Pf congress spring 2015 program booklet

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Making it Matter:Changing the World One by One

Professional Fellows Congress • June 2-4, 2015

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SOCIAL MEDIAThroughout the Professional Fellows Congress, we encourage you to share your thoughts, insights, experiences, impressions, photos and videos using hashtags #profellows and #pfcongress.

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Facebook

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@Profellows Professional Fellows Division@ECAatState Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs@StateDept US Department of State

Partner Organizations

@acypl American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)@AC_Global American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS@icfj International Center for Journalists@ICMA International City/County Management Association (ICMA)@LegacyIntl Legacy International@ncuscr National Committee on United States-China Relations@smithcollege Smith College @umontana University of Montana@Uofoklahoma University of Oklahoma@worldchicago WorldChicago@WorldLearning World Learning, Inc@WSOSCAC WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc.

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IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel 415 New Jersey Avenue NW Washington, DCPhone: 202- 638-1616

National Public Radio Headquarters1111 North Capitol Street NEWashington, DCPhone: 202-513-2073

ACYPL STAFF

Linda RotunnoCEOMobile: [email protected]

Erin ConwellProgram ManagerMobile: [email protected]

Emily LevySpecial Projects ManagerMobile: [email protected]

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS STAFF

American Council of Young Political Leaders

Elliot Bell-KrasnerMobile: [email protected]

American Councils for International EducationLeslie RyanMobile: [email protected]

Adolat SalikhovaMobile: [email protected]

Hands Along the Nile

Laura CarrollMobile: [email protected]

International Center for JournalistsJohanna CarrilloMobile: [email protected]

Sameen DadfarMobile: [email protected]

International City/County Management Association

Lindsay KuhnMobile: [email protected]

Berna OztekinMobile: [email protected]

Aileen AndresMobile: [email protected]

Shraddha Kharel-PandeyMobile: [email protected]

Institute for Training and Development Smith College

Edgardo RothkegelMobile: 412-221-9325

Leah KriegerMobile: [email protected]

WorldChicago

Peggy ParfenoffMobile: 773-209-2923 [email protected]

Legacy International

Atefeh LeavittMobile: [email protected]

Matthew LakenbachMobile: [email protected]

National Committee on US-China Relations

Margot LandmanMobile: [email protected]

University of Montana

Deena MansourMobile: [email protected]

Kelsey StammMobile: [email protected]

University of Oklahoma

Elanie SteynMobile: [email protected]

World Learning

Amanda BischopingMobile: [email protected]

Vlad SpencerMobile: [email protected]

WSOS Community Action Commission

Elizabeth BalintMobile: [email protected]

Martin NagyMobile: 419-290-0995

TAXI SERVICE

VIP Cab CompanyPhone: 202-269-9000

Yellow Cab CompanyPhone: 202-546-7900

UBER can be accessed through a free mobile phone app

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 911

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Important Contact Information 1

Professional Fellows Congress Schedule of Events 3

Professional Fellows Congress Guest Speakers 6

Professional Fellows Congress Workshop Facilitators 12

2015 Professional Fellows 14

2015 Professional Fellows Alumni Impact Award Winners 36

United States Department of State Information 38

Professional Fellows Program Information 39

2015 Professional Fellows by the Numbers 41

2010-2015 Professional Fellows by the Numbers 42

2015 Professional Fellows Partner Organizations 43

Maps 44

Nearby Places to Eat 46

NOTES 47

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

M O N D A Y , J U N E 1PM Fellows arrival

Liaison Hotel 415 New Jersey Avenue NW

Transportation to hotel arranged by PFP Partner Organizations

2-7PM Congress RegistrationLiaison Hotel • Room: The Hub

5:30PM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby by bus

6PM Picnic Dinner East Potomac Park

7PM DC Historic Monuments Bus Tour

9:30PM Return to Liaison Hotel by bus

T U E S D A Y , J U N E 2Business Casual Attire

7AM Breakfast Liaison Hotel • Room: Metropolitan

8:20AM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby for walk toNational Public Radio – Studio 11111 North Capitol Street NE

9AM Welcome RemarksKit NorlandChief, Professional Fellows Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

Bruce ArmstrongDirector, Office of Citizen Exchanges – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

9:15AM Setting the Scene: Congress Expectations and Outcomes Adam MeierProgram Officer, Professional Fellows Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

Linda Rotunno CEO, American Council of Young Political Leaders

9:30AM Keynote Social Entrepreneurship: Doing Well, Doing GoodCasey GeraldCo-founder and CEO, MBAs Across America

10:30AM Break

10:45AM Roundtable Discussion Promoting Economic and Social Change through Community Investment

MODERATOR: Bret PerkinsVice President, External and Government Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal and Trustee, Temple University

PRESENTER: Mike CurtinPresident and CEO, DC Central Kitchen

PRESENTER: Andy DidorosiFounder and President, The Detroit Bus Company

PRESENTER: Nicole IsaacHead of Economic Graph, LinkedIn

12PM Networking Lunch

1PM Walk to Liaison Hotel for workshops

Fellows will be divided into 3 pre-assigned groups for 3 consecutive workshops. • SEE BACK OF NAME TAG FOR GROUP A, B OR C.

Group A – Room: Metropolitan EastFACILITATOR: Danny GaynorDirector of Policy Development, Office of Governor Martin O’Malley

Group B – Room: Metropolitan West FACILITATOR: Jaclyn HouserAdvocacy Director, Truman Project-Center for National Policy

Group C – Room: Metropolitan Center FACILITATOR: Caitlin HowarthLeadership Development Director, Truman Project-Center for National Policy

1:30-2:30PM Topic 1: Power of Personal Narrative: Developing Your Story

2:30-3:30PM Topic 2: Message Management: Telling Your Story

3:30PM Break

3:45-4:45PM Topic 3: Honing the Pitch: Marketing Your Story

4:45-5:30PM Video Project Workshop Rooms: The Hub and The Grid

6:15PM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby for walk toNational Cable + Telecommunications Association25 Massachusetts Avenue NW

6:30PM Welcome Reception

Welcome Remarks: Kit Norland

8PM Walk back to Liaison Hotel

Free time

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W E D N E S D A Y , J U N E 3Business Casual Attire

7AM BreakfastLiaison Hotel • Room: Metropolitan

8:15AM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby for walk to National Public Radio

8:45AM Announcements and Updates Adam Meier

eLibrary Karin BrandenburgProgram Officer, Professional Fellows Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

9AM Discussion Striving for Civil Rights in a New Century

MODERATOR: Jay Footlik President and CEO, Global Policy Initiatives

SPEAKER: Joaquin CastroMember, US House of Representatives [D-TX20]

SPEAKER: Julián CastroSecretary, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

10AM Break

10:15AM Discussion Professional Fellows Perspectives: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

MODERATOR: Jay Footlik

PRESENTER: Jeanette BeltranPFP American Alumna – Boston, Massachusetts

PRESENTER: Chikosi TawandaPFP International Alumnus – Zimbabwe

PRESENTER: Anna Gladka PFP International Alumna – Ukraine

PRESENTER: Richard Spinello PFP American Alumnus – Santa Fe, New Mexico

11:30AM PFP Alumni Networking Lunch

12:30PM Walk to Liaison Hotel

Fellows will be divided into15 groups for facilitated workshops. • SEE BACK OF NAME TAG FOR GROUP A, B OR C (same as Tuesday assignment)

Following the workshop, fellows will have the oppor-tunity to present 2-minute pitches with feedback from trainers, fellows, and professional peers.

Group A – Room: Metropolitan EastFACILITATOR: Danny GaynorDirector of Policy Development, Office of Governor Martin O’Malley

Group B – Room: Metropolitan West FACILITATOR: Jaclyn HouserAdvocacy Director, Truman Project-Center for National Policy

Group C – Room: Metropolitan Center FACILITATOR: Caitlin HowarthLeadership Development Director, Truman Project-Center for National Policy

1-2:30PM Workshop Topic: Perfecting Your Pitch

2:30PM Break

SEE BACK OF NAME TAG FOR GROUP 1-15

2:45-5PM Fellows’ Pitch Presentations and Feedback

Group 1 – Room: Bond FACILITATOR: Heidi Nel

Group 2 – Room: Connect FACILITATOR: Ziad Haider

Group 3 – Room: Unite FACILITATOR: Anastasia Dellaccio

Group 4 – Room: The Hill FACILITATOR: Janette Yarwood

Group 5 – Room: The Hub FACILITATOR: Ngiste Abebe

Group 6 – Room: The Grid FACILITATOR: John Brougher

Group 7 – Room: Metro Center FACILITATOR: Bishop Garrison

Group 8 – Room: Metro West FACILITATOR: Brian Greer

Group 9 – Room: Metro East FACILITATOR: Samira Jali

Group 10 – Room: Metro Center FACILITATOR: Simon Limage

Group 11 – Room: The Hill FACILITATOR: Kathryn Poindexter

Group 12– Room: Metro Center FACILITATOR: David Solimini

Group 13 – Room: Metro East FACILITATOR: Jason Stanford

Group 14 – Room: Metro West FACILITATOR: Lourdes Tiglao

Group 15 – Room: Metro Center FACILITATOR: Sarita Vanka

DINNERBusiness or National Dress Attire

PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN TO WEAR YOUR CONGRESS NAME TAG • PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT • ONLY PHONES, SMALL CAMERAS AND SMALL BAGS ARE PERMITTED.

