud has been a Roma activist since the beginning of 2000, when becom-

ing a Member of the Board of the Student Society for the Development of Interethnic Dialogue in Bulgaria, an organization with the mission to accomplish complete socialeducational cycle for the young Roma, including popularization of education, dissemination of information on competitions, scholarships, qualification courses, apprenticeships and carrying out pre-university application preparation. Since then Dzhevid is actively involved in different initiatives related to Roma in Europe. Mr. Mahmud has acquired Masters degree in Public Policy at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest,

Delyana Mihneva
Plovdiv, Bulgaria Email: benjitka@gmail.com
Delyana Mihneva is working as a reporter, host and editor in the first private national radio at the Bulgaria Darik Radio from 2011. She has been a volunteer in National Alliance for Volunteer Action / NAVA since 2010, and has a good experience in variety of volunteer actions as ecocampaigns at schools, national exchanges for youngsters, activities for better communication between youngsters and elderly people, sport activities related to International Youth Day, Anti-AIDS campaigns, fundraising for people with rare diseases etc. As a journalist, she gives tribute to many different minority groups: Roma, LGBT, rare diseases, disabled, homeless people etc. Ms. Mihneva is a Youth Leader and Trainer. Since she has been working for NAVA, she is a trainer of young people aged 15-29 in different spheres of nonformal education, effective communication and skills for planning of one-day and long -term initiatives and campaigns. Ms. Mihneva graduated with her Bachelors Degree in Political Science

from the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohrydsky in 2003. Delyana knows English and Russian, and speaks a bit of Spanish, Italian and Dutch. She has participated in some international trainings in Italy, Romania, Turkey based on European Union Youth in Action program. Ms. Mihneva currently is involved in LTTC in Budapest, Hungary focused on raising awareness of diversity based on gender, sex, nationality, social and marital status, age etc. Also defining and deconstructing stereotypes and creating new projects related to Social Justice Topics. Ms. Mihneva is interested in Roma inclusion and exploration of society readiness to Roma integration and early leaving school prevention. As a journalist, she

wants to find out how community groups work with the media and the media's involvement in social justice issues. Recently in Bulgaria the social side of media face is more obvious than few years ago and that should be used to raise social consciousness and empathy in society. Ms. Mihneva would like to train people from different communities in order to work together, define problems and seek for solutions and wants to find out how things work in American society is it just a matter of law or there is something in addition. She would like to learn successful social practices and how to implement them in Bulgaria. Delyana would also like to learn to prioritize tasks more clearly, to work more effectively with different minority groups, to participate more actively in decision making process during a project, to learn how community organizing works through field work. She would like to get more information about organizing groups by interest, how to motivate people to fight for their rights and to pursue their aims. In her free time Ms. Mihneva likes outdoor activities, reading, dancing and karaoke. Delyana is interested in multicultural communication, peace journalism and conflict management.

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Georgi Georgiev
Lom, Bulgaria Email: profesor_29@abv.bg
Georgi Georgiev has been the founder and member of the Managing Council of the Roma Integration Center Lom (RIC) since October 2012. The objectives of RIC Association are to improve the quality of life in Roma neighborhoods, improve the level of education amongst children and youth and help eliminate discrimination. Before that he worked actively with young people from the Roma community in Lom, and has been a youth leader at the local church named Sinai for the past 8 years. Mr. Georgiev founded RIC because he wanted to change the Roma neighborhood and reduce the school drop-out for Roma children, provide more opportunities for

the young to socialize and learn new useful skills and discover their true potential. Also Mr. Georgiev manages a TV program at a newly established Gypsy TV channel in Sofia. He is interested in the field of journalism. Mr. Georgiev graduated from the New Bulgarian University of Bulgaria in 2005, obtaining his Bachelors Degree in Busi-

ness Administration. Georgi is actively looking to create contacts with NGOs outside of Bulgaria in order to obtain and share experience in rebuilding an entire community. Mr. Georgiev would like to develop partnerships with these U.S. organizations, which will bring access to new experiences, opportunities to work with new partners, and large-scale initiatives which will help people. He would like to learn how to better motivate young people so they want more out of their life, have higher expectations and be able to achieve them, by allowing themselves to dream and work. In his free time Mr. Georgiev likes to practice his hobbies: playing basketball, as well as volleyball and soccer. Georgi also enjoys going to the gym and writing comic book scripts.

Pa rticipa nts fro m Hunga ry

Hajnalka Kiss
Budapest, Hungary E-mail: kisshaj@gmail.com
Hajnalka Kiss works at a Photography School. She organizes photo exhibitions, deals with students and teachers, she is in charge of organizing events, responsible for fundraising and project management, and looks after the Foundations everyday life. There was always something in common to organizing: Ms. Kiss started the projects finding out what is the demand of people; found the resources, co-workers and kept the contact with partners and sponsors. Ms. Kiss finds monitoring and feedback very important to guarantee the quality of any project. In the last 20 years she coordinated short and long term educational projects: trainings, seminars and conferences. She has been a participant in several international programs as coach and trainer (Youth in Action, Salto, EUROMED). Ms. Kiss still coordinates a project in her free time, called Social Transport. This project tries to bridge gaps between majority and minority groups like Roma and non -Roma. Within this project there was a social ad shooting opportunity for film students about minority peoples life. The topic was inclusion. The short film clips

were taken to secondary schools and used as inspiration, a non-formal educational instrument encouraging dialogue, supporting integration. These works are also screened at festivals, events and cinemas: www.socialtransport.net In 2007 in Cambodia through Global Education Network Ms. Kiss worked 3 months for a Health Sector Reform Program. Her task was monitoring the process concluding focus group discussions and interviews in the field of providers and clients rights and duties. In 2009 in Canada she has spent 4 months in Montreal with an exchange program at McGill University. She visited the Faculty of Management, studied Managing of Globalization, HR, Managing of Organizational Teams and Leadership. During her stay there, Ms. Kiss was very busy with the

life of immigrant people from Hungary. They left their country because of the 1st, and 2nd World War, or the revolution in 1956. She was so lucky that they opened up for her. Ms. Kiss holds a Diploma in Social Sciences, Economics and Organizational Development. She graduated with her Masters Degree in Sociology and Economics from the Corvinus University in Budapest in 2009. After finishing her studies she worked for small foundations as Project Manager. Within the frame of this fellowship program, Ms. Kiss wishes to learn more about community organizing, methods and strategies for motivating volunteers at NGOs, learn about different projects aiming to assist minorities especially projects focusing on young people. Ms. Kiss would like to visit organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental that deal with issues related to ethnic minorities. She meets the problem of racism and xenophobia every day and she would like to gain experience on how to treat the question of minorities. In her free time Ms. Kiss enjoys travelling, taking photographs, watching good films and discussing interesting stories. Hajnalka enjoys being and working in the international environment.

