US Mentors

A third U.S. mentor group in Europe

US MentorsA third U.S. Mentor group with 8 participants will travel to Europe from January 25-February 15, 2013. The U.S. participants of this exchange will have an opportunity to share professional expertise and gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures and people of other countries.

They will participate in workshops, seminars organized by the alumni of this program and contribute with presentations, discussions and mentoring.

They will also visit public and civil society organizations working with the alumni in implementing projects in minority communities and provide them on-site consultations.

We hope that community organizing will start and will have success stories in many communities in 2013.

 

2nd In Bound Delegation

2nd In Bound Newsletter Europe

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2nd In Bound Newsletter Action

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2nd In Bound Newsletter PF Congress

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2nd In Bound Newsletter Volunteering

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1st In Bound Delegation

1st In Bound Newsletter – Participants

1st In Bound Newsletter – Direct Action

1st In Bound Newsletter – Professional Fellowship Congress

1st In Bound Newsletter – Volunteering

USmentors

2nd US delegation’s testimony

USmentorsBetween November 24 – December 15, 2012 the delegation of 5 U.S. Mentors (U.S. organizations: Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative (MVOC), Community Voices Heard (CVH), Sunflower Community Action (SCA), Harriet Tubman Center (HTC), ACCESS/National Network for Arab American Communities) participate in 3-weeks trip in Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania or Bulgaria. They all contributed a lot to the success of the program in every country.

They spent the time with learning about the political, economical, cultural environment in each, and contributed to successful workshops, presentations, small group discussions, consulting etc. and strengthen the friendship and collaboration with 16 alumni and have workshop and interview meetings with candidates of the delegation for the next program.

For Delegation feedback testimony see below:


US mentors in Europe

New! Opportunities for U.S. organizations to participate as U.S. mentors in the European – U.S. community organizers exchange

US mentors in EuropeNew! Opportunities for U.S. organizations to participate as U.S. mentors in the European – U.S. community organizers exchange (Deadline is extended and we still take applications in January 2013!

Organizations and individuals who are actively involved in the legislative process and/or policy-making through their work in government, civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, community activists, or  community organizers who work with minority populations are invited to apply for participation as a local hosting organization in any parts of  the U.S. and/or U.S. mentor interested to travel overseas.

We encourage professionals and their organization to submit their application for participating in an exchange program with participants from four Central and Eastern European countries.

Read more– Announcement for U.S. mentors
Read more – Application for U.S. mentors

Deadline: 31st January

US Mentors in Budapest

U.S. mentors delegation visit in Europe

US Mentors in BudapestThe Great Lakes Consortium – through WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. – as Contract Agent and Manager – received a grant for a two-way exchange between September 2011 and May 2013 from the U.S. Department of State for the “Citizen Legislative Advocacy in Minority Communities”.

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 U.S. practices in engaging citizens and community leaders in collaboration to inform changes in legislation that make a difference in minority communities (incl. Roma, disabled, homeless, immigrant populations) and strengthen democracy.

In 2012 two delegations with a total of 16 fellows in each from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia visited the U.S. from March 26 – May 5, 2012 and from October 1-November 10, 2012. They were exposed to diverse community organizing methods how to engage citizens as active participants in solving problems in their own communities.

European fellows participated in the U.S. in group seminars, round-table discussions, site visits, and had interactions community organizers and leaders. A 3-week internship with mentoring, multicultural events, and participation in volunteer activities as well as in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. were also included in the 6-week professional fellows program. Participants did

prepare a 6-9 month individual and group Action Plan for follow on activities . They had 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 many states and communities across the U.S. They gained 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.

The first delegation of 9 U.S. mentors traveled for a reciprocal visit to Europe between July 8-29, 2012, and the 2nd U.S. Mentors group will travel to Europe from November 24-December 15, 2012. A third U. S. mentor group with 8 participants will travel to Europe from January 25-February 15, 2013. The U.S. participants of this exchange will have an opportunity to share professional expertise and gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures and people of other countries. They will participate in workshops, seminars organized by the alumni of this program and contribute with presentations, discussions and mentoring. They will also visit public and civil society organizations working with the alumni in implementing projects in minority communities and provide them on-site consultations. The U.S. Mentors also will meet with applicants for the new project “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Community”, which will host the first European delegation in the spring of 2013. We hope that community organizing will start and will have success stories in many communities by 2013.

This citizen civic exchange will promote mutual understanding, create long-term professional ties, enhance the 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 many U.S. and European partner organizations.

Read the newsletter to get familiar with the U.S. mentors, their interests and the itinerary in Europe

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