Open World Leadership Center

03/08/2021

To the many trailblazing women who've participated in the Open World program and those who support the Center's mission, congratulations on your many reining achievements, and thank you for all you do! Our team is encouraged by your efforts and looks forward to supporting the next generation of future female leaders. #ChooseToChallenge #InternationalWomensDay

02/12/2021

Yesterday, the Center held an informative virtual alumni event with Georgian participants on the topic of Social Inclusivity. Discussions on political and socio-economic inclusiveness took center stage as the alumni connected with Congressman David Price (04-NC) and two panels featuring American speakers who specialize in this field of work and study.

The sharing of thoughts, ideas, and experiences proved fruitful for both American and Georgian participants alike. Thanks to all who joined yesterday. The Center looks forward to many more engaging virtual programs until in-person exchanges can resume.

01/29/2021

This week, the Center held a fascinating event on the Societal Acceptance and Reintegration of Ukrainian Veterans. Co-Chair of the House of Representatives’ Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), opened the Center's event, followed by former U.S. Ambassadors to Ukraine, William Taylor and John Herbst.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), the other Caucus Co-Chair, and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) participated in the event along with George Kent from the U.S. Department of State and numerous Members of Parliament from the Ukrainian Rada.

Thanks to all that joined for this excellent event! 🇺🇦 #Ukraine #ExchangeProgram

01/11/2021

Virtual programming is off to a great start in 2021. Today the Center facilitated a conversation between a delegation of Open World program alumni from Tajikistan and their Colorado-based local host organization, the Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities.

We are encouraged by the continued dialogue and growing partnerships amongst our program participants and Americans across the country. Thanks to all who participated in today’s event!

12/31/2020

From all of us at the Center, we wish you a wonderful and safe New Year!

12/23/2020

Happy Holidays from the Open World Leadership Center

As the year comes to an end, a moment of pause and reflection reminds us of the Open World program's enduring spirit and its passionate community of participants, alumni, hosts, and grantees. This past year presented many challenges, but with great ingenuity and a dedication to fostering peer-to-peer exchange, our program flourished in 2020 virtually. Your continued support of the Open World program is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to remaining a catalyst for further exchange in the new year.

We wish you a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year from all of us at the Open World Leadership Center.

12/04/2020

Yesterday the Center held a fascinating virtual event with a Russian delegation on the theme of National Parks. Ben Bruns from the office of Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler greeted the delegation followed by welcoming remarks from the local host organization, the Friendshipforce of Lower Columbia, located in Washington State.

The Center is eager to assist in the development of bonds between American’s and their counterparts in our partner countries. Thank you to all who participated in yesterday’s event.

11/05/2020

Yesterday the Open World Leadership Center facilitated a conversation between Members of Parliament from Armenia and Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. and Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

The Center is dedicated to facilitating a continued dialogue between Members of the U.S. Congress and the legislative bodies of our partner countries.

10/07/2020

Virtual programming at the Center is in full motion! Today we reunited with Open World program alum from Kosovo, all of whom participated in Kosovo-Iowa Sister City delegations in 2014, 2016 or 2018. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa greeted the delegation with a pre-recorded video followed by a dynamic exchange between speakers and alumn.

Speakers at today’s event included: Janet Norton, International Programs Manager at Iowa International Center, Karla McCollum, Executive Director, Iowa Sister States, Deputy Secretary of State of Iowa Michael Ross, Major Kerri Lewers, G32, Mobilization Readiness Officer, Iowa National Guard, and Joseph Jones, Executive Director, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement in Des Moines, IA.

Thanks to our partners, the US Embassy in Pristina U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo, our speakers, and the alumni for joining today. 🇽🇰

09/30/2020

Daniel Langenkamp, the Press Attaché at the @usembkyiv, shares encouraging words to Ukrainian journalists who participated in Open World programs in 2018 and 2019 at today’s virtual event.

Thank you to all of our speakers: Denise Malan, Senior Training Director at Investigative Reporters and Editors, Ron Keefover President of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government and Toriano Porter an Opinion Writer at the Kansas City Star Editorial Board. And a special thanks to our partners FHI 360 and Global Ties Kansas City for your help in creating today’s program. 🇺🇦

09/16/2020

Yesterday marked a milestone for virtual programming at the Center by commencing the first installment of a six-part series on the topic of “Understanding Research and Policy: Ways that Domestic Violence Impacts Children and Paths to Better Policy”.

This webinar series evolved out of an idea crafted by two Open World program alumni who were hosted in Santa Clara, CA by the County of Santa Clara’s Moscow Sister County Commission.

A panel discussion moderated by Carla Collins, from Santa Clara County’s Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention also included: Nicole Ford and Kasey Halcón of the Domestic Violence Council and Andrew Cain of the Child Abuse Council.

Yesterday’s event had over one hundred attendees from eleven Open World partner countries!

09/08/2020

The Center was very happy to host another virtual delegation from Ukraine. This time the discussion focused on governance and anti-corruption.