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 5 (such as refugees or stateless persons). Through their legal counseling and training activities, they work towards ensuring high -quality and rights-based asylum procedures both in Hungary and the EU. Ms. Vodal graduated as a Lawyer from the University of Szeged in 2010, and wrote her thesis on statelessness. Before that, Anita worked for a year as volunteer at Belgian Youth Organization (JAVVA) in Brussels, where she was in charge of a European project. Ms. Vodal organized international voluntary camps and discussions in order to raise awareness about tolerance, antidiscrimination and an open-minded attitude towards others. She speaks English, French and Italian. Ms. Vodal considers this fellowship to be a great opportunity to acquire knowledge on community organizing methods and practical tools, and learn a new approach of working with minority groups. She is keen to see how American NGOs work and what kinds of difficulties they face in working with minority groups. Ms. Vodal is ready to talk more in detail about the HCLUs network of legal support stations, which is a unique structure even in Hungary. In her free time, Ms. Vodal rides her bike, adores contemporary dance, which she has been pursuing as a hobby since she was eleven. Anita is fond of all kinds of sweets.

Anita Vodal
Budapest, Hungary E-mail: anitavod@gmail.com
Anita Vodal has been a Trainee Lawyer at the Roma Program of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) since April 2012. She advises and assists on legal matters in connection with legal empowerment activities. She supervises the management of all legal documentation for the legal team. Ms. Vodal is responsible for the assistance in performance of legal issues, the assistance in negotiating terms and conditions on national and international cases. The main target group of the HCLUs Roma Program is those living in deep poverty; primarily the overrepresented Roma population. The aim of this program is to help the enforcement of their rights and interests to become more efficient and take a stand against discrimination based on ethnic background and deep poverty; therefore strive to provide the stakeholders themselves, as well as their communities, with the necessary knowledge and awareness of their rights. HCLU is conducting fieldwork in Northern Hungary and setting up legal support stations in a growing number of settlements in order to provide free legal aid to as many people as possible. HCLUs Roma Program thus takes legal tools to communities that live in complete isolation and are therefore devoid of any possibility to enforce their rights.

Ms. Vodal has always been sensitive to minority issues; especially in Hungary where these matters are serious unsolved problems. HCLU is an ideal workplace for her, as she is involved in significant legal cases before both international and national courts. Ms. Vodal had the opportunity to represent the HCLU in the annual conference of OSCE in October 2012 and held a presentation on violence against Roma people in Hungary. Prior to the HCLU, Ms. Vodal worked for almost two years as Project Coordinator at the Refugee Program of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) on a project funded by the European Union. Ms. Vodal was in charge of the implementation of a European project that involved three international partner organizations. The HHC provides free legal assistance to asylum seekers arriving in Hungary and strives to ensure access to asylum for those in need of international protection

Laszlo Oliver Jakab

Kistelek, Hungary E-mail: jakablac@gmail.com
Laszlo Oliver Jakab is working as trainee at Southern Great Plains Region Social Research Association. His work focuses on the disadvantaged children. He is member of ternYPE International Roma Youth Network Network of youth and youth associations, which creates space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilization, self-organization and participation. The ternYPE believes in the common efforts by creating trust, and mutual respect between Roma and non-Roma youth. Since 2010 Mr. Jakab is a student at Romaversitas Foundation. The Romaversitas is the training and scholarship program of Roma youngsters in higher education. The Romaversitas Foundation has

been acting as a Funder of university and college students for fourteen years. Romaversitas not only gives scholarships and various services, but also tries to create space for vibrant social life. Mr. Jakab graduated from The University of Szeged as Social Worker. At the university, he was trainee in Szeged at the Dr. Farkasinszky Terzia Drug Rehabilitation Centre. He attended different kinds of

short-term training programs including: (1) ROMED European Training Program for Mediators working with Roma communities organized by Council of Europe, and (2) Equal Treatment Authority Fight against discrimination project organized by Equal Treatment Authority. This is his first trip to the United States. Mr. Jakab is interested in how NGOs work in the U.S., how to involve people from the minority community to be active. He believes this six weeks fellowship in the U.S. can improve his skills and competencies such as team building, intercultural communication, community organizing, and English language. Mr. Jakab would like to learn methods and strategies which can be useful in Hungary. He wants to visit NGOs working with minorities and disadvantaged people especially focusing on youth. In his free time Mr. Jakab likes playing the guitar and watching movies.

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Csaba Szikra
Budapest, Hungary E-mail: csaba.szikra@gmail.com
Csaba Szikra, as a Freelance Intercultural Trainer, collaborates with different NGOs and institutions. He is a community worker in the Glaser Jakab Memorial Foundation, where he is responsible for the intercultural programs in the Jewish and non-Jewish population. Mr. Szikra helps to organize events for the interfaith discussion, and he guides special interactive tours in a slummy but traditionally multi-cultural neighborhood of Budapest: the Jzsefvros (Josephstown). By the JMPoint for Jewish Community Public Benefit Foundation (JMPoint Foundation) Csaba is involved in the informal education program on festivals basically on the Sziget Festival. The JMPoint Foundation shares the cultural values of the Jewish culture not only among Jewish young people. By the Balint House (American Jewish Distribution Committees Community

House), Mr. Szikra has been teaching in the KravJunior program: a unique combination for learning self-defense, playing games and also getting disciplined. KravJunior contributes to multiculture through organizing multi-ethnic and multi-religion groups. Mr. Szikras students are Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist children and teens with Roma, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Georgian, French, American and/or other background. Besides his activities as a trainer, Mr. Szikra participated in many projects as a social worker. He has more than 8 years of

experience with homeless people, alcoholics and drug addicts, and also he worked for the Menedek Hungarian Association for Migrants. Csaba managed a summer camp for refugee teens and kids and in his multi-ethnic neighborhood he is always focusing on these groups too. Mr. Szikra has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, and he specialized in youth work. In 2009, he began his Masters studies in Intercultural Psychology and Education at the Etvs Lorand University. Mr. Szikra is working on his thesis about the multi-cultural environment of Jzsefvros. Csaba fluently speaks English and German. Mr. Szikra is visiting the United States for the first time. He expects to learn more about the minorities and cross-cultural topics in America in order to involve the locally applicable good practices into his community organizing methods in Jzsefvros. Mr. Szikras favorite free time activities are travelling and sports such as horseback riding and krav-maga, and socializing.