5:45PM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby by bus for US Department of StateC Street and 22rd Streets NW

6:15PM Arrive US Department for State Proceed through C Street security

7PM US Department of State Dinner Reception

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Benjamin Franklin Dining Room

Welcome Remarks and Alumni Award Presentation

Kelly Keiderling Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs, US State Department

9PM Depart US Department of State by bus for Liaison Hotel

T H U R S D A Y , J U N E 4Business Casual Attire

8AM Breakfast Liaison Hotel • Room: Metropolitan Room

9:30AM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby for walk to National Public Radio

10AM Announcements and Updates Adam Meier

PFP Alumni Resources Darin McAnelly Regional Coordinator, Office of Alumni Affairs – Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

10:15AM Conversation in the Round The Power of One: Building a Civil Society

One Person at a Time

MODERATOR: Juana Summers Congressional Reporter, NPR Washington Desk

12PM Lunch

1:30PM Video Presentations Giving Voice to Our American Experience Video Presentations in the following order

WSOS Team 2

American Councils Team 1

WSOS Team 1

American Councils Team 2

World Learning Team 2

Hands Along the Nile

World Learning Team 1

Institute for Training and Development Team 1

University of Oklahoma

3PM Break

3:15PM Continued Video Presentations in the following order

Institute for Training and Development Team 2

University of Montana

International Center for Journalists

Smith College

ICMA Team 1

National Committee on US-China Relations

ICMA Team 2

Legacy International Team 1

WorldChicago

Legacy International Team 2 ACYPL 5PM Closing Thoughts and Country Roll Call Adam Meier and Linda Rotunno 5:15PM Group Photo – NPR Steps

5:30PM Depart NPR to walk to Liaison Hotel

6:30PM Depart Liaison Hotel lobby by bus for Farewell Dinner

7PM Farewell Dinner Long View Gallery 1234 Ninth Street NW

Welcome Remarks Mara Tekach Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural

Exchanges – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State

10PM Return to Liaison Hotel by bus

F R I D A Y , J U N E 5Casual Attire HOTEL CHECK-OUT NO LATER THAN 12 NOON

8AM Congress Evaluation Liaison Hotel • Room: Metropolitan

ALL FELLOWS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THE CONGRESS EVALUTION BEFORE DEPARTING WASHINGTON, DC

An electronic Congress evaluation has been sent to your email. If you are unable to complete the eval-uation on your personal computer or mobile phone, please use the computers located in Metropolitan room. 8:30-10AM Breakfast

Free time

Fellows’ departures organized by PFP Partner Organizations

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GUEST SPEAKERS

Bruce Armstrong Bruce is a US State Department career Foreign Service Officer and is currently the director of the Office of Citizen Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). He and his team oversee nearly 80 exchange programs in the areas of youth and professional exchanges and cul-tural and sports diplomacy. His previous assignment was as resource director for the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, managing the $1.1 billion public diplomacy budget and making sure public diplomacy resources were aligned with US foreign policy priorities. Bruce’s overseas posts included assignments at US Embassies in Berlin, Manila, Bern, Bonn, and Budapest.

Bruce earned his undergraduate degree at Brown University and has a Ph.D. in German literature from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Jeanette Beltran 2015 Alumni Impact AwardeeJeanette Beltran is an authority on community health promotion issues and an advocate for women, children, and youth issues, and currently serves as the CEO of JBD and Associates. Prior to this position, Jeanette served as the director of community initia-tives for the Susan B. Komen Foundation, national director of special programs for the National Latina Health Network in Washington, DC, and regional director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In these positions, Jeanette was responsible for the overall program direction and administration of the organizations’ contractual, fiscal programmat-ic, and reporting requirements of various local, state and federal contracts.

She is a sought after national speaker and trainer for national associations, government, and non-govern-mental agencies. Jeanette has developed prevention programs targeted at women and youth in the areas of substance abuse, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sexual assault, child abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Her portfolio includes unveiling the first Latina health agenda for the nation and the first breast cancer survivors conference for Spanish speakers.

Jeanette is a founding member of the Hispanic Society for Preventive Medicine, Member of Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Council, and recently was awarded a grant from Yoplait to address the unmet programmatic needs of Latinas around breast health.

Congressman Joaquin CastroJoaquin Castro was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 16, 1974. A second generation Mexican American, he was raised on the city’s Westside and is a proud product of the public school system. The Castro family’s history in the United States began nearly 100 years ago when his grandmother, Victoria Castro, came to Texas as a young orphan. In the spirit of the American Dream, she often worked two and three jobs at a time to be able to give her daughter (Joaquin’s mother, Rosie) and her grandchildren a better chance in life.

Joaquin has worked hard to seize the opportunities created by the sacrifices of his grandmother and prior generations. After finishing high school a year early, Joaquin left San Antonio to graduate with honors from Stanford University in 1996. He then went on to attend Harvard Law School where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2000. Upon his return to San Antonio, Joaquin joined a private law practice and was elected into the Texas Legislature. He served five terms as state representative for District 125.

In 2012 Joaquin was elected to serve in the United States House of Representatives as representative of Texas Congressional District 20. Now in his second term in the US House of Representatives, Joaquin serves on the House Armed Services Committee, as well as the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He was the 2013 co-president for the House fresh-man Democrats and serves in House Democratic Leadership as Chief Deputy Whip.

Joaquin’s respect for public service developed at a young age and was deeply influenced by his par-ents’ involvement in political movements and civic causes. His father, a retired teacher, and his mother, a renowned community activist, instilled in him a deep appreciation for the democratic process and the importance of serving one’s community.

Outside of the legislative chamber, Joaquin has demonstrated a strong commitment to his community. He created the Trailblazers College Tour, personally raising money to send underprivileged students on college visits, providing them exposure to some of the nation’s best institutions of higher education. He also created SA READS, San Antonio’s largest literacy cam-paign and book drive. Over 200,000 books have been distributed to more than 150 schools and shelters across the city. He has also taught as a visiting professor of law at St. Mary’s University and as an adjunct professor at Trinity University. Joaquin is active on several boards of education-related, non-profit organizations, including the National College Advising Corps, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ (NALEO) Taskforce on Education.

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Secretary Julián Castro Julián Castro was sworn in as the 16th Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development on July 28, 2014. In this role, Castro oversees 8,000 employees and a budget of $46 billion, using a performance-driven approach to achieve the Department’s mission of expanding opportunity for all Americans.

As Secretary, Castro’s focus is ensuring that HUD is a transparent, efficient, and effective champion for the people it serves. Utilizing an evidence-based man-agement style, he has charged the Department with one goal: giving every person, regardless of their station in life, new opportunities to thrive.

Before HUD, Julián served as mayor of the City of San Antonio, Texas. During his tenure, he became known as a national leader in urban development. In 2010, the city launched the Decade of Downtown, an initiative to spark investment in San Antonio’s center city and older neighborhoods. This effort has attracted $350 million in private sector investment, which will produce more than 2,400 housing units by the end of 2014. In addition, San Antonio’s East Side is the only neighborhood in America that has received funding to implement major projects under three key Obama Administration revitalization initiatives: Choice Neighborhoods, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Byrne Criminal Justice Program.

In March 2010, Julián was named to the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders. Later that year, TIME magazine placed him on its 40 under 40 list of rising stars in American politics.

Previously, Julián served as a member of the San Antonio City Council. He is also an attorney and worked at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer + Feld before starting his own practice.

Secretary Castro received a bachelor’s from Stanford University in 1996, and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 2000.

Mike CurtinAfter graduating from Williams College in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in religion, Mike lived and worked in Osaka, Japan as a teacher, copywriter, and bartender at his neighborhood pub. Upon returning to the United States, he began a 20-year career in the hospitality business, including owning and operating his own restaurant, The Broad Street Grill, in Falls Church Virginia. Mike joined DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) in 2004.

Drawing on his experiences in the restaurant busi-ness, Mike has spent significant time expanding the Kitchen’s revenue-generating social enterprise initiatives. Under his leadership, DC Central Kitchen’s Fresh Start Catering has expanded from traditional catering opportunities to include contracts to provide locally-sourced, scratched-cooked meals to schools across Washington, DC.

DC Central Kitchen’s Nutrition Lab facility, funded and launched under Mike’s leadership, has allowed DCCK to take on more contracts, rapidly increase investments in purchasing from local farms, and improve production efficiency. Due to its many social service programs, the Kitchen now employs over 130 people, approximately 40 percent who are graduates of the Kitchen’s nationally recognized Culinary Job Training Program. Social enterprise now accounts for nearly 65 percent of their total operating budget.

Mike is a chair emeritus of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and a Board member for The Common Market in Philadelphia. He also is on the Advisory Board of DC Greens and Catalyst Kitchens, the Leadership Council of DC Hunger Solutions, and an Advisory Board member for the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.

The Kitchen has received numerous accolades under Mike’s guidance, including the Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Award; the Washington Business Journal’s Green Business Award for Innovation; and the DC Chamber of Commerce 2012 Community Impact Award. Mike is also a recipient of the 2010 Gelman, Rosenberg + Freedman EXCEL Award for excellence in chief executive leadership.

Andy DidorosiAndy Didorosi, a 26-year old Detroit native, is the president and founder of The Detroit Bus Company. A Crain’s 20 in their 20’s winner, he also owns Paper Street, the arts and business campus; The Thunderdrome!, a local racing series; Wireless Ferndale, a free community wifi project; and BuildingMinder, a property maintenance, manage-ment and asset liquidation company.

Jay FootlikJay Footlik is the founding president and CEO of Global Policy Initiatives (GPI), an international busi-ness, political and policy development consultancy. He also serves as senior advisor to Global Policy Advisors (GPA).

Over the past decade, his clients have included Fortune 500 companies, countries and various foreign ministries, NGOs and others. He has also represented high net worth individuals in both their personal and corporate capacities, providing advice and counsel including crafting crisis communica-tion and public relations.

Jay served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton in the White House, helping build support for a range of domestic and foreign policy issues, in-cluding extensive work involving the Middle East. He also served as the President’s liaison to the American Jewish community and traveled with President Clinton on three continents to assist on official visits to Poland, Norway, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, and various locations within the United States.

