August 2014
ProFellows Digest
On the Road and Around the World with
American Professional Fellows
The Professional
Inside This Issue:
● Alumni Survey
Highlights
● Snapshot: U.S. Hosts
● Regional Impact:
-Africa
-East Asia & Pacific
-Europe
-Mid East & N. Africa
-South Central Asia
-Western Hemisphere
● Media & Participant
Blogs
Fellows Division in
ECA’s Office of Citizen
Exchanges manages two-way
global exchange programs for
emerging leaders in their midtwenties and thirties. This two
-way model is a distinguishing feature among ECA
programs. Each year young
professionals from around the
world travel to the United States for month-long, project-focused exchanges, while
American participants, many who hosted or mentored foreign Fellows, travel abroad
to support project implementation, enhance their global understanding, and
complement public diplomacy efforts at U.S. embassies around the world.
In 2013, nearly 700 foreign leaders from more than 50 countries and all geo-
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graphic regions participated in a Professional Fellows exchanges. These include: the
Professional Fellows Program, focusing on Entrepreneurship, Governance, Civil
Society, and Media; the Empower Program on disability rights advocacy; the
U.S.- Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism; the Community
Solutions Program; and a Professional Fellows On Demand Program focused
on Media Law Reform in Burma. Nearly 400 Americans– business leaders,
journalists, lawyers, representatives from municipal and State governments, NGO
officials, university faculty, and administrators— also traveled abroad on reciprocal
exchanges.
The participation of American citizens adds a vital dimension to U.S.
For more
information,
please contact
Alana Rudkin
(Rudkinab@state.gov)
public
diplomacy, helping to build long-term, sustainable partnerships between the U.S.
and other countries. This edition of the ProFellows Digest recognizes the outstanding work and contributions our American alumni have made to the Department of
State’ s strategic engagement with the world’s rising generation of leaders.
Photo: Valerie Hamilton interviews a local Kenyan during outbound Professional Fellows
Media exchange program with ICFJ.
Alumni Survey Highlights
Page 2
Impact highlights were taken from a survey of 200 American alumni who participated in the
Professional Fellows Program between 2011 and 2013.
Snapshot: 2013-2014 U.S. Host Organizations
Page 3
38 U.S. States. 102
Cities. 348 Host Organizations.
Special thanks to the 32 Members of Congress and State Representatives who
have hosted and supported our Professional Fellows, including:
Rep. Bill Batchelder (OH)
Rep. Mike Curtin (OH)
Rep. Tom Petri (WI)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD)
Rep. Nick Collins (MA)
Sen. Floyd Prozanski (OR)
Rep. Danny Davis (IL)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY)
Sen. Frank LaRose (OH)
Rep. Gene Ward (HI)
Rep. Ron Amstutz (OH)
Sen. Jon Tester (MT)
Rep. John Barnes, Jr. (OH)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT)
Sen. Keith Faber (OH)
Rep. Karen Awana (HI)
Rep. Sean Duffy (WI)
Sen. Lena Taylor (WI)
Rep. Michael Stinziano (OH)
Rep. Tim Walberg (MI)
Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (HI)
Africa
Page 4
American Tech Leaders Partner with South African Counterparts to Establish
new Innovation Center in Cape Town
In July 2013, six American Professional Fellows from the
Boston area traveled to South Africa to work in the
technology sector with Fellows whom they had hosted in
April. After two days in Johannesburg learning about South
Africa’s history, culture, and its high-tech innovation economy, the American Fellows immersed themselves in the workplaces of their peers in Gauteng and the Western Cape. This
productive two- week exchange, organized by Bentley University, deepened the Fellows’ friendships and cultural
understanding while expanding their international networks. Four Professional Fellows— two Americans and
two South Africans— took the next step towards a shared goal: the establishment of an innovation center in
Cape Town modeled on Boston/Cambridge centers to provide support and attract capital for entrepreneurship in the high tech sector. Work on this project continued during the next round of exchanges in October
2013 and February 2014. The center is projected to open in Spring 2015. Photo: U.S. fellows meet with counterparts at the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria.