Timea Eva Kovacs

Debrecen, Hungary E-mail: kovacs.timea.eva@gmail.com
Timea Eva Kovacs is a Social worker at the Hungarian Baptist Aid The Happy Garden - Residential Home Care for Men with Addictions, which is a so-called Halfway House, which provides a link between the therapeutic community and independent life. Ms. Kovacs job is to help the integration/reintegration of 14 addicted men by providing counseling to maintain their abstinence, useful programs to spend their free time, help them in job seeking or getting the appropriate social service needed, etc. In addition to her work, she is doing voluntary work at a refugee camp. She is also a volunteer at the Eletfa Support Service Association, which has started community organizing activities in seven villages with significant Roma population

in Northern Hungary. Ms. Kovacs was born and raised in Romania as a member of the Hungarian minority. Her family immigrated to Hungary in 2002. She has worked as a social worker for 3 years. She began as a volunteer in 2008 during her university years at the Cordelia Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims. That was the first time she got in contact with the refugees living in the second largest integration camp in

Hungary. Her favorite target groups to work with are migrants, refugees and addicted people. Ms. Kovacs has a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Debrecen. After graduation she started working at Menedek Hungarian Association for Migrants at Debrecen Refugee Camp. In 2008 she participated in the Erasmus Program studying for one semester at the University College Cork in Ireland. In 2010 Ms. Kovacs began her Masters program in Social Policy majoring in Employment Policy in the same institution. Her native language is Hungarian, but also fluently speaks Romanian and English. Ms. Kovacs travels regularly to Romania and Slovakia. This is her first visit to the U.S., and she is looking forward to learning new methods and sharing experience on how to work with people in minority communities especially in the rural areas. In her free time Timea loves biking, hiking, spending time with her friends.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO DAVID GUSTAFSON, PROGRAM OFFICER AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE!

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

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Pa rticipa nts fro m Ro ma nia Raluca Mariana Negulescu

Bucharest, Romania E-mail: raluca.negulescu@gmail.com
Raluca Mariana Negulescu has been working as a Policy Officer and Project Manager at the Policy Center for Roma and Minorities Foundation since 2009, when she started to collaborate as a volunteer. Raluca develops and coordinates programs focused on challenging negative attitudes towards Roma and grassroots projects aiming to stimulate active citizenship among people living in marginal Roma communities from ghetto type areas. On spring 2010, Ms. Negulescu started to work in one of the worst ghetto type areas in Bucharest Aleea Livezilor in Ferentari neighborhood. Through the European campaign REACT (Responsibility, Empowerment, Activism, Citizenship, and Transparency) that she coordinated between June 2010 and December 2011, the Policy Center team created a platform that links grassroots level to local and national representatives, as well as to the European policy makers. Ms. Negulescu is very proud to contribute to the development of the Alternative Education Club (a safe haven for Roma and non-Roma children in Ferentari that offers them life and educational alternatives and the main project of the foundation). Prior to her collaboration with Policy Center, Ms. Negulescu volunteered in other NGOs and think tanks: Nu ma uita tion of the Methodology Guide Social Inclusion through Sports: a possible model (project MIMoSA Migrants Inclusion Model of Sports for All coordinated by the Italian Union Sports for All). Ms. Negulescu has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of Bucharest. In 2008 she received an Erasmus grant based on academic excellence, and she studied at the University of Bologna for one semester. Raluca also has a certification in project management, and completed trainings on the financial management of structural funds, communication, organizational analysis and leadership. Ms. Negulescus field experience in ghetto type communities and, in particular, in Ferentari neighborhood is strongly related to her professional interest to identify efficient mechanisms to authentically connect grassroots issues to policy making level. In Romania, the Roma are the most marginal and discriminated ethnic group and target of racism and negative attitudes. The persistence of this situation resides not only in the inappropriate policies disconnected from grassroots issues but also in the lack of knowledge of the Roma community members over their rights. During the fellowship experience in the U.S., Ms. Negulescu would like to learn new methods on how to empower people in minority communities and to see and understand the innovative approaches of the hosting organization. Also, she is very interested to learn more on community organizing and on developing local advocacy plans.

Association (Barlad), the Association of Political Science Students in the University of Bucharest, LMT Club Third Millennium Leaders Club, the Institute for the Investigation of Communism Crimes and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States). Currently she voluntarily organizes activities for the children in the Day and Night Shelter for Street Children in Ferentari. Ms. Negulescu is also interested in academic research on the topic of ethnic minorities, antidiscrimination policies and European institutional mechanisms. In the past years she contributed to the Shadow reports on Romania for the European Network against Racism in Europe (ENAR), covering issues such as racism related discrimination in criminal justice, political and legal developments in anti-racism and anti-discrimination, policing and ethnic profiling, racist violence and crime. In 2010 Ms. Negulescu co-authored the report Racist Violence in Romania. In 2011-2012 she contributed to the elabora-

THANK YOU TO ALL THE DRIVERS, ESCORTS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ASSISTING IN THIS PROGRAM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND OVERSEAS! THANK YOU TO THE UNITED STATES EMBASSIES IN BULGARIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA AND SLOVAKIA FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT!

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Ioana Petrache
Bucharest, Romania E-mail: ioana.petrache@ce-re.ro
Ioana Petrache works both as a community development facilitator and a community organizer. At this moment she is working with three citizen initiative groups two of them are located in Southern Romanian villages, and the third is a neighborhood in the countrys capital. Her involvement with the community initiative groups in these villages is 3 years long. Ms. Petrache started grassroots work in 2009 with PACT Foundation, an NGO that targets rural and small urban areas in Southern Romania. Since then, she has worked on various projects. Some of them involved forming community development initiative groups, others dealt with empowering already formed community organizations or groups, and developing skills for community members. Ms. Petrache also worked as a researcher on assessing a rural communitys potential for supporting the development of agricultural social entrepreneurship projects. Through this work she has had several experiences of working with ethnic and religious minorities.

Ms. Petrache facilitated the formation of these initiative groups during a 20102012 community-organization building program of PACT Foundation. One of the initiative groups has subscribed as an association and has been implementing several community projects since. It represents Roma Pentecostals in the village of Spantov. The other initiative group is representative of Romanian Orthodox in the village of Facaeni. Field experience in rural Romania, made Ms. Petrache curious about doing bottom-up work in Bucharest, where she lives. She was also interested in trying community organizing. This is how she started her collaboration with CeRe. Ioana

has been organizing in a Bucharest neighborhood area since September 2011. For Ms. Petrache community organizing in Bucharest proves to be especially challenging, but undoubtedly useful. Ms. Petrache has a Bachelors Degree from the Academy of Economic Science in Bucharest. She says that grassroots work is her favorite type of work. This also explains Ioanas decision to start a new field of study, anthropology, at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, in 2012. Her previous studies are in business administration. This will be Ms. Petraches first trip to the United States, and she is especially curious about how a culture that she has seen depicted so often in the media looks and feels in real life. Ioana looks forward to meeting organizers and community organizations, learning more about how to build an initiative group into a long term community organization, and how can community organizations empower minorities and bridge social trust gaps. What Ms. Petrache likes most are explorations of all sorts, nature - including humans, games, her friends and spring.