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A former United States Congressional candidate, Footlik has held various senior positions on numerous politi-cal campaigns over the past 25 years, including Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign for president and US Secretary of State John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, where he served as Kerry’s senior Middle East advisor.

Jay is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from US politics and presidential elections to foreign policy and the Middle East. In the lead up to the 2012 US presidential elections, the US State Department’s Speaker and Specialist Program sent him to Kuwait and Morocco to speak to a variety of audiences regarding the American elections. He has appeared on television and radio, including Al Jazeera English, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS and others.

Jay earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of California – Los Angeles, specializ-ing in American foreign policy and the Middle East. He has a law degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles and is a member of the Maryland State Bar.

Casey GeraldCasey is the co-founder and CEO of MBAs Across America, a national movement of MBAs and entre-preneurs working together to revitalize America. He began his career in economic policy and govern-ment innovation at the Center for American Progress, and has worked as a strategist with startup social ventures, including Reboot and The Future Project, as well as companies like The Neiman Marcus Group.

A native Texan, Casey received an Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale College, where he was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. He has been featured on MSNBC, in the New York Times, Financial Times, and other media outlets.

Casey gave the commencement speech at the 2014 Harvard Business School graduation. The speech has gone viral and since then, he has been featured on the cover of Fast Company. Casey has emerged as a voice of the millennial generation for business, entrepreneurship, and finding your purpose.

Anna Gladka 2015 Alumni Impact AwardeeAnna works for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees-funded Advocacy and Monitoring Project on Internal Displacement in Ukraine. Over the last five years, Anna has worked for a series NGOs as a lawyer and project manager including Our Future; Izolyatsia: Platform for Cultural Initiatives; Stop Tuberculosis; and Centre of European Cooperation. She has been involved in the implementation of a number of projects including advanced training of attorneys on the use of interrogation methods and also youth involvement to improve democracy in Ukraine supported by the MATRA program of Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine; human rights programs supported by both the Renaissance Foundation and the European Youth Foundation;

and Open Ukraine supported by United States Embassy in Ukraine

Nicole IsaacNicole joined the team of LinkedIn as the head of the Economic Graph Policy Partnerships and manages engagement with local, state, federal, and interna-tional policy makers around workforce opportunity and reducing skill gaps. Previously, Nicole consulted for over a year with theGROUP, a boutique political consulting firm, and advised Fortune 100 clients about business strategy. Nicole was also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University where she taught a course on multinational business policy and geopolitics. She founded Code the Streets, a non-prof-it technology accelerator to increase resources and opportunity for inner city youth.

Prior to her past year in the private sector, Nicole spent five years at the White House and five years on Capitol Hill. While at the White House, she was a spe-cial assistant to the President for legislative affairs and worked with members of Congress on domestic and international legislative issues. Nicole collab-orated with governmental agencies, Congressional offices, and outside groups, while managing and implementing existing and future priorities for the President and his leadership team. She also served as deputy legislative director for the Office of the Vice President, managing the Vice President’s engagement with the United States Congress.

Before joining the administration, from 2007 through 2009, Nicole worked as floor counsel to then Assistant Majority Leader Senator Richard Durbin, and was responsible for assisting with the management of the Senate Floor. She worked as lead Counsel to the Democratic Caucus Committee on Organization, Study + Review, where she assisted with drafting the Caucus rules for the 110th Congress. She began her career on Capitol Hill as assistant counsel with the US House of Representatives Office of Legislative Counsel, and drafted hundreds of pieces of legisla-tion for personal offices and committees.

In addition, she worked as a foreign law clerk to the Honorable Dikgang Moseneke, the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa at the Constitutional Court. Nicole completed her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and also a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She also completed a master’s of studies program in international human rights law at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Nicole has worked with the US Department of State, the Government Accountability Office, the Securities and Exchange Commission, prominent law firms in New York and Paris, and with NGOs in Geneva and South Africa. She is a native New Yorker and her parents are from Jamaica and Costa Rica.

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Kelly KeiderlingKelly serves as the principal deputy assistant secre-tary at the Unites States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The bureau advances U.S. foreign policy objectives through educational, professional, and cultural programs that enhance mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other nations.

Ms. Keiderling is a career diplomat who entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1988. Most recently, she was Deputy Chief of Mission and intermittently Charge d’Affaires in Caracas, Venezuela, until expelled by the Venezuelan president. She previously served overseas as Deputy Chief of Mission in Chisinau, Moldova, Public Affairs Officer in Cuba, Botswana and Kyrgyzstan, and in other public diplomacy roles in the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Her assignments in Washington include Senior Panama Desk officer, Public Diplomacy Desk Officer for the Caribbean, acting deputy director for Central American Affairs, Strategic Language Issues Coordinator in the Bureau of Human Resources, and Chief of Staff in the Iraq Office.

Ms. Keiderling received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from the National War College in Washington, D.C. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, and some Italian and Romanian. She was raised in Latin America and Portugal in a Foreign Service family.

Patricia “Kit” NorlandKit became the director of the Professional Fellows Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in August 2014. She is a career Foreign Service Office and has served as a public diplomacy officer at United States embassies in Thailand and Laos and the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Kit has managed a spectrum of programs, promoting mutual understanding through educa-tion, media, culture, English teaching, and student advising. She also served in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and coordinated courses at the Foreign Service Institute. Prior to public service, Kit worked in a non-governmental organization, a public relations firm, and with the Smithsonian Associates.

Bret PerkinsBret Perkins serves as vice president of external and government affairs for Comcast Corporation. In this role he is responsible for the headquarters’ Government Affairs team in Philadelphia, as well as the company’s outreach efforts to third-party groups.

Bret joined Comcast in 2001 and has managed local government affairs while the company grew from operating in 2,500 communities to 6,000 communities. His responsibilities have included implementing the company’s regulatory and legislative initiatives at the local level, managing relationships with state and local intergovernmental associations, developing political strategy, and grassroots communications.

Prior to joining Comcast, he served as vice president of system services and assistant to the President at Mercy Health System in Pennsylvania and worked in legislative affairs at Keystone Mercy/AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan and with the North Philadelphia Health System.

In 2008, Bret received the National Cable + Telecommunications Association’s Vanguard Award for Young Leadership, one of the cable industry’s highest honors for its next generation of leaders.

Bret is a member of the Temple University Board of Trustees. He has served as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and currently serves on the Board and Executive Committee of The Committee of Seventy, the Philadelphia political watchdog nonprofit organization, the Family Online Safety Institute, and the Philadelphia International Airport Advisory Board.

Bret received a bachelor’s of Business Administration from Temple University and resides in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Richard Spinello 2015 Alumni Impact AwardeeRichard holds the position of general counsel for the State Bar of New Mexico. In this role, Richard oversees a professional office to protect the legal and policy interests of the State Bar. He assists in the areas of regulatory functions; provides a professional legal resource for the State Bar leadership, volunteers and staff; administers and manages programs assigned to the office; assists with outreach to the judiciary; and advises in legislative, executive and judicial processes. He also oversees human resources and benefits.

Juana SummersJuana is a congressional reporter on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Washington Desk.

Prior to coming to NPR, Juana spent nearly 4 years as a reporter for POLITICO, where she focused on political and campaign coverage, primarily the 2012 Republican primaries and general election. During the Republican presidential primaries she covered Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, and Jon Huntsman. She then traveled with Paul Ryan after he accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination. After the 2012 election, Summers began covering defense policy and veterans issues on Capitol Hill.

Juana has her reporting roots in Missouri. She has covered statewide and local politics for the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as well as KBIA-FM.

Her work has also been featured in the Austin American-Statesman and The Washington Post. Summers is a regular guest host for C-SPAN’s

“Washington Journal” and a frequent guest on CNN’s “Inside Politics”, MSNBC’s “Weekends With Alex Witt”

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and other cable news programs. She was a com-mentator for BET during the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Summers served one term on the board of directors of the Online News Association, the largest NGO organi-zation of digital journalists. She is an alumna of the Chips Quinn Scholars program, the New York Times Journalism Institute and the Society of Professional Journalists Reporters Institute.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Juana is a gradu-ate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in media management from the Missouri School of Journalism.

Chikosi Tawanda 2015 Alumni Impact AwardeeChikosi Tawanda is an award-winning technology transfer entrepreneur aiming to create a pan-African brand for innovative technologies in Zimbabwe and across Africa. In 2011, he pioneered a stolen laptop national tracking system leading him to win the Zimbabwe Top Young Information + Communication Technology (ICT) Innovator of the Year award. In 2013, Chikosi developed a wireless waiter-paging system and in 2014 he introduced Zimbabwe’s first hotel mobile app.

He is the youngest private investigator to ever be licensed by the post-independence government of Zimbabwe. Chikosi is currently a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Crime Consultative Committee, founder and chairman of the Chikosi Foundation, and CEO of Chikosi Technology Corporation.

He holds a graduate Diploma in Business Management from the University of Zimbabwe and qualifications in Security Intelligence and Security Management.

Mara Tekach

Mara serves as the deputy assistant secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges at the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). She oversees a broad range of professional, cultural, youth, and sports exchange programs designed to increase under-standing between Americans and people around the world in support of American foreign policy initiatives.

These programs include the International Visitor Leadership Program, which since 1940 has brought to the US established and up-and-coming foreign lead-ers and opinion makers to meet with their American professional counterparts and to experience the United States firsthand. Mara also oversees the Office of Citizen Exchanges, which administers professional exchanges, academic year youth exchanges, cul-tural programs, and the State Department’s sports diplomacy portfolio. The Office of Professional and Cultural Exchanges also supports major public-pri-vate partnerships such as the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists and the Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership.

