Monthly archive

WASHINGTON, DC — The Board of Trustees of the Open World Leadership Center, a legislative branch agency, welcomes newly sworn-in Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden to the Open World Leadership Center Board of Trustees. Pursuant to 2 U.S. Code § 1151, the Librarian of Congress appoints to the board four private individuals with interests in improving relations between the United States and eligible foreign states. Adapted from www.loc.gov: Dr. Hayden was nominated by President Barack Obama in February.

The Open World Leadership Center, an agency of the U.S. Congress, is pleased to announce the arrival of its 3,000th participant from Ukraine, Ms. Viktoria Hrydasova, age 28, from Bekhtery, Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine. Ms. Hrydasova is the general manager of Organic Systems, which specializes in the cultivation of tomatoes, grain, and industrial crops and farms 1,800 hectares (4,447 acres). A graduate of the Kherson State Agricultural University, Ms. Hrydasova is interested in learning about new harvest yield technologies in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Board of Trustees of the Open World Leadership Center, voted unanimously to elect Secretary R. James “Jim” Nicholson as its new Chairman, replacing Walter Scott, Sr.

Secretary Nicholson brings extraordinary experience in diplomacy, management, politics and community service to Open World. He served as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Pope John Paul II knighted him for his leadership on human rights issues. He was also chairman of the Federal Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Open World facilitator, Yuriy Didula, joined the Open World family in September of 2014 and has traveled with two delegations to the United States. The last delegation he traveled with was a group of NGO and Civic Society Development professionals traveling to Brookings, SD. The group was comprised of five civic activists who work in social, cultural, educational and environmental fields. Yuriy Didula is a native of Western Ukraine, but since mid-2014 has been active in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, where he has led volunteer efforts to rebuild homes damaged in the conflict.

Open World facilitator, Sergiy Shtukarin from Donetsk, Ukraine, joined us in 2012 when he took a group of delegates to Atlanta, GA. Since that time Sergiy has traveled with delegates to Madison, WI; Wausau, WI; Phoenix, AZ; and twice to Birmingham, Alabama. Sergiy is an educator and human rights professional committed to the revival of the Donbas region. A civil society activist, Sergiy is passionate about the preservation of civil liberties and promotion of democracy in Ukraine.

What makes a city resilient? Resilience reflects a city’s ability to persevere in the face of troubles and to continue its mission despite daunting challenges. Resilient Columbia residents returned to their homes and businesses this week to pick up what was left after historic floods swept through this past weekend. Despite this rebuilding, they will welcome this week six Open World delegates from the Republic of Georgia, which has also experienced devastating floods several months ago.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two Open World alumni are presenting at the PONARS Eurasia Policy Conference this Friday, September 18 at George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. Yulia Nikitina from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) is chairing a panel on security challenges for Russia and the West. She was a delegate with the Open World program in 2010 to Versailles, KY.

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Palliative Care Professionals in Washington, DC
Ukrainian and Moldovan delegates visit Washington, DC

(Washington, DC) – An Open World delegation from Ukraine and Moldova arrives in Washington, DC on Friday, September 11 for an orientation seminar to introduce Ukrainian and Moldovan medical practitioners to U.S. health policies.

Washington DC – The Open World Leadership Center celebrated its 15th Anniversary on December 4 with a spectacular celebration at the Library of Congress, and paid tribute to Open World’s founding Chairman Dr. James H. Billington for his vision and leadership with numerous accolades, awards and the announcement of the Billington Rose.

Pages