Simona Barbu
Ilfov County, Romania E-mail: simona@romanicriss.org
Simona Barbu is an activist for human rights, working for one of the oldest Roma nongovernmental organization in Romania, for 5 years now. During this period she has worked within Romani CRISS organization with the purpose to promote human rights of the Roma minority and improve the access of the Roma in Romania to health services and educational institutions. In the past two years Ms. Barbu has worked on projects meant to enlarge and improve the access to education of the Roma children, and she coordinated activities implemented in 22 schools from Romania. Her work is combining advocating and promoting human rights and equal access for the Roma communities in all areas of life, project management and also work in the community, organizing and participating at meetings with the members of the Roma community and accompanying them when needed, to address different services or institutions. At the same time, Ms. Barbu has been a volunteer for the Association of Health Mediators, a Roma

women association initiated in 2010, helping them to develop organizational support for activities and capacity building plans of the association and also for the members individually. Ms. Barbu has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the Faculty of Sociology and Social Assistance at the University of Bucharest in Romania. Currently she is the 1st year Masters student within the University of Bucharest, UNESCO Department majoring in Intercultural and Interreligious exchange, and specialization in Intercultural Management. Ms. Barbu is an organized person. She is able to complete the tasks that she implements and coordinates, has good com-

munication skills, has a developed team spirit, perseverance, and seriousness, and has experience and abilities in organizing events and in project management. Simona has been trained as an evaluator for the professional competences of the Roma health mediators, and she obtained an evaluator certificate recognized by the National Council of Professional Training for the Adults in Romania in 2008. Ms. Barbu is also co-author of two studies in the field of access to health of the Roma population and the status of health of the Roma in Romania, published by Romani CRISS in 2009, and 2011. This is her first trip to the U.S., and Ms. Barbu looks forward to exchange know-how with the other fellows, discover the free American spirit and would like to learn more about outside of the box way of thinking. Simona is interested in finding out more about the organizing process of minorities in America, methods of empowering the representatives of the minorities to stand for their rights and to learn more about advocating for public policies. She loves to travel, read, listen to music, take photos or draw. Favorite sports are salsa and bacchante, but enjoys a good soccer match of her favorite team.

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 9 media. Previously, Ms. Borca has worked with Hungarian historian Andrea Varga under the supervision of the representation of the European Commission in Bucharest. Together, they have edited a newspaper on recent history topics to be disseminated in schools: The Freedom Archive. The project forms part of a bigger project that intends to educate and inform people who cannot access formal education. Also, they have collaborated on a project on the topic of refugees Borders Revisited, an exhibition of refugees of the WWII. Ms. Borca holds the BAs degree in Foreign Languages at the Spanish and English department of the University of Bucharest. At the present time, Ruxandra is enrolling at the Master`s program in American Cultural Studies at the University of Bucharest. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and has a good understanding of Italian and Hungarian. Ms. Borca has travelled intensively to Europe and Asia, but this is her first trip to the United States. She would like to learn how community organizing is done in the U.S. migrant communities, how to identify their problems, involve members of the community in the decision-making process and make sustainable changes in the minority community. In her free time, Ruxandra enjoys music, travelling, writing, she also likes meeting new people.

Ruxandra Borca
Petrosani, Romania E-mail: ruxandra_borca@yahoo.com
Ruxandra Borca is writer and youth worker. She works as a Youth Program Coordinator at Spice of Life Youth Center, a nongovernmental organization she has founded in 2012 after she returned from her voluntary service in Serbia in April of the same year. Ms. Borca organizes trainings and seminars for the young, informing them on the international opportunities they have. She is in tight contact with the migrant community in Cluj Napoca, working on advocacy campaigns for the social integration of migrants. Ms. Borca has been an active local and international volunteer since her time in high school. During her student years, she volunteered at the Forum for Refugees in Bucharest. For the last two years, Ms. Borca has been working abroad as a volunteer in Serbia and Jordan, promoting diversity in conflict areas. Ruxandra has participated as a youth worker in several projects developed by the European Commission`s Youth in Action program in Romania and abroad, where she facilitated training sessions for youth workers on several topics: social inclusion, volunteering, mentoring, facilitating for NGO workers.

Deeply committed to the topic of intercultural dialogue and gender issues, Ms. Borca has conducted research on her own while being abroad, writing several articles on the condition of women in Muslim countries. Her interest in empowerment of women and human rights is also testified by a research she is doing at the present moment on sexual rights of women in communism with a grant offered by Literaturhaus Berlin and Herta Muller. After coming back from Jordan in July 2012, Ms. Borca has started collaborating as a journalist with the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara. Here she met representatives of the migrant communities in Romania and started working on the Migrant in Intercultural Romania project which prime goal is to enable the integration of migrants in the Romanian society, and diminish the rate of discrimination and stereotypical images of migrants created by the mass-

Silvia Ursu
Bucharest, Romania E-mail: silvia.elena.ursu@gmail.com
Silvia Ursu has been working for two years as a Communication Coordinator at Romanian NGO, National Organization of Disabled People Federation (NODPF) in Romania, founded in 1995, The aim of NODPF is to promote the rights of people with disability, offering them direct services, on one hand and also, on the other hand, doing lobby and advocacy for their rights. Ms. Ursu started working in NGOs first as a volunteer, during high school, and after that she kept being involved in social projects. Ms. Ursu is interested in communication, raising funds and how to promote social projects with zero budget. Also, after doing a web research on some campaigns, Silvia discovered some activation methods within a community. Then, she started to search

about the topic and got information about community organizing. Now she thinks that community organizing is one of the healthier ways to involve the beneficiaries in a project. She is hoping to see disabled people in Romania speak by themselves and for their rights. Ms. Ursu followed the classes of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, and also she has a Masters Degree in Communication and Arts from the University of Bucharest.

Also, she took a 6 months training course powered by the International Advertising Association. Taking into account all the tips learnt, Ms. Ursu pitched a project for disabled people at the Restart Romania Gala, supported by the U.S. Embassy, and won a grant for the project. Ms. Ursu is fluent in speaking English and French and she started learning Spanish. Ms. Ursu has never been in the United States before, but always wanted to. When she was in college, she had a huge passion on American Pop Art, from Jasper Johns to Andy Warhol. While in the U.S., Silvia would like to gaine the knowledge in involving directly people with disabilities, in gaining some practical skills for doing so and also she is interested to find more about the American model for building grassroots democracy and participation. In her spare time, Silvia likes to ride her bike, to read books (most of the communication and multimedia books) and also to find peoples stories.

