1st Inbound PF Congress

“CITIZEN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES”

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

May 2 – May 5, 2012

felt like coming to a United Nation's

Assembly! The delegates were able to

meet and talk with many people

about their countries and got ideas

from around the world! The program

included Open Space activities, inter-

esting speakers and forums, poster

presentation, a dinner with represen-

tatives of different embassies, meet-

ing with leaders from the U.S. State

Department, and opportunities for

discussion and fun. incl. a dinner

cruise on the Potomac River.

(continue on page 4)

At the end of the 6-week fellowship

program organized by the Great

Lakes Consortium for International

Training and Development our 16-

member delegation from Bulgaria,

Hungary, Romania and Slovakia

joined with other fellows from around

the world at the U. S. State Depart-

ment Professional Fellows Congress

in Washington D.C. for a 3-day pro-

gram.

With about 250 participants from 50

countries around the world, fellows

Maria Otero, Under

Secretary of State

for Democracy and

the Human rights,

made opening re-

marks at Marriott

Wardman Park Hotel in Washington

D.C. on May 3, 2012: “Good Morning.

On behalf of the Secretary of State

Hillary Rodham Clinton, welcome to

Washington D.C.

Remarks at the Professional Fellows Congress By Maria Otero

It’s a pleasure to be with you today.

You have traveled a long way to be

here today, from nearly fifty coun-

tries on almost every continent. You

speak different languages, practice

different faiths, and come from differ-

ent professions. But you have many

things in common. You are commit-

ted to public service. You are skilled

professionals who are eager to share

your knowledge.

*/ Sponsored by the U.S. State Department

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Find us on Internet: Website - http://www.glc-teachdemocracy.org/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/GLC_Teach-Democracy/145023818929367

“GLC_Teach Democracy, Community organizing and exchange programs 2011-2013”

And you’re here to learn, both about

others working in your field and

about the United States − the place,

its people, and our desire to partner

with you. The need for people-to-

people exchanges, like the Profes-

sional Fellows Congress, is more

compelling than ever today…”

For whole article follow the link:

http://www.state.gov/j/189237.htm

Mike Stanton and David Gustafson,

U.S. Department of State officers

Professional Fellows Congress (May 2 - 4, 1012)

Page 2 “Citizen Legislative Advocacy in Minority Communities”

Page 3 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (March 26 - May 5, 2012)

Professional Fellows Congress (May 2 - 4, 2012)

Poster Presentation Session

Professional Fellows Congress 2012

May 5th was the end of the Profes-

sional Fellows Congress, and also the

final day for our delegation before

returning home.

On the last day of their 6-weeks pro-

gram in the U.S. they get together

with Mr. David Gustafson, Program

Officer from the U.S. State Depart-

ment for a final discussion and

evaluation of their experience and for

summarizing their individual and

group action plans with new ideas

that they intend to implement after

returning home.

Mr. Gustafson (second from right)

presented a certificate to our delega-

tion.

THANK YOU TO the U.S. State Department for sponsoring the 2012 Spring

Professional Fellows Congress and to World Learning to organize

all the Congress related activities in Washington, D.C.!

The dinner cruise on May 4th on the

Potomac river was a memorable eve-

ning for our delegation. The weather

was great and everyone had a great

time to relax, to dance and to enjoy

the scenery and other fellows!