Mara is a career diplomat who entered the United States Foreign Service in 1989. Most recently she served as Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at US Embassy Mexico City. She previously served as dep-uty director of communications at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York; press attaché in Buenos Aires, Argentina; minister coun-selor for public affairs, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; financial officer in Moscow, Russia; and as a junior officer in Mauritania and Niger. Her domestic assignments in-clude senior desk officer for Italy; senior watch officer in the US State Department Operations Center; and economic officer with both the United States Trade Representative and the Office of Monetary Affairs of the US State Department Economic Bureau. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niamey, Niger. She speaks Spanish, Russian, French and some Haitian Creole.

Mara holds a bachelor’s of science in econom-ics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She earned both a master’s of arts in international affairs and a PhD in education from Columbia University. In November of 2013, she was selected as the American winner of the Swanee Hunt Award for Advancing Women’s Role in Policy Formulation.

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WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

Danny GaynorDanny is the director of policy development for the office of former Governor Martin O’Malley, where he works to shape bold ideas for US domestic and foreign policy. He previously served as the chief speechwriter to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US government’s lead foreign aid agency. There, he led priority communications initiatives on global development issues -- from clean energy, to the Ebola epidemic, to economic growth -- spanning more than 70 countries and a $22 billion budget.

Danny previously served as the editorial chief at the Truman Project and Center for National Policy. In this role, he wrote or edited over 500 published op-eds, appearing in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, TIME and numerous prestigious outlets. His own writing has appeared in leading outlets, including CNN, The Boston Globe, The White House official blog, The Hill, The San Francisco Chronicle, and GOOD Magazine. He was also a Fellow at the United States Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation.

Jaclyn HouserJaclyn is the advocacy director for the Truman Project and Center for National Policy where she oversees the organization’s strategic organizing efforts, including the award-winning Operation Free and International Development campaigns.

Jaclyn has over a decade of experience leading campaigns and projects for political candidates, progressive non-profits, and consulting firms. Her political work included serving as campaign director for 2012 Congressional candidate Teresa Hensley in Missouri’s 4th district and as a regional field director for John Kerry’s 2004 presidential bid in Michigan.

In addition to campaign management, Jaclyn has a background in strategic communications. Most recently, she worked at the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) where she acted as press liaison for the half-million member union and managed all media efforts to support LIUNA’s orga-nizing and political campaigns in the United States and Canada. Prior to that, she served as director of marketing and communications at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a Democratic polling firm with clients in more than 80 countries around the world. While there, Jaclyn led all marketing, communica-tions, and brand management for the firm as well as directed the publication and promotional book tour of CEO Stan Greenberg’s international-selling book Dispatches from the War Room.

A Michigan native, Jaclyn holds a master’s degree in public policy from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in social relations from Michigan State University.

Caitlin HowarthCaitlin is director of leadership development at the Truman Project and Center for National Policy, where she recruits, trains, and positions leaders in policy, politics, and security.

Prior to joining Truman/CNP, Caitlin was deputy director of the Telecommunications Equality Project led by Susan Crawford at the Roosevelt Institute. Caitlin previously worked as a security analyst for the Satellite Sentinel Project, a collaboration of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, DigitalGlobe, Not On Our Watch, the Enough Project, Google, and UNOSAT. Her work on human security threats and evidence of mass atrocities along the disputed southern border of Sudan has been covered by The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, ABC, NPR, al Jazeera, Reuters, TIME and more. Caitlin co-authored

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“Crisis Mapping Needs an Ethical Compass,” fea-tured in Global Brief, and has appeared on the BBC World Service.

Caitlin holds a bachelor’s degree with high dis-tinction in political and social thought from the University of Virginia and a master’s in public policy in international and global affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is a Pipeline Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, where she focuses on human security and humanitarian technology.

P I T C H F A C I L I T A T O R S

Ngiste Abebe Program Specialist, Office of Transition Initiatives, United States Agency for International Development

John Brougher Chief Technology Officer, NARAL Pro-Choice America

Anastasia Dellaccio Senior Officer for Public Affairs, United Nations Foundation

Ziad Haider Policy Planning Staff, Office of the Secretary, United States Department of State

Bishop Garrison Advisor, Science and Technology Directorate, United States Department of Homeland Security

Brian Greer Military Legislative Assistant, Office of United States Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Samira Jali Advisor to Director of Communications, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Simon Limage Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation Programs, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, United States Department of State

Hiedi Nel Principal, Picture Motion

Kathryn Poindexter Training and Outreach, Analyst Institute

David Solimini Co-Founder, ADco

Jason Stanford Founder, Stanford Campaigns

Lourdes Tiglao Director of Outreach and Resource Development, The District Communications Group

Sarita Vanka Program Examiner, National Security Programs, The White House

Janette Yarwood Cultural Anthropologist, Institute for Defense Analyses

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A R M E N I ASayad BadalyanLecturer – Yerevan State [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: State of California Office of Legislative CounselFellowship City: Sacramento, CA

Kristina HovhannisyanProgram Officer – Human Dignity and Peace [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement:Assistance Technology Resource CenterFellowship City: Honolulu, HI

Varser KarapetyanDeputy Head – Office of the Public [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Law Offices of the Cook County Public DefenderFellowship City: Chicago, IL

A Z E R B A I J A NBaybala AghayevSenior Tax Inspector – Financial Institutions Monitoring Division, Ministry of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Office of Representative John Macco, Wisconsin House of RepresentativesFellowship City: Madison, WI

Elvira IsmayilovaPublic Relations Manager – ASAN Volunteers Youth [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Youth GuidanceFellowship City: Chicago, IL

2015 PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS

Vusal MammadovHead of Organizational and Legal Department – Trade Union of State Organizations and Public [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Montgomery County GovernmentFellowship City: Rockville, MD

B A N G L A D E S HImran FahadManaging Director – Gaming Nation and MAYSHA Properties + Builders Limited, MPBL [email protected] Focus: Economic

EmpowermentFellowship Placement: TailwindFellowship City: Oklahoma City, OK

Abir MazumderCo-Founder and Managing Partner – Beatnik [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: McMahon MarketingFellowship City: Norman, OK

Ahmed SamiFounder – LaunchPad [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: McMahon

MarketingFellowship City: Norman, OK

B E L A R U SNastassia PadabayevaVice Director – Vitebsk Regional Center of [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Washington State Department of CommerceFellowship City: Seattle, WA

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B O S N I A A N D H E R Z E G O V I N AMersed CamdžicOwner and Managing Director – Mistral Technologies [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Context MediaFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Adin PoprzanovicCEO – RUBICON [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Pathfinder

Software LLCFellowship City: Chicago, IL

B R A Z I LLigia AguilharReporter and Editor’s Assistant – O Estado de São [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Mother JonesFellowship City: Washington, DC

Marcelo FontouraCommunication and Marketing Analyst – [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: CircaFellowship City: New York, NY

Sabrina PassosEditor – RBS [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Fusion

Fellowship City: Doral, FL

B R U N E IGenevieve YeeMedical Social Worker – Jerudong Park Medical [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Iowa CityFellowship City: Iowa City, IA

B U L G A R I AKirilka AngelovaGroup Dynamic Trainer – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Logan Square

Neighborhood AssociationFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Dilyana Gyurova-KyupeliyskiExecutive Director – Concordia Bulgaria [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: The Seed HouseFellowship City: Wichita, KS

Nevena PashovaUniversity Student Coordinator – TernYpe International Roma Youth Network, New Bulgarian [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Pioneer Valley ProjectFellowship City: Springfield, MA

B U R M AThwin Zar HeinDirector – Global Excell Company Ltd [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment Fellowship Placement: OneGas

Fellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Hnin Wut Yee WinDirector of Research and Program Improvement –Entrepreneurship Development Network Asia-Myanmar (EDNA-MM), Education Organization [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: The Mine and OU-Tulsa CCEWFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Hpa Law Lum NawCo-Coordinator – Civic Education and Youth Empowerment Program, Nau Shawng Education [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights Under LawFellowship City: Washington, DC

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Htoo Kyaw WinEditor – Journal of Human Rights and Democracy, Myanmar Knowelege [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Amnesty International USAFellowship City: Washington, DC

Khine Thinsar MaungSenior Manager, International and Public Relations – Victoria [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: OUHSC School of Community MedicineFellowship City: Oklahoma City, OK

Ngu Wah WinExecutive Assistant – Center for Economic and Social [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Tulsa Chamber of CommerceFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Ngun HmungTour Operation Manager – Friends of Nature Travels and Tours [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: MarriottFellowship City: Norman, OK

Freddy Si Thu LinCoordinator – Myanmar ICT for Development [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Jeannette Rankin Peace Center Fellowship City: Missoula, MT

Zaw Min HtutExecutive – Lo Ta Ya Women’s [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of TulsaFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Zin Mar MyintEditor – Education Digest [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Missoula

IndependentFellowship City: Missoula, MT

C A M B O D I AChhin SeDeputy Director – This Life [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: United Way of

Missoula CountyFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Hong MuyhengDeputy Chief, Vocational Training Bureau – Department of Personnel, General Department of Local Administration, Ministry of [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of KennedaleFellowship City: Kennedale, TX

Mey PhallaProgram Coordinator – Save Vulnerable [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Clark Fork CoalitionFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Seila SarQuantitative Specialist – The Asia [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of AlbanyFellowship City: Albany, OR

Sek SovannaAttorney – HML Law [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: American Civil

Liberties Union – MontanaFellowship City: Missoula, MT

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Suonvisal SethHuman Resources Officer, Researcher and Trainer – National Assembly of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of TulsaFellowship City: Tulsa, OK C H I N A

Chen ChengVice CEO – Huizhou Citizen-Partner Social Work Service [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Wichita Children’s HomeFellowship City: Wichita, KS