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Pa rticipa nts fro m Slova kia Daniela Batova

Bratislava, Slovakia E-mail: daniela.batova@gmail.com
Daniela Batova is working as a Project Manager in the Office of the Slovak Government Pleni-potentiary for Roma Communities, an advisory body to the government on the issues of Roma communities in Slovakia. The office performs the tasks aimed to addressing the problems of Roma communities and improvement of their situation and their integration into society, particularly in the development, implementation and coordination of policies and effective implementation of systematic measures aimed at prevention of social exclusion of Roma communities. Ms. Batova is mainly responsible for the areas of housing conditions, social infrastructure and approach to job market of marginalized Roma community. This community is characterized by poor housing conditions, low employment rate and level of employability, low education as a Project Assistant in NGO called The Transparency International Slovakia and volunteered in NGO Scouting Slovakia, where she was actively involved in all activities tackling the protection and enhancement of the environment, prevention from the addictions, social activities, and work with children and disabled people/communities. She also took part in some activities of NGO called Independent Youth Organization and dedicated mainly to campaign for healthy lifestyle without alcohol and drugs for young people. Ms. Batova has never been in the U.S. before. From this fellowship exchange she expects to gain skills and experience in community organizing. She looks forward to see the work of the U.S. NGOs and the way, and how they work with minority communities to lead them to active citizenship and awareness of their own rights and duties. In her free time, Ms. Batova enjoys reading, mainly detective books, visiting the course of Irish dance. She likes cooking traditional and special recipes.

and discrimination, but also passivity and distrust in state authorities. Ms. Batova would like to gain some experience how to lead the members of community to become active in solution of their problems and responsible for their lives and living conditions. Ms. Batova graduated with Masters Degree in European Studies from the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at the Comenius University in Bratislava. During the university time she was as Erasmus student in University of Coimbra in Portugal. As a student, Daniela worked

Maros Chmelik
Zvolen, Slovakia E-mail: maros.chmelik@gmail.com
Maros Chmelik currently works as a Project Manager in Education Center for Non-Profit Organizations (CVNO), where he provides consultation services to Roma NGOs and leaders in the areas of education, analysis, problem identification, search for a solution, capacity building, creation of concepts and strategies, fundraising, advocacy, etc. In addition, Mr. Chmelik helps to NGOs working with Roma population in process of preparing applications for receiving grants. Maros states: Our role is to advise them what program or what type of program has proved itself efficient and therefore suitable to be financed in the future. Mr. Chmelik would like to work more with young leaders of Roma minority. As he states: Young leaders are more willing to change the current system. Their ideas are based on courage and modern

opinions. He would like to be able to establish sustainable projects where mainly young leaders of Roma community would be involved with only a little help and support from others. Mr. Chmelik has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science, and a Masters Degree in Cultural Anthropology. Both Degrees were obtained from the Westbohemian University of Pilsen Czech Republic. As a student Mr. Chmelik worked as volunteer for Erasmus department in his Alma Mater Westbohemian University of Pilsen in Czech Republic.

Also Mr. Chmelik works part-time as a Spanish teacher in Institute of Languages and Education. Maros is fluent in English and Spanish and has a good knowledge of French. This will be his first trip to the United States. While in the U.S., Mr. Chmelik would like to learn how to motivate young people from Roma minorities to study and work. He would like to see some examples of good practices in community organizing, to gain experiences in this field and how to apply new skills into his work. In addition, Mr. Chmelik would like to exchange professional experiences with young managers from Europe and U.S.A. and to transfer new ideas to Slovakia. Also he expects to improve his leadership, networking and language skills. In his free time, Mr. Chmelik is interested in traveling, doing all kinds of sports activities, spending time with his two dogs and tasting high-quality wines while listening to jazz music. His main hobbies are socializing, hiking, reading and watching good movies.

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 11 Currently, Mr. Klus focuses on European Studies, Public Policy issues as well as on Comparative Public Policies; one of the main topics within these fields is also minority policy issue studied from different perspectives. Mr. Klus has rich traveling experience. He has already been in the U.S. twice as a Work and Travel program participant, and twice as a Researcher at the University of California Berkeley. His fifth visit to the U.S. is aimed to take part in grassroots democracy building, communication, mobilization and various kinds of event organization focused on minority and university issues in the U.S., and Central Europe (particularly Slovakia), and write a complex comparative paper on the subject. As an active volunteer of different NGOs, Mr. Klus would like to prepare special training for these NGOs volunteers based on the knowledge obtained during the fellowship program in the U.S. He is also interested in the opportunity to make contacts with professional organizations of teachers, students and researchers especially on the university level as well as with politicians and public administrators on various levels. In his free time, Mr. Klus is occupied with various sports activities like skiing, running, swimming, cycling and bowling. He likes documentary movies and factographic books and magazines.

Martin Klus
Banska Bystrica, Slovakia E-mail: martin.klus@gmail.com
Martin Klus is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia, where he runs courses on Public Policy and Political Sciences Issues. Mr. Klus actively participated in research projects with e. g. University of California Berkeley (USA), Charles University Prague (Czech Republic) and Corvinus Society for Foreign Affairs and Culture in Budapest (Hungary). During his academic career he also actively participated at international conferences, seminars, workshops and teaching nobilities, published monographs, university textbooks and papers, some of them specifically oriented on minority or/and grassroots democracy topics. Also Mr. Klus is acting as Political Analysts cooperating especially with National radio and television RTVS, News channel TA3 and nationwide newspapers like Hospodarske Noviny and Pravda. He is active blogger within Slovak economic weekly - eTrend. Furthermore, Mr. Klus is very active as a volunteer in various NGOs in Slovakia - such as Banskobystricky Okraslovaci Spolok, the main aim of which is community-

building and community cleaning and beautification activities; Turkish - Slovak Alliance for Education and Development (TSAFED), which focuses on NGO diplomacy; Aliancia Nezavislych (Alliance of Independent) with community and civic society building activities; and at last (but not least), he is a volunteer of the NonGovernmental Organization Welcome to Slovakia, N.O., which focuses on community tourist industry and youth activities. Within this organization, Mr. Klus participated in various youth seminars and training focused also on minority issues across Europe and in Georgia (former USSR). Mr. Klus graduated in Political Sciences in 2003 and International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2004 from the Molde University College in Norway. During academic year 2005/2006 he was granted a Norwegian Government Scholarship.

Miroslav Ragac
Banska Bystrica, Slovakia E-mail: m.ragac@gmail.com
Miroslav Ragac is currently working for Interantional Organization for Migration (IOM) in Zvolen as a Project Assistant since 2010. His main role incudes integration of the migrants to Slovak Republic and providing assistance to the migrant during the resettlement period. Miroslav provides necessary assistance that is taking the form of one or more of the following services: employment search and placement assistance, vocational trainings, housing placement, medical assistance, language training, social and cultural orientation, assist the migrant to obtain the various documents etc. In 2008 Mr. Ragac started his work for Center for Community Organizing in Bansk Bystrica directed by Chuck Hirt. His more than two years of experience with community organizing gave him a lot

of practical skills and knowledge when assisting with several larger and smaller successful campaigns. As a community organizer and project assistant working with different communities he believes, that the outreach work is one of the most important part of any social work that helps people and minorities to overcome their problems. In 2001 Mr. Ragac finished his higher education in Social Work in Doln Kubn, Slovakia with specialization in Social and Legal Work and then he has remained true

to social work. His professional prortfolio includes work with people with physical and mental disablilities, with the homeless or the elderly. Five years of living and working in United Kingdom for PHSS (Peterborough HIV Support Services) gave Miroslav an opportunity to work with people living with HIV and AIDS, and help them with their reintegration into society. Mr. Ragac has no previous experience travelling to the United States. Therefore face to face contact, hands on outreach work and using community organizing practices as a problem solving method in the community or neighborhoods with different backgrounds, cultures and issues interest him the most during visiting the United States. Mr. Ragac enjoys travelling, meeting new people, learning new cultures, cuisines and history. He also enjoys maintaining his personal fitness in the gym and by cycling, jogging, swimming, trekking and hiking.

