Public Administrators from Russia Examine Government Practices on the Local and State Level in Ohio

Press Release

Public Administrators from Russia Examine Government Practices on the Local and State Level in Ohio

For Immediate Release

Contact:Melissa ZwickProgram & Communications CoordinatorCIPUSATel. 440-247-1088melissa@cipusa.org

Or:Maura SheldenOpen World Leadership CenterTel. 202-707-6197mshelden@openworld.gov

[Cleveland, Ohio] — Five Russian government officials participating in the Open World Program will arrive in Cleveland on Friday, May 17th to begin a week long informational program focusing on best practices in government entities. The delegation, consisting of directors and heads of various Volgograd city administration offices, will meet with elected and public Cleveland city officials and nonprofit urban development professionals.

The Council of International Programs USA (CIPUSA) a 56-year-old international exchange program based in Cleveland will host the delegation. Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center, Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system.

The visiting delegates are:
•    Mr. Roman Sergeyevich Dubov is Director of the Volgograd City Auditor’s Office in the Division of Budget Analysis, Public Property & Expertise.
•    Ms. Lusine Samvelovna Kazaryan is the Director of the “Lider” (Leader) Youth Center in Volgograd City under the Volgograd Youth Development & Tourism Committee.
•    Ms. Svetlana Viktorovna Klyuyeva is the Deputy Director of the Volgograd City Department of Social Services.
•    Ms. Ella Vladimirovna Novikova is the Head of the Volgograd City Administration Department of Human Resources.
•    Ms. Petr Sergeyevich Sokolov is the Director of the Volgograd City Auditor’s Office, Office of Information Technology, and Financial & Economic Monitoring.
•    Ms. Tatyana Aleksandrovna Lebedeva will be accompanying the delegation as the Open World Facilitator to provide program support and acclimation to the U.S.

The Open World delegation is scheduled to visit a variety of sites and organizations, including:

•    Councilman Joe Cimperman’s Office
•    Mayor Jackson’s Chief of Staff Valarie McCall’s Office – Sister Cities Cleveland
•    Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office
•    University Circle, Inc.
•    South Euclid City Hall
•    Solon City Hall
•    Chagrin Falls Village Hall
•    Neighborhood Leadership Institute
•    Cleveland Heights Community Center
•    The Intergenerational School
•    Cleveland Museum of Art

Home stays in Shaker Heights will allow the Open World delegates to experience American family life. They will also take part in several cultural and community activities during their time in Cleveland.

The Open World Leadership Center awarded a grant to CIPUSA to administer this and similar exchanges in 2011. CIPUSA affiliate offices in Chicago, Columbus and Kalamazoo are also hosting Open World programs this year in collaboration with CIPUSA.

The U.S. Congress established Open World in 1999 to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. In 2003, Congress made all post-Soviet states eligible for the program. Thanks to Open World, some 19,000 current and future Eurasian leaders have experienced American civil society and have been exposed to new ideas and practices that they can adapt for use in their own work. Open World also promotes partnerships and continued communications between delegates and their American hosts and professional counterparts. Open World currently operates exchanges for political and civic leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

For more information, please contact Melissa Zwick of CIPUSA at 440-247-1088 or Maura Shelden, Open World Public Affairs Officer at 202-707-6197. For more information on CIPUSA visithttp://www.cipusa.org. For more information on Open World, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.

# # #