Ding LeiProgram Development Director – Nanning Society of Youth Health [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Apex for YouthFellowship City: New York, NY

Feng LingVice Director – Huamin Charity [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Community Research PartnersFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Lily LiProgram and Operations Manager – Global Network for Public Interest Law- [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Sanctuary for FamiliesFellowship City: New York, NY

Mei LanProject Manager – US-China Joint Collaboration on Clean [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Green LabsFellowship City: Washington, DC

Pan QingProject Manager – Guangxi Biodiversity Research and Conservation [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Conservation International and The Nature ConservancyFellowship City: Arlington, VA

Xu ShanshanProgram Manager – China Philanthropy Research Institute, Beijing Normal [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Asian American FederationFellowship City: New York, NY

Lucy YangProgram Officer – Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Economic and Community Development InstituteFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Zhang LiuSenior Analyst – China Philanthropy Research Institute, Beijing Normal [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Children’s Aid SocietyFellowship City: New York, NY

C O L O M B I AJuan David GarzónJournalist – Cesar [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Mother Jones

Fellowship City: San Francisco, CA

Marco Andrés Jaramillo OrtizCEO – Innova Brands [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: HereMedia

Fellowship City: Los Angeles, CA

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Iván LuzardoEditor-in-Chief – [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: FusionFellowship City: Doral, FL

Daniel Suárez PérezCo-Founder – [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: SplashMediaFellowship City: Addison, TX

C R O A T I AIvana BistrovicSenior Associate – Department of SME Development and Economy Monitoring, Office of Economy, Labor, and Entrepreneurship, City of [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: City of Chicago Department of Innovation and TechnologyFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Matija BumbakHead of Economy, Entrepreneurship, and Development Department – City of [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Blue 1647Fellowship City: Chicago, IL

Miroslav VrankicFounder and CEO – E-Glas [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Department of

Bioengineering, University of Illinois at ChicagoFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Ante VuleticSenior Teaching and Research Assistant – Faculty of Economics and Business, University of [email protected] Focus: Economic

EmpowermentFellowship Placement: IIT University Tech ParkFellowship City: Chicago, IL

E G Y P TSameh Atef Naguib MikhailCommunity-based Rehabilitation and Children at Risk Team – Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: ADA 25 Chicago and Chicago Community TrustFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Mohamed AbdelsattarYouth Specialist – Special Olympics [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Outdoors for All

Fellowship City: Seattle, WA

Asma FawzyHuman Rights Officer – National Council for Human [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Easter Seals Metropolitan ChicagoFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Peter IsaacFounder and Board Member – Kadroun [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: ProvailFellowship City: Seattle, WA

Mohamed KamalLawyer and Chief of Legal Affairs – Association of Developmental [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Seattle Children’s Autism CenterFellowship City: Seattle, WA

G E O R G I ATamuna ChanturiaProbation Officer – National Probation [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: National Criminal Justice AssociationFellowship City: Washington, DC

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Nino JanashiaAttorney – International Society for Fair Elections and [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Election Division, Colorado Department of StateFellowship City: Denver, CO

Shalva SaghirashviliDeputy Head – Department for Human Resources, Management, and Development, Office of the Chief [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of AlexandriaFellowship City: Alexandria, VA

G U A T E M A L ALuis AssardoJournalist and Director – Diario Prensa Digital, [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: EarthfixFellowship City: Seattle, WA

Juan Pablo Barrera GuzmanInformation Security Professional – Pakal Security [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: CircaFellowship City: New York, NY

Claudia Méndez ArriazaDeputy Editor – Revista [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Los Angeles Times

Fellowship City: Los Angeles, CA

H O N D U R A SMario CernaJournalist and Reporter – Diario el Heraldo, Grupo [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: The Miami HeraldFellowship City: Miami, FL

Yamil GonzalesLecturer – UNI [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Global Voice HallFellowship City: Arlington, VA

Carlos MendozaHead News Anchor and Senior Journalist – Campus [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: AJ+Fellowship City: San Francisco, CA

H U N G A R YZsanett FuggInternational Coordinator – Eurotender [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Jane Addams Senior CaucusFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Johanna LaszloProgram Manager – Hungarian Anti-Poverty [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Chicago Coalition for the HomelessFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Szilvia NagyWeb [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Community Voices HeardFellowship City: New York, NY

Bence PalIntern – Habitat for Humanity International- Hungary [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance


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Peter PetakLeader of Community Workers – Hungarian Association for Community [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Virginia OrganizingFellowship City: Charlottesville, VA

Szilvia SuriPresident – Roma Press [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: One NorthsideFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Reka SzilardiAssistant Professor – University of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Granite State Organizing ProjectFellowship City: Manchester, NH

I N D I ASanjay PalSenior Faculty – Entrepreneurship Development Institute of [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: CCEWFellowship City: Norman, OK

Avani RawalProject Manager – Reliance Foundation [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Department of Agriculture, State of OklahomaFellowship City: Oklahoma City, OK

Jigar ShahManaging Director – Consultant [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: IMMY

Fellowship City: Norman, OK

Mukesh SudarshanCEO – Agrimake Industries Pvt [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Department of

Agriculture, State of OklahomaFellowship City: Oklahoma City, OK

I N D O N E S I AJoos Meikhel GaghenggangFunctional Officer – Department of Financial Information Systems and Technology, Secretariat General, Ministry of [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of Rocky MountFellowship City: Rocky Mount, NC

Sugeng HartantoStaff, Planning and Evaluation Department – City Planning Board of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of AlbanyFellowship City: Albany, OR

Hans JongReporter – The Jakarta [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Hennepin County Board of ComissionersFellowship City: Minneapolis, MN

Elisabet JupestaLegal Counsel – Technip [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Minnesota Environmental Quality BoardFellowship City: St. Paul, MN

Denni NurdwinsyahAssistant Director and Head of Programs – Friends of Coastal Communities(SAMPAN)[email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Nature ConservancyFellowship City: Minneapolis, MN

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Ratih Dwi RahmadantiData Analyst – Jakarta Office, The World [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Village of Yellow SpringsFellowship City: Yellow Springs, OH

Lia SukirmanProgram Manager for Research and Advocacy – Perludem, Associaton for Election and [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Hennepin County Elections OfficeFellowship City: Minneapolis, MN

Aria WidyantoConsultant – Hyve Inovasi [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Iowa CityFellowship City: Iowa City, IA

L A O SBounmy SibounheaungHuman Resources Coordinator – Career and Employment, MMG – Lane Xang Minerals [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of KennedaleFellowship City: Kennedale, TX

Thongvone SosamphanMine Action Officer – Citizen Sector, Unexploded Ordnance [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of DecaturFellowship City: Decatur, GA

Chintanaphone KeovichithCoordinator – Micro and Macro Linkage Network (MIC-MAC)[email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Clark Fork CoalitionFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Minitta TaosouvanhCoordinator – [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Community Food

and Agriculture Coalition Fellowship City: Missoula, MT

Siliphaithoun XayamoungkhounDevelopment Director – Khaoniew Theater [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: YWCA MissoulaFellowship City: Missoula, MT

M A L A Y S I AAfiq bin SoepirmanResearch Analyst – Office of the Chief Minister of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Office of Joe McDermott, King County CouncilFellowship City: Seattle, WA

Nadia Faradila Binti JalawiAssistant Director of Engineering – Majlis Perbandaran Seberang [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Village of Yellow SpringsFellowship City: Yellow Springs, OH

Ng Chee KaiNutrition Officer – Nutrition Division, Ministry of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Rocky MountFellowship City: Rocky Mount, NC

Sree RamanSenior Assistant Director – Office of the Director General, Coastal Zone Management Division, Department of Irrigation and [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of DubuqueFellowship City: Dubuque, IA

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Yeo Bee YinMember – Selangor State Legislative [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Children’s AllianceFellowship City: Seattle, WA

M E X I C ODaniela Diaz GarciaConsultant Assistant on Climate Change – National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector –

Environmental SustainabilityFellowship Placement: American RiversFellowship City: Northampton, MA

Juan Franco GuillenDirector – Cecropia [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: The Nature ConservancyFellowship City: Northampton, MA

Alberto Martinez FernandezBiologist and Ornithologist – Origenes Conservacion de Especies y Espacios [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceFellowship City: Hadley, MA

Silvia Olvera HernandezIndependent Consultant – National Commission for Knowledge and Use of [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector –

Environmental SustainabilityFellowship Placement: Nuestras RaicesFellowship City: Holyoke, MA

Larissa Vasquez MorenoResearch Assistant – [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife RefugeFellowship City: Brunswick, VT

M O L D O VAValentin CroitoruSenior Consultant – State [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: New Mexico State Legislature, Finance CommitteeFellowship City: Santa Fe, NM

Olesea DoronceanuLawyer – Moldovan Institute for Human [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Matsunaga Institute of PeaceFellowship City: Honolulu, HI

Tatiana PuiuProject Director – Lawyers for Human [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Justice At StakeFellowship City: Washington, DC M O N G O L I A

Amara Gan-YadamDirector – Philanthropy Center for Children and the [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Kin On Health Care CenterFellowship City: Seattle, WA

Javzaa NorvanchigWater Supply Manager – WaSH Action of [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Waterkeeper AllianceFellowship City: New York, NY

M O R O C C OMohamed Ait ElmaaderDirector – Association of Disabled [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Family Resource Center on DisabilitiesFellowship City: Chicago, IL

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Sara Ait MouhAdministrative and Commercial Manager – Vivo [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Franklin County Perinatal CenterFellowship City: Rocky Mount, VA

Moulay Hassan AladlouniDirector – Amal Women’s Training Center and [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Good Will IndustriesFellowship City: Roanoke, VA

