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| March 9, 2004 | Issue 4 |
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For Open World, 2003 was a year of milestones and groundbreaking new programs. The Open World Leadership Center hosted its 7,500th participant in 2003, welcomed its highest percentage of Russian women delegates ever (58 percent), and broadened the program to include Russian cultural leaders.
For the first time in its history, Open World also initiated programs outside the borders of Russia. The Open World Leadership Center launched pilot exchange programs with Ukraine and Uzbekistan in December in response to Congressional legislation making an additional 14 countries eligible to participate in Open World. “We’ve already heard from a large number of delegates from Uzbekistan and Ukraine who are putting their Open World experience to work in their communities,” said Open World Program Manager Britta Bjornlund. “In Uzbekistan, Open World alumni are writing articles for the local press, establishing Rotary clubs, drafting proposals for developing child and maternal health care, and planning new programs for children with disabilities.” In Ukraine, alumni have begun several follow-on activities; for example, some of the women delegates have formed an alumni coalition. Also new in 2003 was the Open World Alumni Outreach Program (called “Otkrytyi Mir Vypusknikam” in Russian). The program includes 26 part-time regional alumni coordinators who maintain contact with Open World alumni in their regions, providing them with IT classes, training and management consultations, and opportunities to meet each other and to plan and execute joint projects. The pool of coordinators expands to 40 in the next six months in order to reach every corner of Russia. “The first year of 'OTKRYTYI MIR VYPUSKNIKAM' exceeded all expectations,” said Open World Program Manager and Alumni Coordinator Vera De Buchananne. “The alumni meetings and conferences have been well attended, and the projects and plans submitted by the alumni demonstrate that the former Open World delegates are truly dynamic leaders in their own right, working to bring positive change to their communities.” 2003 Open World Highlights: Congress authorized Open World to expand beyond Russia to other countries of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic republics. The Open World Board of Trustees directed the Open World Leadership Center to begin pilot projects in Lithuania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Open World announced a new initiative to bring Russia’s cultural leaders to the United States for extended visits in 2003. Open World founders Sen. Ted Stevens (AK) and Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington made the announcement at a press briefing at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. Open World selected 16 national host organizations to conduct programming for delegations. (View a complete list of national hosts.) A visiting Open World specialized rule of law delegation further solidified a unique relationship between the judicial bodies of Chicago, IL, and St. Petersburg, Russia, with the signing of a sister-court agreement. The first Open World delegation from the Russian Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs visited Washington, DC, for a program on human trafficking designed to assist Russia’s efforts to curb this horrific violation of human rights. Open World hosted the visit in association with Vital Voices Global Partnership’s Global Leadership Institute. Cities in Michigan, New York and North Carolina hosted Russian cultural leaders, the first delegates under the new Open World cultural leaders initiative. The delegates included visual and performing artists, museum and theater directors, and regional ministry of culture representatives. National, regional, and local library administrators and managers from Russia participated in specialized programs around the country. Some delegates also visited Congressional offices on the American Library Association’s National Legislative Day; others attended the Library of Congress National Book Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC. The Open World Leadership Center launched pilot exchange programs with Ukraine and Uzbekistan, hosting a total of 98 current and future leaders from the two countries in 15 communities across the United States.
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Published by The PBN Company for the Open World Leadership Center, whose Open World Program has hosted nearly 9,000 citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan since its inception in 1999. The Center is an independent legislative branch agency that works cooperatively with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. executive and judicial branch agencies. For additional information, please visit the Open World Leadership Center's website at www.openworld.gov or contact the office at +1 202-707-8943. |
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