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

Dr. Monika Vaskovicova

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia E-mail: monika.vaskovicova@gmail.com
Monika Vaskovicova is working as Director, Project and Financial Manager at the Agency for Development of Gemer region in Hnusta, south of Slovakia. She established her agency in 2008 and ever since she is together with her team and volunteers working for the community. The agency was established with the aim of initiation, realization and coordination of strategic activities for multilateral and dynamic development of Gemer region. Dr. Vaskovicova is preparing and managing innovative projects in order to obtain financial support for the schools, municipalities, community centres and minorities in the whole Gemer region. Since 2008 the agency became a trusted partner for development of Gemer region, and viewed as an umbrella organization not only for partners within the region, but also on the international level. Dr. Vaskovicova is through creative projects, trying to move the development of Gemer region forward, mainly by pointing out the multicultural aspect of the region and helping minorities to to be included into educational process by using special educational tools. She and her team developed and copy-righted a non-formal

learning tool historical multicultural game GemerNation(R). In addition, Dr. Vaskovicova is a Project and Financial Manager for another educational project the creation of Museum of Socialist Curiosities. By using some non-formal learning approaches the young generation should understand, and appreciate, and use the rights and freedoms they have nowadays as compared to the past socialist regime. Also Ms. Vaskovicova is an active volunteer in three NGOs working with young Roma people and children with cancer as a pro-bono Project Manager, Lawyer and Facilitator. Dr. Vaskovicova holds a Ph.D. in Law (JUDr.) from Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Slovakia. Also she holds the Diploma in Introduction to English Law and the Law of The European Union from the University of Cambridge, Institute of

Continuing Education. In 2012, she received a Prince2 Certificate of the internationally recognized project management methodology. Dr. Vaskovicova attended various courses including non-formal learning and regional marketing, active citizenship building and creation of social enterprise principles. She speaks fluently English and German. Dr. Vaskovicova has been in the United States several times. Once, she visited as a participant of the Work & Travel program, and then she had an internship in a private immigration law office in Florida where she looked into finding the appropriate law for asylees and immigrants in the U.S. Within this fellowship program Dr. Vaskovicova wishes to experience the community collaboration in the United States, the role, function and motivational tools of the leaders in the community and the principles of the informational system and channels in terms of providing effective information to the local communities. Monika likes turning impossible into possible, because she believes that everything is possible, it just takes a little BIT (Belief, Imagination, Time). In her rare free time Dr. Vaskovicova likes running, going to the fields collecting herbs. She also is fond of music likes listening classic rock and jazz.

OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR U.S. PARTNERS AND INTERNSHIP HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS:
Action North Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina) Action United (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Alliance for a Just Society (Seattle, Washington) Arkansas Public Policy Panel (Little Rock, Arkansas) Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (Chicago, Illinois) Granite State Organizing Project (Manchester, New Hampshire) Logan Square Neighborhood Association & Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights (Chicago, Illinois) Massachusetts Communities Action Network & Organizing and Leadership Training Center (Boston, Massachusetts) Missourian Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (St. Louis, Missouri) Paraquad (St. Louis, Missouri) Virginia Organizing (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 13

ITINERARY *
Monday, April 1 Detroit, MI/Maumee, OH
1:30PM: Arrival at Detroit airport, Welcome by Elizabeth Balint and Martin Nagy; drive to hotel in Maumee 4:00PM: Check-in to hotel for 6 nights 4:30PM: Pick-up GLC Orientation materials and supplies for finishing posters; finish the posters before dinner 6:00PM: Joint dinner out of the hotel 8:00PM: Return to hotel man Center; Introduction of the delegation and the Detroit partners 10:00-11:30AM: Building a Powerful Community Organizing Program to Solve Community Problems by Bill OBrien, Director of HTC 11:45AM: Departing to Capucin Kitchen for lunch with Greg Markus, Professor at the University of Michigan, teaching community organizing in Ann Arbor, and volunteer leaders of the Detroit Action Commonwealth (1264 Meldrum St. Detroit, MI) 12:45PM: Visit Solanus Center; Presentation and discussion with DAC leaders; learning about success stories and methods in homeless organizing. 3:00-6:00PM: Travel to the meeting place of the Youth Voice Leadership to meet with: Kayla Mason, Lead Organizer of Youth Voice and student volunteers, who are leading the different chapters of Youth Voice in Detroit supported by HTC; learn about the Youth Voice activities 6:00PM: Travel to Krakus Polish Restaurant in Detroit with Bill OBrien and Detroit partners for reflections and dinner; Discussion questions: - How do you see these concepts heard today applying to the work youre doing? - What changes would you need to make in order to implement some organizing elements into your work? 8:00PM: Travel back to the hotel in Maumee 9:00PM: Drop off at the hotel

Posters Titles
Bulgaria Delyana Mihneva: We Act, We Organize Dzhevid Mahmud: 10 Million Roma = 10 Million Different Stories Georgi Georgiev: Together We Can Do More Milenko Milenkov: Together in Diversity Hungary: Anita Vodal: Hungarian Civil Liberties Union - Roma Program Partner, not a target group Csaba Szikra: Tikkun Olam Budapest - A Cross-Cultural Project in the District 8 Hajnalka Kiss: Social Transport Laszlo Oliver Jakab: All in One Society Timea Eve Kovacs: In Community We Trust Romania: Ioana Petrache: BE THE CHANGE inspired by Mahatma Gandhi Raluca Negulescu: Powerless to Powerful Ruxandra Borca: Diversity is the Spice of Life Silvia Elena Ursu: Together, One Voice Simona Barbu: The Roma: Nothing for Them, Without Them Slovakia: Daniela Batova: Social Inclusion of Roma Communities up to 2020 Maros Chmelik: Giving the Roma community from Zvolen the Opportunity to Help Themselves Martin Klus: Grassroots Democracy Building within Community and Academic Environment Miroslav Ragac: Successful Integration = Self-Sufficiency and Independence Monika Vaskovicova: RegiON OFF the Duty? Bring it ON, it is your RegiON!