The delegation was greeted by The Center’s Executive Director Jane Sargus, then met with Open World program alumnus and Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandra Ustinova, Morgan Williams the President of the US-Ukraine Business Council, Garth Willis from USAID’s Office of Democracy and Governance in Ukraine, Anders Åslund, a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Damian Murphy and Nadhika Ramachandran, both professional staff members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In closing, the delegation heard from Rachel Bauman, Policy Advisor for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the Baltic’s and Paul Massaro, Policy Advisor on Economic and Environmental Policy, Anti-Corruption, Sanctions, Finance, Trade and Other Issues, both from the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

Thank you all for being a part of today’s special event! 🇺🇦

07/28/2020

Today the Center held an impressive virtual program featuring women veterans from Ukraine.

Thank you Representative Marcy Kaptur, Ambassador John Herbst, Amber Smith, and Melinda Haring for joining the discussion and meeting our delegates.

06/23/2020

U.S.-Ukraine Foundation

We miss our Open World Leadership Center Delegations! https://usukraine.org/news/articles/open-world-flashback-fondly-reminiscing-about-our-delegations/NTc2ODE=/

Check out some of our recent, very interesting-themed delegations of young, Ukrainian professionals! They inspire all of us!

05/12/2020

We're humbled to virtually welcome an incredible delegation from Ukraine focusing on the issues of Serving Victims of War, War Injuries, and Treatment and Rehabilitation.

A special thank you to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, Dr. Stephen Hunt, and CEO of Combined Arms John W. Boerstler for a productive and educational discussion on the challenges facing Veterans.

05/11/2020

Last week we continued our virtual programming with a Women in STEM delegation from Russia. Trustee Ambassador James F. Collins kicked off the program by welcoming the group as pioneers in space research, as women in science, and early participants in the new Open World program model - tele-delegations.

Hosted by the Friendship Force of Boston in collaboration with MIT Professor Bruce Tidor, the delegation had a productive and robust schedule including guest speakers: Dr. Richard Obermann Chief of Staff of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Dr. Ellen Stofan former NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Aurora Simionescu Research Scientist La SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, and a Women in Space Panel moderated by Dr. Danielle DeLatte, Senior Space Systems Engineer for Draper Laboratory.

Thank you to all of our participants and guest speakers for a productive and informative conversation on the importance of women in STEM.

04/16/2020

Thank you to our two Open World alumni Karima Talgatkyzy and Tilek Toktogaziev who have made a tangible difference battling the spread of COVID-19 in Kyrgyzstan.

Check out the post below to read more about their incredible efforts!

#ExchangeAlumni

👨‍🎓💪USG program alumni are doing their part in the fight against COVID-19 in Kyrgyzstan: FLEX alumnus Zafarbek Sulaimanov and #OpenWorld alumna Karima Talgatkyzy, founders of Enesay.kg textile company, are producing and selling PPE medical uniforms at cost to medical providers to help Kyrgyzstan in combatting the #Coronavirus pandemic.
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👨‍🎓💪АКШ өкмөтүнүн программаларынын бүтүрүүчүлөрү Кыргызстанда #COVID19 менен күрөшүүдө өз салымдарын кошуп жатышат: FLEX программанын бүтүрүүчүсү Зафарбек Сулайманов жана "Ачык Дүйнө" программанын бүтүрүүчүсү Карима Талгат кызы, "Энесай" кийим тигүүчү ишкананын негиздөөчүлөрү, медициналык кызмат көрсөткөн адамдарга медициналык форма тигип, өз баасы менен бергени менен коронавирустун пандемиясына каршы күрөшүүдө Кыргызстанга жардам берип жатышат.
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👨‍🎓💪Выпускники образовательных программ Госдепартамента США вносят свой вклад в борьбу с COVID-19 в #Кыргызстане: выпускник программы #FLEX Зафарбек Сулайманов и выпускница программы «Открытый мир» Карима Талгат кызы, основатели текстильной компании Enesay, производят и продают (СИЗ) защитные костюмы медработникам по себестоимости, чтобы помочь Кыргызстану в борьбе с пандемией коронавируса.

Программа Открытый Мир в Кыргызстане / Open World Program in Kyrgyzstan

#USEmbassyKG #Kyrgyzstan

04/02/2020

Open World alumni continue to climb in leadership as they foster meaningful change in their countries. That’s why we’re so proud of alumna, Shahla Humbatova who became the first-ever Azerbaijani recipient of the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. Ms. Humbatova, who traveled on the Open World program in 2011, was recognized for her exceptional work and accomplishments in progressing human rights in Azerbaijan.

Click the link below to subscribe to our monthly newsletter where we highlight the great accomplishments of our alumni!

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Open-World-Leadership-Center-March-Newsletter.html?soid=1133853203463&aid=Crlcm5j-nrk

03/13/2020

WASHINGTON, DC - The Open World Leadership Center has postponed travel for international participants through April 30. The Center continues to remain open and is adjusting its travel calendar in anticipation of normal operations returning at some point after that. We appreciate the support and understanding of Congress, eligible emerging leaders across Eurasia, our grantees, and our extraordinary hosts across the United States.