American Journalists Explore African Media Practices in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria,
and Ghana
American journalists Jacqueline Charles, Ryan
Delaney, and Valerie Hamilton completed a two-week
Professional Fellows Media exchange program in
Kenya organized by the International Center for Journalists. The group shared best practices for investigative journalism with their African counterparts and
broadened their knowledge of Kenya’s media landscape
while working along-side their colleagues in-country.
The American delegation had the opportunity to report
in local slums with Professional Fellows Alumni Alphonce Shiundu and Joan Barsulai, opening their eyes to
the challenges faced by millions of Kenyans living in these conditions. Other groups of American journalists
took part in similar exchanges in Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana. Check out the program’s Tumblr to read
what the American journalists reported from the ground. Photo: Ryan Delaney reports in the Nairobi slum of
Baba Dogo where two NGOs are working together to map environmental and other issues of concern for the community.
East Asia & The Pacific
Page 5
American CEO Helps Open First Thrift Shop in Vietnam, Creating Employment
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Tony Cline, CEO of CorEnterprises in Billings, Montana,
completed a two-week Professional Fellows exchange in
Vietnam, administered by the University of Montana.
Tony previously hosted Vietnamese Fellow Tran Thi
Phuong, manager of Healing the Wounded Heart shop in
Hue City, during a one-month exchange in Montana.
Together they developed a business plan to create a second
-hand thrift store (the first of its kind) in Vietnam, which
would provide employment opportunities for persons with
disabilities. Tony and Tran traveled through central
Vietnam working with vocational training centers, NGOs, and schools to share strategies for employment
and income generation for people with physical handicaps and developmental disabilities. In a country
where disabled persons are marginalized from society, efforts to promote inclusive communities are
sorely needed. In tandem with fellow Vietnamese alumna, Thi Thu Hang of Hanoi’s Centre for Community Empowerment, and assisted by Tony, Tran Thi Phuong’s dream of opening Vietnam’s first thrift shop
became a reality in January 2014. Photo: Tony and Phuong with staff at Healing the Wounded Heart Shop in
Hue City.
U.S. Media Experts Help Lay Foundation for Open and Free Press in Burma
Four American communications experts traveled
to Burma through a Professional Fellows
Media Law On-Demand Program to assist
Burmese counterparts in drafting new media and
telecommunications legislation. The delegation
participated in the Second International Conference on Media Development in Rangoon, and delivered a variety of trainings to Burmese officials and journalists, including the first seminar on communication skills and media relations for 146 government spokespersons and media officers in Nay Pyi Taw. The delegation also facilitated a meeting between decisions
makers from all relevant ministries and agencies to discuss intergovernmental cooperation on media law
development. Efforts to establish an open and free press in Burma tie into the United State’s commitment
to promoting democracy and civil society in the region. A stable, democratic Burma will be an important
strategic partner for the U.S. as the Obama administration refocuses its attention in Southeast Asia. Photo:
American Fellow, Barbara Swann, participates on panel discussion with Burmese counterparts during
the International Conference on Media.
Europe
Page 6
Exploring Effective Models of Governance with Ukrainian Counterparts
Tom Kerbs, Principal Deputy with the
Legislative Counsel of the California Legislature, traveled to Donetsk, Ukraine, to
implement a project aimed at increasing
awareness about the U.S. jury and court
system. The project, Institution of the
Jury: Comparison of American and
Ukrainian Systems, was developed in
conjunction with Ukrainian Professional Fellows alumna, Anna Gladka, whom Tom previously hosted
in the United States. The exchange program was coordinated by American Councils. While in Ukraine,
Tom and Anna led multiple workshops and discussions on the jury system, legal professions, and the
U.S. court system for more than 120 law students, members of NGOs, and representatives of governmental bodies. Promoting accountable security and justice systems in Ukraine is vital to ensuring the
country’s internal security, and is a top priority for the United States. Photo: Tom Kerbs and Anna
Gladka with Donetsk University Law Students.
