Six Serbian leaders participating in the Open World Program will spend Feb. 17 through 24 in Akron examining Civil Society organizations and human rights. Akron International Friendship (AIF) is hosting the delegation for Open World.
Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American-style democracy at the local level.
The visiting delegates are Ms. Mirjana Zoran Bogdanovic, executive director of the Gay- Straight Alliance; Mr. Luka Zvonko Bozovic, Youth Initiative for Human Rights; Ms. Jelena Bosko Dzombic, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights; Mr. Dragon Milan Ristic, finance manager for Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights; Ms. Jelena Boro Visnjic, program director for Feminist Culture Center BeFem. Ms. Ksenija Lazovic, from Belgrade, Serbia will accompany them as a facilitator.
The primary mission for these civic leaders from Serbia is to share, learn and explore sustainable solutions for civil and human rights organizations in their own country as well as how we in the United States deal with civil and human rights issues. The delegation will attend various professional appointments that have been arranged by AIF to meet with Akron area civic leaders, university resources and government officials. They will discuss the roles that government, educational and civic organizations as well as the important role that youth can play in promoting mutual understanding between people or groups that are marginalized or facing rights violations.
Before the delegation’s arrival to Akron, Michelle Wilson, executive director of Akron International Friendship (AIF), will join the delegation in Washington D.C. to meet Sen. Sherrod Brown and Doug Babcock, his legislative aide for International Affairs, at the Senator’s constituent coffee.
In Akron, some of the scheduled appointments will include a workshop on NGO Management with Ms. Elaine Woloshyn, NGO Consultant and Professor, a meeting with John Grafton of the Gay Community Endowment Fund to discuss their work in promoting tolerance and equality in our community, meetings with Lee A. Gill, J.D of The University of Akron’s Office of Inclusion and Equity, with Dr. Rosa Githora of the Women’s Resource Center, as well as Martin A. Belsky, dean of The University of Akron’s School of Law, who is presenting on the Anti-Defamation League of Ohio/Kentucky/Allegheny Region.
Our international visitors will also pay a visit to the Akron Mayor’s office for meetings with Akron Peace Makers to discuss Youth, Diversity and Empowerment. Rounding out their stay in Akron, the delegation will visit two local schools, Lawndale Elementary School for a discussion on cyber-bullying at Archbishop Hoban High School for a presentation on the Peace and Justice work that students have done there.
Homestays with local Akron residents will allow the delegates to experience American family life. They will also take part in several cultural and community activities, including the Festival of Nations at the Akron Civic Theater and a night of men’s basketball at The University of Akron’s James A Rhodes Arena where they be able to see in action the Zips Forward, Nikola Cvetinovic who is himself from Serbia.
The Open World Leadership Center has awarded a grant to AED, the Academy for Educational Development, to administer this and similar exchanges in 2012.
The Open World Program is a unique, nonpartisan initiative of the U.S. Congress designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia. More than 16,000 Open World participants have been hosted in all 50 U.S. states since the program’s inception in 1999. Delegates range from members of parliament to mayors, from innovative nonprofit directors to experienced journalists, and from political party activists to regional administrators.
For more information, contact Michelle Wilson at (330) 972-8296. For more information on Open World, visit www.openworld.gov. For more information on Akron International Friendship, visit www.akroninternational.org.
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