03/10/2020

The Honorable Amory “Amo” Houghton, Jr. served on the Center’s Board of Trustees first as a Member of Congress from 2001 –2005 and then in his capacity as a private citizen from 2005 – 2011. The Center deeply appreciates his many years of service to the Open World Leadership Center.

Click the link below to read the full obituary:
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/nyregion/amory-houghton-jr-dead.html

03/08/2020

On #InternationalWomensDay, we continue to support and highlight women's leadership development and accomplishments around the world. Thank you to all Open World participants, partners, local hosts, and staff for their work in promoting women leaders across the globe!

02/27/2020

We have a full day ahead as we welcome delegations from Armenia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine to Washington for orientation!

While in Washington, our participants will complete their orientation followed by an afternoon of congressional meetings at the House of Representatives & Senate focusing on a variety of issues including Community Development, Emergency Preparedness Management, and Accountable Governance.

After two days on Capitol Hill, the groups will depart for their local home-stays with host organizations all across the United States.

02/24/2020

Russian Delegates Visit South Dakota

A warm thank you to Lori Walsh and the team at SDPD Radio for sitting down with our incredible local hosts from the South Dakota World Affairs Council and our Russian delegation focusing on business and innovation during their stay in South Dakota.

This insightful conversation focuses on the core essence of what the Open World program is all about – a people to people exchange between two countries. Our local hosts really are the key that goes in to making this program so effective!

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

In The Moment ... February 20, 2020 Show 757 Hour 2 Five Russian entrepreneurs are in South Dakota taking a close look at business and innovation. The

02/13/2020

Executive Director, Jane Sargus met with program facilitators from our Russian & Kyrgyzstan delegations this morning at orientation in Washington DC.

The delegates will depart tomorrow for a week of programming in cities all across the United States, focusing on a variety of themes including Entrepreneurship, Business and Innovation, and Information Technology.

Welcome to our delegates! 🇰🇬🇷🇺

02/05/2020

This morning, we’re thrilled to be welcoming Parliamentary Staffers from Georgia.

After two full days of congressional meetings at the House of Representatives and the Senate, the group will be hosted in Atlanta, GA for a full week of Open World programming.

Welcome to our delegates!

01/23/2020

We are thrilled to kick off our 2020 program year this morning by welcoming local legislators and other community leaders from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Ukraine!

Open World participants will complete their orientation in Washington DC before traveling to their host organization throughout the United States.

The groups will be hosted by:
VCU Global in Richmond, VA;
Global Ties Alabama in Huntsville, AL;
Friendship Force International in Memphis, TN;
Iowa Sister States in Des Moines, IA;
Global Ties Arkansas in Little Rock, AR;
and Springfield Commission on International Visitors in Springfield, IL.

The Center sends a special welcome to all of our delegates!

01/21/2020

It’s time to strengthen legislative diplomacy - LegBranch

"The Open World Leadership Center serves Members of Congress in their capacity for congressional diplomacy with strategically important countries. Today, as democracy recedes around the world, the need for credible US promotion of strong, democratic institutions is more important than ever."

Click below to read the full article on the importance of strengthening legislative diplomacy efforts in Congress written by Ryan Dukeman.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have highlighted the need for a more assertive congressional role in foreign affairs since the start of the Trump presidency. From Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal’s call to revive the War Powers Resolution and Bernie Sanders pus...

12/23/2019

Wishing you all a very merry holiday season and a happy New Year!

Our office will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25 for Christmas. We will reopen on Thursday, Dec. 26.

12/17/2019

Press Release: The Open World Leadership Center is pleased to announce the success of its Ukrainian program alumni in KyivPost’s 30 Under 30 Award, an annual prize that celebrates young Ukrainian leaders. The winners are young Ukrainians who have achieved outstanding results in different fields, including teachers, scientists, human rights activists, and politicians.

Click the link below to read more about our accomplished alumni:

www.openworld.gov/press-releases/open-world-alumni-recognized-30-under-30-award

12/09/2019

Kicking off 2019’s Annual Grantee Meeting with Jane Sargus and the Open World staff discussing the importance of congressional diplomacy. Here's to a dynamic programming year for 2020!

12/05/2019

Matt Tucker, Open World Program Manager, welcomes our final delegation of 2019 this morning at orientation with civic leaders from Russia, Belarus, and Serbia. On Capitol Hill, our delegates will complete their orientation followed by an afternoon of congressional meetings focusing on a variety of issues including Responsible Journalism, Municipal Waste Management, and Entrepreneurship.

After their stay in Washington DC, the delegates will be hosted in host cities across the United States. Special thanks to Rotary Club of Redding, Northampton Community College, Clovis Rotary Club, Fox Valley Technical College, Citizen Diplomacy Council, WorldDenver, GlobalJax, Global Pittsburgh, and Iowa International for joining us in welcoming these groups.