Tuesday, April 2 Maumee, OH

8:30AM: Set up the Poster Show by participants in the meeting room of the hotel 9:00AM: GLC Orientation with Elizabeth Balint 10:00-10:30AM: Distribute allowances by Terri Laeng (WSOS) 10:30-12:30PM: Getting to know you Poster Show and discussion in small groups Facilitators: Ramon Perez, Cris Doby, Dave Beckwith, Martin Nagy Discussion questions: - What inspires you? - Why do you want to work with minorities? - Best ideas from our work to solve problems with minorities? 12:30-2:00PM: Lunch in the hotel; Selecting the two best posters to present at the State Department in May 2:00-3:30PM: Brief Overview of the Community Organizing Cris Doby 3:30-5:00PM: Joint Session discussion on experience learned from the Poster session in small groups Facilitators: Ramon Perez, Cris Doby, Dave Beckwith, Martin Nagy 5:00-5:30PM: Reflections hour 6:00PM: Dinner in the hotel 7:00PM: (Optional) Shopping or time to rest

Thursday, April 4 Maumee, OH

9:00AM-12:30PM: Discussion of the short field experience in community organizing in Europe in small groups Facilitators: Dave Beckwith, Cris Doby, Ramon Perez, Adam Keck Topics to cover: - Listening: door-to-door, one on one, home meetings, etc. - How to select leaders and prepare for their role in the first community meetings,

Wednesday, April 3 Detroit, MI

8:00AM: Departing from the hotel and drive to Detroit 9:30AM: Welcome at the Harriet Tub-

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

ITINERARY *
- How to prepare for community meeting, media involvement etc. - Identifying issues, the top 3 issues 12:30-2:00PM: Lunch in the hotel Facilitators will do an assessment and prepare for experience learned and how to improve in each area 2:00-5:00PM: Joint mentoring session with facilitators to improve experience 5:00-5:30PM: Reflections hour Covered topics: - How do you see these concepts applying to the work youre doing? - What changes would you need to make in order to implement some organizing elements into your work? 6:00PM: Dinner at the hotel 7:00PM: (Optional) Shopping 6:00PM: Joint dinner 8:00PM: Visit the Toledo Museum of Art Its Friday activities with Martin Nagy (art and music) 10:00PM: Return to the hotel 9:00-10:30AM: V. World As It Is/ World as You Want It to Be by Ed Shurna (CHH) 10:30-10:45AM: Break 10:45AM-12:1PM: VI. Power and Power Analysis by Hannah Gelder (LAC) 12:15-1:00 PM: Lunch on your own 1:00-2:30 PM: VII. Cutting an Issue Wayne Richard (CCH) 2:30-2:45PM: Break 2:45-4:15PM: VIII. Media, Messaging and Actions - Jim Field (CCH) 4:15-4:30PM: Debriefing 4:30-5:00PM: Preparation for staying with host families by Elizabeth Balint 6:00PM: Enjoy Chicago, sightseeing, dinner on your own

Saturday, April 6 Toledo, OH

10:00AM: Departing from the hotel; Sightseeing (Optional) - Toledo Zoo and/or shopping 5:00PM: Return to the hotel 7:00PM: (Optional) Enjoy a dinner and the nightlife of Toledo Sunday, April 7 Chicago, IL 8:00AM: Leaving by bus to Chicago from the hotel (with all luggage) 1:00PM: Arrive in Chicago; Sightseeing in downtown Chicago (as weather permits) Millennium Park, Navy Pier 5:00PM: Check-in to hotel for 4 nights 7:00PM: Dinner

Friday, April 5 Toledo, OH

8:30AM: Departure from the hotel (passport is needed to enter to the Government Center) 9:00AM: Visit the One Government Center in downtown Toledo 8th floor 9:30AM-12:30PM: Panel discussion on grassroots democracy & community organizing with elected leaders and community organizers from Toledo, and City or County representatives. Meeting with: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Wade Kapszukiewicz 12:30-2:00PM: Lunch 2:30-4:30PM: Artists and social justice discussion Facilitator: Martin Nagy Covered topic: Creative solutions to reduce the impact of unemployment with tourism, crafts, engaging youth in democracy, fundraising, etc. 4:30-5:00PM: Reflections hour Discussion questions: - How do you see these concepts applying to the work youre doing? - What changes would you need to make in order to implement some organizing elements into your work? 5:00-5:30PM: Program assessment with Elizabeth Balint in preparation of the Chicago trip

Wednesday, April 10 Chicago, IL

8:15AM: Departing from hotel to the training site Training day 3 at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (70 East Lake Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room) 9:00-10:30AM: IX. Grass Roots Fundraising by Jeff Pinzino (NPA) 10:30-10:45AM: Break 10:45AM-1:00PM: X. Popular Education Methodology by Kara Bender and Saskia Harak (JASCC) 1:00- 1:45PM: Lunch on your own 1:45-3:15PM: XI. Path to Power the Magic Schematic by Josh Hoyt (ICIRR) 3:15-3:30PM: Break 3:30-5:00PM: Evaluation of the 3-day training and discussion how to use these materials in community organizing field activities in Europewith Nancy Aardema (LSNA) & Action Planning with Elizabeth Balint and Martin Nagy 6:00PM: Joint dinner and discussion of the Chicago program

Monday, April 8 Chicago, IL

Training day 1 at the Whitehall Hotel (105 East Delaware Place, Salon III) 9:00-9:30AM: I. Overview of Training & Ice Breaker by Jim Field 9:30-11:00 AM: II. History and Principles of Organizing by Jim Field 11:00-11:15 AM: Break 11:15AM-12:45PM: III. Relationship Building by Jim Picchetti 12:45-1:45PM: Lunch on your own 1:45-3:15PM: IV. Effective Meetings by Rachel Ramirez 3:15-4:30PM: Debriefing and program assessment 4:30-5:00PM: Preparation for individual travel to internship sites with Elizabeth Balint 6:00PM: Enjoy Chicago, dinner on your own

Tuesday, April 9 Chicago, IL

Training day 2 at the Whitehall Hotel (105 East Delaware Place, Salon III)

Thursday, April 11 Travel day

8:00-11:00AM: Check-out from the

* Itinerary as of April 1, 2013 subject to change without further notice

Professional Fellows Program in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Page 15

ITINERARY *
hotel; travel to internship site for 3 weeks (the transportation to the airport, and/or to the host family have to be arranged on your own in advance)

Saturday, May 4 Washington D.C.

Enjoy sightseeing in Washington D.C. (Optional) Opportunity to have a daytrip to New York on your own

April 11 May 2 3-week Internship

Tailored 3-week internship experience at the 11 U.S. hosting organizations in 9 states across the United States

Sunday, May 5 Washington D.C.

Sightseeing continues; free time

Thursday, May 2 Travel Day

Departure from the internship site and travel to Washington, D.C.; travel on your own to the downtown hotel and check-in for 6 nights 7:00PM: Meet at the hotel lobby; joint dinner; planning for the weekend with Elizabeth Balint

Monday, May 6 Washington D.C.

9:00AM: Depart to Center for Community Change conference room (1536 U Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009) 9:30AM-12:00Noon: Discussion of the fellowship experience based on the field diary Meeting with: Cathy Woodson, Virginia Organizing Session I How are citizen organizations built, structured, grown and sustained? Focus on leadership development 12:00-1:30PM: Lunch on your own 1:30-3:00PM: Session II How does the organization deal with issues of transparency and visibility? 3:15-4:15PM: Session III What the U.S. mentors find interesting during their trip to Europe? by Cathy Woodson (member of the Summer 2012 delegation; share her Outbound experience and suggestions) 4:30-5:00PM: Preparation for the Congress review of Congress activities with Elizabeth Balint 6:00PM: Dinner on your own Evening: Free time to enjoy the night in Washington,

Friday, May 3 Washington D.C.