Limame BarbouchiAdministrator – Province of [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: TAP into Hope

Fellowship City: Roanoke, VA

Tifitri El AsriProject Manager – Maghreb Program Morocco, Handicap [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Mayor of Chicago Office for People with Disabilities Fellowship City: Chicago, IL

Sanae HanineMarketing Manager – Mohammed VI Foundation for Social Work for Education [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Roanoke County SchoolsFellowship City: Roanoke, VA

Achraf KabbouriLeadership and Intercultural Teacher – Institute for Leadership and Communication [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Latin American Youth CenterFellowship City: Washington, DC

Safae LachehebTraining Coordinator – High Atlas [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Serve DCFellowship City: Washington, DC

Mounir NailiVice President and Sign Language Teacher – TAWASSOL Association for the Deaf of [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Chicago Hearing SocietyFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Yassine ZegzoutiPresident and Founder – Mawarid Association for the Environment and [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: PESCO BeamFellowship City: Roanoke, VA

N I C A R A G U AEduardo MarencoConsultant – [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: AJ+Fellowship City: San Francisco, CA

Cinthia MembreñoReporter – Confidencial [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Slate

Fellowship City: Washington, DC

Elaine MirandaFinancial Advisor – Plata con [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Mother JonesFellowship City: San Francisco, CA

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PA K I S T A NSami Ullah AbbasiChairman – State Youth [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Office of Speaker William G. Batchelder, Ohio House of RepresentativesFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Salman AhmadPresident – GADE [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship, University of NevadaFellowship City: Reno, NV

Muhammad AsfarAssociate Coordinator, Social Capital Development Department – LEAD [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Seven Generations AheadFellowship City: Oak Park, IL

Shazia BashirProgram Specialist – Strengthening Participatory [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida, Inc.Fellowship City: Pensacola, FL

Tabinda Jabeen ChohanAdvocacy Coordinator – Concern Worldwide [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Community Chest Virgina CityFellowship City: Virginia City, NV

Muhammad Farooq AfridiFATA Parliamentary Associate – National Democratic Institute – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Office of Governor John R. KasichFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Hina FatimaDistrict Program Officer – Aurat Publication and Information Systems [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Community Service CouncilFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Tehmina IqbalProject Officer – National Democratic Institute – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Madison County Commission OfficeFellowship City: Huntsville, AL

Muhammad Qasim JanjuaTraining Specialist – United Nations Development Program – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Office of Senator Cliff Hite, Ohio State SenateFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Jahanzeb KadirSenior Coordinator, Communication and Documentation – Save the [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Family and Children’s ServicesFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Aman KhanProject Manager – Comprehensive Health and Education Forum [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: El ValorFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Shan KhanCEO – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: DataMade 1871Fellowship City: Chicago, IL

26

Sofia KhanField Researcher – Coffey International [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Community Service CouncilFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

Kazi Ayaz MahessarGeneral Secretary – Pakistan Down Syndrome [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Easter Seals of Metropolitan ChicagoFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Ahmar MajeedManaging Partner, Advocate High Court – Right Defenders Lawyers and [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Washoe Legal ServicesFellowship City: Reno, NV

Hassan Nasir MirbaharSenior Expert, Elections and Human Rights – Democracy Reporting [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Office of Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, Ohio State SenateFellowship City: Columbus, OH

Habiba SalmanSenior Program Officer – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Children’s CabinetFellowship City: Reno, NV

Irum RashidAssistant Manager – Strengthening Teacher Education in Pakistan, Institute for Educational Development, Aga Khan [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida, Inc.Fellowship City: Pensacola, FL

Ahmed Raza ShahNational M+E Lead – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Legal Aid Services of OklahomaFellowship City: Tulsa, OK

P E R UArturo Contreras TacillaMining Engineer – G+G General Services, [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and RecreationFellowship City: Belchertown, MA

Tatiana Garcia CamAssistant Professor – University Antenor [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Northfield Environmental Educcation CenterFellowship City: Northfield, MA

Amada Larco AguilarAgronomist, Professor, Project Planning Consultant – [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: USDA-Natural Resources and Convservation ServiceFellowship City: Amherst, MA

27

Esther Loyola SalvadorLawyer, Teacher, and Researcher – University Privada del [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and RecreationFellowship City: Belchertown, MA

Jimmy Ruiz PerezProject Supervisor – NGO [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: New England Environmental, Inc.Fellowship City: Amherst, MA

Maria San Martin LoyagaAgronomist Engineer and District Unit Coordinator – Municipality of El [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Nuestras RaicesFellowship City: Holyoke, VT

Astrid Zurita CastilloEvaluator – Center for Research and Application in Economic and Social [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector –

Environmental SustainabilityFellowship Placement: American RiversFellowship City: Northampton, MA

P H I L I P P I N E SJom BagulayaMember – Tacloban City [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Washington, DC Office of Human RightsFellowship City: Washington, DC

Joanne FlestadoForester and Environmental Management Specialist – Batangas City [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: Town of BasaltFellowship City: Basalt, CO

Sheina Marie OnrubiaMember – Tabaco City [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Advocates for YouthFellowship City: Washington, DC

Niema RemegosoAssistant City Accountant – Gingoog Local Government [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Sugar Land and City of PearlandFellowship City: Pearland, TX

Jose Augustus VillanoPlanning Officer – Policy Planning and Monitoring Unit, Commission on Population, Zamboanga [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of DubuqueFellowship City: Dubuque, IA

R O M A N I AOana BacilCoordinator – Policy Center for Roma and [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Logan Square Neighborhood AssociationFellowship City: Chicago, IL

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Ionela CiolanPh.D Candidate in International Relations – National University of Political Studies and Public [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Chicago Coalition for the HomelessFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Mihnea FloreaFundraiser – ACCEPT [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Community Voices HeardFellowship City: New York, NY

Magda IlieSocial Program Coordinator – Apps Berliner Gmbh [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Jane Addams Senior CaucusFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Cristinela IonescuPresident – Association “Thumende” Jiu [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Virginia OrganizingFellowship City: Charlottesville, VA

Claudia-Doina PopaManager – Colors [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance


R U S S I ALeonid AntsiferovHead Innovation Manager – Murmansk Regional Innovation Business [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: HQ RaleighFellowship City: Raleigh, NC

Aleksandr KoshkarovAssociate Professor – Astrakhan State [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Indiana University Office of Financial Literacy Fellowship City: Bloomington, IN

Renat ZakievProduct Development Manager – [email protected] Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: MassChallengeFellowship City: Boston, MA

R WA N D AAnicet KabarisaField Officer – Associacion Modeste et Innocent (AMI)[email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Franklin County Sheriff’s OfficeFellowship City: Greenfield, MA

Debby KaremeraProgram Officer – Never Again [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Pioneer Valley ProjectFellowship City: Springfield, MA

Jean SibomanaProject Manager – YWCA [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: ARISEFellowship City: Springfield, MA

Agnes UmutesiDistrict Community Trainer – Rwanda Men’s Resouce [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Safe PassageFellowship City: Northampton, MA

29

30

S I N G A P O R ENadia YeoAssistant Chief Counsel and Prosecutor – Personal Data Protection [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Lee’s SummitFellowship City: Lee’s Summit, IA

S L O VA K I ASlavomir GalLanguage Teacher – Viva [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Granite State Organizing ProjectFellowship City: Manchester, NH

Monika JurikovaSocial Worker – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance


Sona KorenovaEnglish Teacher – Zakladna Skola Plavecky [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Logan Square Neighborhood AssociationFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Lenka MachlicovaMedia Coordinator – Amnesty International [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance


Ivana RaposovaJunior Research Fellow – Center for Research of Ethnicity and Culture [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Virginia OrganizingFellowship City: Charlottesville, VA

Eva RiecanskaResearcher and Project Manager [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: One NorthsideFellowship City: Chicago, IL

S L O V E N I ASasa LavricCEO – Savinjska Regional [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Institute

for Entrepreneurial Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Illinois at ChicagoFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Tomaž ModicJournalist – Dnevnik [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Columbia

College School of Journalism and ChicagoTalks.OrgFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Anja RenkoOwner – Toonia at 3fs [email protected] Focus: Economic EmpowermentFellowship Placement: Georama

Fellowship City: Chicago, IL

Alenka Žumbar KlopcicDirector and Editor-in-Chief – Energetika. [email protected] Fellowship Focus: Economic Empowerment

Fellowship Placement: Clean Energy TrustFellowship City: Chicago, IL

T H A I L A N DKamol HomklinJournalist – Media for [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Missoula

IndependentFellowship City: Missoula, MT

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Aushim MerchantASEAN Operations Head – MK Aromatics [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: King County Waste Management CompanyFellowship City: Seattle, Washington

Phensiri PansiriFoundation Manager and Program Coordinator – Foundation of Child Understanding [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and

GovernanceFellowship Placement: City of Lee’s SummitFellowship City: Lee’s Summit, MO

Kassirin PhiboonField and Training Staff – Institute for a Sustainable Agriculture Community [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Community Food and Agriculture Coalition Fellowship City: Missoula, MT

Aroonporn PrasongchaikulLocal Council Member – Nonthaburi Public Administration [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Town of BasaltFellowship City: Basalt, CO

Kaewta SangsukDirector – Our Choice, Institute of HIV and [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: United Way of Missoula CountyFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Tidarat YingcharoenProgram Manager – International Republican Institute – [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Washington Defenders AssociationFellowship City: Seattle, WA

T U N I S I AHatem AmriTreasurer – Tun’[email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Grassroot Project


Rim DhaouadiLegal Officer – Democracy Reporting International – [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Office of United States Representative David SchweikertFellowship City: Washington, DC

