US Agency for International Development (USAID)

World Learning ~ Community Connections Program

The Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council was selected as a training organization to design and conduct the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Community Connections (CC) development program.  The GCWAC designs the three week international training and exchange program.  Leaders and professionals are invited to participate as guests of this USAID program from countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine.  USAID is the sponsor and funder of the CC Program and World Learning is the programming agent. 

Private Practice by Emerging Legal Professionals, Armenia
July 9 - 30, 2010
Jan Sherbin, Program Manager
Sarah O’Connell, Program Intern

The Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council conducted its 45th Community Connections program in July – Independent Private Practice by Emerging Legal Professionals.  Participants were 10 Armenian lawyers who are at new law firms or in Armenia’s new public defender system.  These are people who can build law practices and also influence the future of Armenia’s legal system as it transitions to a more democratic-style judiciary.

During the 3-week program the group met dozens of lawyers, judges and other law professionals. Appointments included five law firms of varying sizes; courts at the county, state and federal levels; two bar associations, the nationally known human rights institute at UC, a lawyer with extensive experience in the bar association’s Central and Eastern Europe law project; prosecutors and public defenders; and an author of the Freedom Center’s Human Trafficking Report.

Professional hosts felt gratified about helping the Armenian lawyers reach their professional and civic goals.  As Jim Dressman of Dressman Benzinger Lavelle said, “Thanks for the opportunity to assist you assisting others. We really enjoyed meeting them all and getting a better understanding of their challenges.” 

Over three sessions with attorney Chuck Hollis, the Armenians made Action Plans, each lawyer distilling the knowledge gained in Cincinnati into one project achievable over the next six months.  Separately, they talked at Frost Brown Todd about the new Global Data Privacy Tool to help multinational companies understand data privacy rules around the world and agreed to contribute information on Armenia’s confidentiality laws.  “The program resulted in an actual, lasting connection,” says FBT’s Joseph Dehner.

(left) Bert Lockwood gives plaque to Armen; (center) Bill Heekin conversation with delegates; (right) Rabbit Hash - Karen-Mr. Black belt in Armenian barbecue

Bert Lockwood at UC’s Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights welcomed our group into his community of human rights advocates.

Attorney Bill Heekin, who has worked extensively in Eastern Europe through the American Bar Association, invited the Armenians to his home to talk about successes and challenges experienced by other countries transitioning from Soviet/Eastern Bloc judiciaries to independent judiciaries.

 Cultural events included a day at the Rabbit Hash cottage of home hosts Cathy and Steve Rabe, where the Armenians cooked for their American hosts.  Karen Manucharyan successfully defended his self-proclaimed title as “Mr. Black Belt in Armenian Barbecue.”

News Articles on the Program

University Administration and Education Quality, Kyrgyzstan
October 14 – November 4, 2009

The GCWAC successfully completed programming the USAID - World Learning, Community Connections professional training program for ten Kyrgyz university administrators.  The delegation came to Greater Cincinnati for a three week professional training program to gather information they can use to implement change in their country as it transitions from the old Soviet higher education system to a modern, free-market, transparent system.  The group met with 86 people, from top university management to students, on a professional program visiting a dozen colleges/universities and other organizations involved in higher education.  The delegation was welcomed into the homes of GCWAC volunteers who provided homestays for the group while they were in Cincinnati.
 
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College gives insight into why hosts put forth this effort:
“...I am certain that we made a real connection that will promote the relationship between our two countries.  Cincinnati State would welcome the opportunity to be a part of future programs with the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council.”
 
We are proud to receive the following evaluation:  "World Learning has conducted its annual performance review of the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council’s USAID 2009 Community Connections program.  The Evaluation Committee found that Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council’s overall technical and cultural content and management of the Fall 2009 USAID Community Connections was excellent. The evaluation was based upon the following areas: Program Development, Program Implementation, Program Staffing, Program Administration/Management "  Eric Corens, World Learning, USAID Community Connections, Senior Program Officer. 
 
The GCWAC would like to express special thanks to Ms. Jan Sherbin and Ms. Dorothy Blake who did an exemplary job ensuring the success of the program as Program Coordinators.