9:00AM: Depart to Center for Community Change conference room (1536 U Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009) 9:30-12:00Noon: Discussion of the fellowship experience based on the field diary overview of ECON (European Community Organizing Network) and how ECON can help implementing your action plans with Juli Bertalan, Friends of ECON U.S. Field Coordinator Session I What have you learned about the work of community organizing and how might you apply this in your country & your field project? Reports on individual and group action plans & summaries by countries for the next 6-9 months Session II How does your host organization work with minority communities and those in poverty? 12:00-1:30PM: Lunch on your own 1:30-3:30PM: Individual and group report on planning of the Summer 2013 U.S. Mentors visit to Europe Evening: Enjoy Washington D.C. night views; (Optional) travel to New York on your own

founder and Chairman of the CrossCurrents Foundation Session I Cultural differences between your country and the United States? Session II How is community organizing funded and how is this different from the experience in your country? Discussion topics: - Funding community organizing based on your internship experience (grants, membership, grassroots fundraising) - How cultural differences will have an impact on possible funding. - Resources available/needed for implementing follow on activities 12:00-1:30PM: Lunch on your own 1:30-4:30PM: Evaluation of the program with Elizabeth Balint and Juli Bertalan and finishing the testimonial video clips; 5:00PM: Early dinner on your own 7:00PM: Joint Farewell Celebration; presentation program completion certificates; group photo Location: Ken Grossinger and his wife Michelines home in Georgetown

Wednesday, May 8 Washington, D.C. Congress, 1 day

11:00AM: Check-out of the downtown hotel with all luggage 11:15AM: Depart to the hotel of the Professional Fellows Congress site and check-in for 3 nights; Lunch on your own 12:00-5:30PM: Ongoing - Congress Registration (2nd floor); Early dinner on your own 6:00-8:30PM: Orientation and Networking of the Congress in the Ballroom 6:30PM: World Learning Welcome by Dr. Peter Simpson, World Learning 6:40PM: Professional Fellows Program Overview by Ms. Carol Herrera, U.S. Department of State, Professional Fellows Division 7:00PM: Orientation Information by Mr. Adam Meier, U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Division 7:20PM: Introduction of Distinguished Alumni

Tuesday, May 7 Washington, D.C.

8:30AM: Depart to the meeting location at the Stewart R. Mott Foundation (122 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002) 9:00AM-12:00Noon: Discussion of fellowship experience based on the field diary Meeting with: Ken Grossinger Co-

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Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities

ITINERARY *
7:45PM: Icebreaker Activity introduced by Dr. Patricia Harrison, World Learning 8:30PM: Refreshments at the foyer and casual conversation. 1. Coalition Building 2. Strategic Planning for Your Organization 3. Media for the Next Generation 4. Funding for Development 5. Political Messaging and Speechwriting 6. Social Entrepreneurship 7. Community Mapping 8. Grassroots Activism 3:15- 3:45PM: Break 3:45-5:15PM: Skill Building Workshops (Sessions will be repeated with the same moderators). 5:15 - 5:30PM: Group photo taken by Photographer Ralph Blessing. 5:30-6:30PM: Dinner in the Hotel. Evening: Free time 12:45-2:15PM: Open Space Activity, break. 2:30PM: Return to Ballroom. 2:30-3:15PM: Open Space Presentations: Three Things in Three Minutes 3:15-3:30PM: Break to prepare for Poster Show. 3:30-6:30PM: Poster Show Session 6:30PM: Dinner at the Hotel. Evening: (Possible) Networking and Dancing Event at the Hotel.

Thursday, May 9 Washington D.C. Congress Conference, Day 2

7:30-9:00AM: Breakfast 9:00-10:15AM: Opening Plenary in the Grand Ballroom. 9:00-9:10AM: State Department Welcome by Mr. Michael Stanton, Chief, Professional Fellows Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. 9:10-9:15AM: Introduction of Keynote Speaker by Dr. Peter Simpson, World Learning. 9:15-10:00AM: Keynote Address 10:00-10:15AM: Short Break 10:15AM: Return to Ballroom for Explanation of Fellowship Experience Exercise. 10:15AM-12:00PM: Fellowship Experience Small Group Exercise 12:00-1:45PM: Citizen Diplomacy Lunch with Local Ambassadors and Embassy staff in the Ballroom; Welcome to Diplomats and Fellows 1:45-3:15PM: Skill-Building Workshops:

Saturday, May 11 Washington D.C. Congress Closing, Day 4

7:30-9:00AM: Breakfast at hotel 9:00-10:15AM: Alumni Panel and Outbound Planning Session: PFP Alumni, DOS Alumni Outreach and others will share best practices. 10:15-11:00AM: Farewell Session 10:15-10:30AM: Alumni Outreach Representative, U.S. Department of State. 10:30-10:45AM: Remarks by Mr. Adam Meier, U.S. Department of State 10:45-11:00AM: Evaluations and Certificates by Dr. Peter Simpson, World Learning. 11:00AM-12:00Noon: Check-out from hotel; travel to the airport with the group or on your own. Have a safe trip back home!

Friday, May 10 Washington D.C. Congress Conference, Day 3

6:45-7:30AM: Breakfast at hotel 7:45AM: Departure for Department of State (DOS) by board buses; bring your passport to enter). 8:15-9:00AM: Arrival at DOS; Security Screening at DOS. 9:00-9:30AM: Distinguished Alumni Award Presentations. 9:30-11:00AM: Regional Briefings with Q & A 11:00AM-12:45PM: Return to the hotel by board buses for lunch.

* Itinerary as of April 1, 2013 subject to change without further notice

Special Thanks to the U.S. Mentors, their organizations and all U.S. host families for welcoming the European fellows and working with them in the U.S. in April 2013:
Dominik & Georgia Mjartan, Barbara Miles & Hank Bates, Debbie & Bill Goolsby from Arkansas (AR); Joanna Brown & Joshua Hoyt, Laurene Heybach, Jaquie Algee, Jim Field & Rachel Ramirez, Richard Goldstein & Julie O'Brien from Illinois (IL); Rachie Lewis (Moishe Kavod House), Sheila Decter, Beverly Ann Rock, Ann Grady from Massachusetts (MA); Tom & Carol Braford, Kathy & Julio Zegarra Ballons, Dana Gray & Jerry Basye, Brian & Dana Wallace, Sarah Durbin from Missouri (MO); Sarah Jane Knoy & Kevin Kintner, Kathy Urie from New Hampshire (NH); Pay McCoy from North Carolina (NC); Bruce Dorpalen & Keelin Berry from Pennsylvania (PA); Jane Foster, Helen Plaisance from Virginia (VA); Sol Bey & Tash Skorupa from Washington (WA); Craig Robbins & Jill Reese, Lew Finfer, Jeff Ordower, Joe Szakos & Cathy Woodson, Neil Sealy and Bill Kopsky!