Mohamed DridiMulti-specialties Educator – The Rainbow [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Washington Autism Alliance and AdvocacyFellowship City: Redmond, WA

Akrem HadadStrategist and Social Innovation [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Fair Chance


Nadra Haoues Ep EzzineAdministrative Judge – Tribunal [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: IFESFellowship City: Washington, DC

Yassine KalboussiMedical Intern – Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention Research Lab, Faculty of Medicine, University of [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: APHAFellowship City: Washington, DC

32

Yomna KarouiAdministrative Director – Association of Development and Social Reform of [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: TAP into HopeFellowship City: Roanoke, VA

Yassine RihaniVice President – Tunisian Organisation for Defense of Rights of People with [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Access LivingFellowship City: Chicago, IL

Samiha SalmaniPublic Auditor – General Control of Finance, Ministry of [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Office of United States Senator Jon Tester Fellowship City: Washington, DC

Zied Naceur TouzaniFounder and President – Tun’[email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Foreign Policy

InitiativeFellowship City: Washington, DC

Monia ZgarniProject Communication Manager – Tunisian Association of Political [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: Many Languages One VoiceFellowship City: Washington, DC

T U R K E YNazli AypakTeacher and Project Coordinator – Ministry of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Iolani SchoolFellowship City: Honolulu, HI

Basak SaralDirector – International Entreprenuership [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: MassChallengeFellowship City: Boston, MA

Boysan YakarAdvisor – Office of the Mayor of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: Victory FundFellowship City: Washington, DC

U G A N D AEvelyn AkidiTeacher – Ministry of Education and [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Paolo Freiere Social Justice Charter SchoolFellowship City: Holyoke, MA

Patrick OkelloAgribusiness Manager – Uganda Cooperative [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution


David OkulluAssistant Parish Priest – Archdiocese of [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Safe PassageFellowship City: Northampton, MA

Gilbert OyatTeacher – Government of UgandaFellowship Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict ResolutionFellowship Placement: Project Coach

Fellowship City: Northampton, MA

33

Eric UmaParish [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Fellowship Placement: Franklin County Sheriff’s OfficeFellowship City: Greenfield, MA

U K R A I N EOleksandr KostylievChief Consultant – Department of Problems of National Legislation Development, Legislation Institute of the Verkhovna Rada of [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: State of California Office of Legislative Counsel Fellowship City: Sacramento, CA

Andrii ShuranInternational Program Manager – Anti-corruption Action [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: State of Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government AccountabilityFellowship City: Tallahassee, FL

Valentyna VizirChief Specialist – Department of Information Work, Cooperation with Local Self-Governance, Kirovohrad Regional [email protected]

Fellowship Focus: Legislative Process and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Office of Representative Lauren Matsumoto, Hawaii House of RepresentativesFellowship City: Honolulu, HI

U R U G U A YAlberto Gomez BarreiroLawyer – GAIA Uruguay Derecho [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: The Nature ConservancyFellowship City: Northampton, MA

Maria Manivesa BarriosChemical Engineer and Independent Consultant – SUMMA Consultancy, El Abrojo Social [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector –

Environmental SustainabilityFellowship Placement: Northfield Environmental Education CenterFellowship City: Northfield, MA

Lucas Martinez ArocenaChemist – Barra de Valizas Neighbors Association + La Fraterna Cooperative [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector –

Environmental SustainabilityFellowship Placement: New England Environmental, Inc.Fellowship City: Amherst, MA

Pablo Montes GoitiaBiologist – National Directorate of [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceFellowship City: Hadley, MA

Maria Elizondo PatroneBiologist and Graduate Student – University Andres [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector – Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife RefugeFellowship City: Brunswick, VT

Ignacio Ozman Berro PerezTeacher – Universidad del Trabajo del [email protected] Focus: Cross Sector - Environmental Sustainability

Fellowship Placement: USDA- National Resources and Conservation ServiceFellowship City: Amherst, MA

34

V I E T N A MBui TramSpecialist – Da Nang Institute for Socioeconomic [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of Sugar Land and City of PearlandFellowship City: Sugarland, TX

Dang Ngoc NganFounder – Supporting Dreams Volunteer [email protected] Focus: NGO Development

Fellowship Placement: YWCA MissoulaFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Ngo Le Hoang VuOfficer for Human Rights – Department for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: Global Philanthropy Division, Council on FoundationsFellowship City: Washington, DC

Ngyuen Van HoangDisaster Management Official – Center for Flood and Storm Control in Central and Highlands Region of [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process

and GovernanceFellowship Placement: United States Small Business Administration Office of Disaster AssistanceFellowship City: Washington, DC

Nguyen Hue PhuongProgram Manager – Action for the [email protected] Focus: NGO DevelopmentFellowship Placement: Garden City

HarvestFellowship City: Missoula, MT

Nguyen NganSenior Official – Vietnam Women’s Union [email protected] Focus: Legislative Process and Governance

Fellowship Placement: City of DecaturFellowship City: Decatur, GA

Nguyen Ngoc LanDeputy Director – Action to the City [email protected] Fellowship Focus: NGO Development Fellowship Placement: American Civil

Liberties Union- MontanaFellowship City: Missoula, MT

35

36

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS ALUMNI IMPACT AWARDS

Jeanette BeltranPresident and CEO – JBD and Associates

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

[email protected]

International Fellowship Fundacao Laco Rosa (Pink Ribbon Foundation) – Brazil

Hosted in Fall 2012, Follow-on activities in Spring 2013

Professional Fellowship Impact Since participating in the Professional Fellows Program, Jeanette has collaborated on a number of initiatives and has been actively involved in ad-dressing health disparities in Brazil. She has shared helpful resources, including Portuguese language cancer educational materials, and has provided technical assistance to Fundacao Laco Rosa and her services in the areas of program development and finding financial support for health programming. Jeanette has also assisted Fundacao Laco Rosa in writing grant proposals to increase access and services to cancer survivors. Jeanette has cultivated key relationships with Brazilian stakeholders in Massachusetts and non-profit organizations that pro-vide services to Brazilian women. She is committed to the ultimate goal of ensuring that the Portuguese-speaking community in Massachusetts have access to critical health services.

Congratulations to the 2015 Professional Fellows Alumni Impact Award winners.

The Alumni Impact Awards recognize the positive contributions of former Professional Fellows Program partici-pants. The 2015 winners were selected from a large pool of applicants, and have demonstrated an outstanding and continued commitment to their communities and countries.

The Award includes round-trip travel for the Professional Fellows Congress during which they will be honored at the US State Department Reception and share their PFP experience during a panel discussion.

Anna GladkaLawyer – Right to Protection charitable foundation

Kiev, Ukraine

[email protected]

US Fellowship Placement Organization Office of Legislative Counsel – California

Spring 2013

Professional Fellows US Host Organization: American Councils for International Education

Professional Fellowship Impact: The experience of a fellowship placement in the Office of Legislative Council in California gave Anna a deep understanding of the legal profession in the US, and the opportunity to get acquainted with diverse elements of a lawyer’s work. She had the opportunity to learn the process of drafting language for bills and amendments introduced in the California Legislature and to understand the complex legal analysis involved. In addition to work in the Legislative Council, visits to a variety of governmental bodies and NGOs provided Anna with and expanded network and knowledge about the legal profession, new skills, and training for further professional development.

37

Richard SpinelloGeneral Counsel – State Bar of New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

[email protected]

International Fellowship Placement Organization: State Bar of Moldova, Young Lawyers Association – Moldova

Hosted in Fall 2013, Follow-on activities in Spring 2014

Professional Fellowship Impact: Since returning from Moldova, Richard and his host-ed fellow, Vladimir Palamarciuc, have begun work on specific projects to impact the culture of attorneys in Moldova, aimed at improving the justice system. The Justice Sector Reforms adopted by the Moldovan Parliament in 2011 were a massive overhaul that touched every aspect of the judicial system and will require years of work to complete. Richard’s and Vladimir’s work with the young lawyers of Moldova and the Bar Association to improve the ethics, ed-ucation, admissions, and culture of attorneys is an invaluable and impactful contribution to promoting change in the near future for the Moldovan justice system.

Chikosi TawandaFounder and CEO – Chikosi Technology Corporation and Founder and Chairman, Chikosi Foundation

Harare, Zimbabwe

[email protected]

US Fellowship Placement Organization: Ventureprise – North Carolina

Spring 2014

Professional Fellows US Host Organization: Meridian International Center

Professional Fellowship Impact: Participating in the Professional Fellows Program provided Chikosi with new perspectives about men-torship and community impact and inspired him to establish the Chikosi Foundation immediately follow-ing his return home. The Foundation has mentored underserved high school students and achieved second place in a national high school business club competition and will soon be entering a con-tract with the City of Harare to refurbish a defunct swimming pool, where over 6500 children, between the ages of 9-14, can learn to swim. Chikosi has worked closely with his US mentors to hold workshops for University of Zimbabwe entrepreneurship students and to create Zimbabwe’s first university entrepre-neurship incubation center. The PFP experience has led to multiple radio interviews, both in the US and in Zimbabwe, and has provided a rich network of business contacts and mentors.

38

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATEThe United States Department of State is the federal executive department responsible for the interna-tional relations of the United States, equivalent to the ministries of foreign affairs of other countries. Created in 1789, the State Department was the first executive department established. It currently employs 19,000 US-based employees and over 50,000 people in 190 countries around the world. The State Department operates the diplomatic missions of the United States abroad and is responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the United States.

The Department is led by the Secretary of State, who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate. S/he is a member of the President’s Cabinet. The current Secretary of State is John Kerry. The Secretary of State is the first Cabinet official in the order of precedence and in the presidential line of succession. For more information on the history of the US Department of State and US diplomacy and foreign-policy, please visit history.state.gov or www.usdiplomacy.org/history/overview/statedept.php.

BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS (ECA)The Congressional mandate of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State is “to increase mutual under-standing between people of the United States and other countries...and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations” (Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges Act of 1961). ECA engages youth, educators, and rising leaders in the United States and countries in the developed and developing world through a range of academic, sports, cultural, and professional exchange programs.

ECA has nearly one million alumni around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and over 350 current and former heads of state and government. One-third of member states of the United Nations are currently led by ECA alumni. For more information, visit www.exchanges.state.gov and www.alumni.state.gov.

39

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM The Professional Fellows Program provides tar-geted professional development and support to emerging leaders working in the fields of Economic Empowerment, NGO Development, Legislative Process and Governance, Environmental Sustainability, and Conflict Resolution. The Professional Fellows Program provides participants with 4-6 week practical fellowships to broaden their professional expertise. Placed in private, nonprofit, and government offices, Professional Fellows learn how issues in their respective fields are addressed in the United States, interact with a broad network of colleagues, and develop a deeper understanding of Americans and American society. The program offers a unique opportunity for international Fellows and their American colleagues to work together to address issues of mutual importance, develop new insights into professional approaches to common issues, and broaden their understanding of foreign working environments, practices, and society.

The 2015 Professional Fellows Program is supporting approximately 450 international Fellows from more than 50 countries, and reciprocal visits by more than 130 American participants. During the Spring 2015 program, 215 Professional Fellows from 44 countries participated in fellowships across the United States.

At the conclusion of the Professional Fellowship Program, Fellows participate in a Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, DC. The Congress marks the culmination of the program and provides a forum for Fellows to share experiences, insights, and ideas, and explore ways to incorporate their learning and expertise into concrete and innovative activities upon returning home.

40

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATEBUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CITIZEN EXCHANGES

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS DIVISION STAFF

Linnea Allison

Linnea Allison is a Program Officer in the ECA Professional Fellows Division working on a global portfolio of exchange programs. Her career has been spent in the field of international education and development with a special emphasis on higher education. Ms. Allison served with the first Peace Corps group in the Republic of Moldova. In addition to her volunteer service, Allison spent three years as the Moldova Country Director for a large non-profit organization. Ms. Allison has an undergraduate degree in history from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Georgetown University.

Karin Brandenburg

Karin Brandenburg is a Program Officer in the ECA Professional Fellows Division and works primarily on the South and Central Asia programs. Prior to coming to the State Department, she worked in the field of international development pertaining to rule of law technical assistance in the regions of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet region. She received a bache-lor’s degree in political science with an emphasis on Soviet politics from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and completed a master’s degree in government at the University of Texas at Austin. She grew up in West Germany and has studied Russian and lived abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia.

David Gustafson

David Gustafson is a Program Specialist in the ECA Professional Fellows Division. He has been with the U.S. Department of State since 2002. Mr. Gustafason earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwestern University. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali and spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Carol Herrera

Carol Herrera is a Program Officer in the ECA Professional Fellows Division and has worked in ECNs Office of Citizen Exchanges since December 2001. At the core of her responsibilities is the evaluation of grant proposals and the management of profession-al exchange programs involving participants from dozens of Latin American and African countries. Prior to joining the Professional Fellows Division, she managed Fulbright programs for American senior scholars and students going to sub-Saharan Africa. She received a master’s degree in French language and literature at the University of Maryland, College Park. Ms. Herrera put her language and teaching skills to good use as an instructor at the University of

Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. In addition to her volunteer service, Ms. Herrera served as Peace Corps Country Director in both the Cormoros and Guinea-Bissau.

Sue Levenstein

Sue Levenstein is a Program Specialist in ECA’s Professional Fellows Division working on projects involving Africa, East Asia and the Pacific. Prior to coming to the State Department, Levenstein worked at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program where she con-ducted research and coordinated events on social, political, and economic issues in Northeast, South, and Southeast Asia. She has a master’s degree in inter-national relations and communications from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Tufts University. A California native, Ms. Levenstein spent her formative years in Taipei, Taiwan, and trav-eled extensively through China and parts of Western Europe. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and French.

Inga Litvinsky

Inga Litvinsky is a Program Officer in the Professional Fellows Division currently working on professional ex-changes with the Middle East and North Africa. She has been a career Foreign Service Officer for over ten years, and has served as Cultural Affairs Officer in Lahore, Pakistan; Public Affairs Officer in Almaty, Kazakhstan; Economic Officer in Baghdad, Iraq; and Vice Consul in Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to joining the State Department, Ms. Litvinsky worked for USAID and the U.S. Department of Commerce on economic development and trade and investment issues. Ms. Litvinsky has a BA in Political Economy from Williams College, an MA in International Economics from George Mason University, and speaks fluent Russian.

Adam Meier

Adam Meier is a Program Officer in the ECA Professional Fellows Division. He has worked for the State Department for more than a decade, first in the Office of the Spokesman, and then in ECA as the Bureau’s primary Press Officer. Mr. Meier now works on exchanges with East Asia and the Pacific, as well as global exchanges. He holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University, and has taught English at a college in China through the Peace Corps.

41

2015 PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS BY THE NUMBERS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

116 106

Gender

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia

Middle East North Africa

Europe

East Asia and Pacific

Africa

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

11

67

55

28

27

34

Tolerance and Conflict Resolution

Environmental Sustainability

Economic Empowerment

NGO Management

Legislative Process and Governance




NGO Management


96

54

43

1812

Geographic Regions Program Themes

Countries and Territories

1122

495

107WI1

AL1

CA8

CO3 DC

22

IN1

GA2

FL6

KS5

HI4

IA5

IL30

MA27

NC3

MN4

MO1

MD1

MT14

TX5

NM1

NV4

NH2

NY9

VT 3

OK18

OR2

OH8

VA12

WA 11

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

11

67

55

28

27

34




NGO Management





NGO Management


96

54

43

1812

Fellowship Placements by State

42

2010-2015 PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS BY THE NUMBERS

Gender

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

242

323

436368

400

379


Rule of Law

Media

Education to Employment

NGO Management

Food Security

Global Health


Women's Empowerment

Economic Empowerment/Young Entrepreneurs


1122

495

107

8755


Rule of Law

Media


NGO Management

Food Security

Global Health


Women's Empowerment



107

1239465426

Geographic Regions Program Themes

Countries and Territories

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1077 1072

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

Western Hemisphere

South Central Asia


Europe


Africa

242

323

436368

400

379


Rule of Law

Media


NGO Management

Food Security

Global Health


Women's Empowerment



1122

495

107

8755


Rule of Law

Media


NGO Management

Food Security

Global Health


Women's Empowerment



107

1239465426

43

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

44

MAPS

Second Level

Lobby Level

Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel

45

46

NEARBY PLACES TO EAT

Art and Soul

Southern contemporary sit-down fare in the Liaison Hotelserves breakfast, lunch and dinner415 New Jersey Avenue, NWwww.artandsouldc.com202-393-7777

Billy Goat Tavern

Chain pub known for burgers and breakfast 7am-3am500 New Jersey Avenue, NWwww.billygoattavern.com202-783-2123

Bistro Bis

Upscale classic French cuisine 7am-10:30pm15 E Street, NWwww.bistrobis.com202-661-2700

Carmine’s

Large sit down restaurant for family style Italian cuisine11:30am-10pm425 7th Street, NWwww.carminesnyc.om202-737-7770

Charlie Palmer Steak

High-end steakhouse11:30am-10pm101 Constitution Avenue, NWwww.charliepalmer.com202-547-8100

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Fast-food Mexican cuisine11am-10pmUnion Station food courtwww.chipotle.com

Chop’t

Fast-food , salads and wraps 10:30am-11pm801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWwww.choptsalad.com

Corner Bakery

Fast-food sandwiches and pastries7am-6pm500 North Capitol Street, NWwww.cornerbakerycafe.com

District Chop House + Brewery

Steaks and craft beer sports bar 11am-11pm509 7th Street, NWwww.districtchophouse.net202-347-3434

Hill Country Barbeque

Sit down Texas bbq410 7th Street, NWwww.hillcountrywdc.com202-556-2050

Johnny’s Half Shell

Upscale seafood and oyster bar open for lunch and dinner400 North Capitol Street, NWwww.johnnyshalfshell.net202-737-0400

Kelly’s Irish Times

Irish pub, burgers and beer plus a dance floor11am-2am14 F Street, NWwww.kellysirishtimesdc.com202-543-5433

Rasika

Sophisticated sit down modern Indian 5:30-10:30pm633 D Street, NWwww.rasikarestaurant.com202-637-1222

Sei

Sushi, Asian small plate11:30am-2pm and 5-10pm444 7th Street, NWwww.seirestaurant.com202-783-7007

Subway

Fast-food sandwiches7:30am-9pm550 First Street, NWwww.subway.com202-661-6639

The Source

Fine dining Asian-fusion cooking4-11pmwww.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/3941202-637-6100

Thai Chili

Sit down, modern Thai food11am-10:30pm701 7th Street, NWwww.thaichilidc.com202-393-2905

Uno Pizzeria + Grill

Chicago-style pizza11am-12amUnion Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NEwww.unos.com

West Wing Café

Quick serve deli , hot and cold sandwiches 7am-8pm300 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Groceries and Snacks

Giant Food

Chain supermarket with pharmacy6am-12am (pharmacy 9am-9pm)300 H Street, NEwww.giantfood.com202-548-5100

Safeway

Supermarket chain with pharmacy Open 24 hours (pharmacy 9am-9pm)490 L Street, NWwww.local.safeway.com202-719-2435

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The Professional Fellows Program and the Professional Fellows Congress are made possible through grants from the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Documents

Pf congress spring 2015 program booklet