Promoting Civil Society and Volunteerism in Eastern European Minority Communities
A group of eight American community organizers collaborated
with their former mentees in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania,
and Slovakia to advance grassroots democracy in minority communities. The goal of this program, organized by the Great Lakes
Consortium, was to encourage stronger minority participation in
civil society and to promote a culture of volunteerism in Eastern
Europe. The delegation worked closely with NGOs in-country to
share best practices for community organizing and how to apply
these methods to the work being done in their respective minority communities. Notably, the delegation led several arts workshops with children and adults where painting
murals was used to demonstrate democratic processes, community organizing techniques, and effective
communication strategies for discussing issues that exist in minority communities. The murals, painted on
walls and buildings in the communities, have become lasting portrayals of the need for continuing advocacy.
Photo: Mural in Budapest, Hungary, painted by participants in an art workshop led by the American delegation.
Middle East & North Africa
Page 7
American Legislators Discuss Democracy and Rule of Law with Counterparts
in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
In April 2014, a group of American Legislative Fellows, including two
former members of the U.S. Congress, traveled to Rabat, Morocco, to
participate in a regional Professional Fellows conference hosted by
Legacy International. The delegation engaged in meaningful discussion
with civil society leaders to identify means for U.S. cooperation on shared
interests. Accountability, transparency, grassroots advocacy, and election monitoring were among the many topics addressed. In addition to
Professional Fellows MENA alumni, the conference was attended by U.S.
Deputy Chief of Mission, Matthew Lussenhop, American students studying abroad in Rabat, as well as Moroccan
university students. This exchange supports the Department’s efforts to build capacity for civil society to participate fully in democratic processes thereby strengthening a nation’s political, social and economic stability. The
conference also provided an important opportunity to amplify the voices and work of PF alumni in the region.
Photo: Meredith McGehee of the Campaign Legal Center gives a work shop on effective advocacy to young leaders in
MENA during Professional Fellows Conference in Rabat.
Promoting Economic Prosperity in MENA through Innovation and Entrepreneurship
In February 2014, a delegation of young American entrepreneurs collaborated with their counterparts in the Middle East to enhance economic opportunity for women.
The exchange, organized by the University of Michigan,
provided an opportunity for the American fellows to
work alongside their colleagues in Egypt, Israel, the
Palestinian Territory, and Tunisia. While in Jerusalem, the group attended the city’s first Digital Divas
event as part of Google’s #40Forward initiative. The
event, spearheaded by Israeli Professional Fellows alumna Ayelet Cohen, focused on personal branding and
the struggle Israeli women face within their tech communities, including the constant struggle to excel in a
male-dominated industry and the universal struggle to balance business with family priorities. The group
then traveled to Ramallah, West Bank, to meet various startups, co-working spaces, and accelerators, including a visit to the Business Women Forum (BWF) of Palestine whose mission is to alleviate the barriers female
entrepreneurs face in Palestine. Check out the program’s blog to learn more about the exchange activities
and impact. Photo: U.S. delegation with Israeli counterparts at the inaugural Digital Divas event in Jerusalem.
South Central Asia
Page 8
Strengthening Bilateral ties between U.S. and Pakistan through Media
In February 2014, a delegation of 10 American
journalists spent two-weeks exploring Pakistan’s
media landscape under the U.S.-Pakistan
Professional Partnership in Journalism, organized by ICFJ. The journalists came from newsrooms across the country, including CNN, NPR,
and CBS radio. While in Pakistan, the group
talked about internet freedom with journalists
and government officials in Islamabad;
discussed safety in journalism with reporters
from major newsrooms in Karachi and Lahore;
and had an exclusive interview with Imran
Khan – the former cricketer and Pakistani
politician. Other high-level meetings took place
with U.S. Embassy officials in Islamabad, as
well as with the Federal Minister for the Information Bureau, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, and
Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz
Sadiq. The exchange generated extensive local
media coverage (see press release from Pakistan
Press Information Office) as well as reports published by the American journalists upon their
return home. This exchange is part of an ongoing effort to create a more transparent and
open press in Pakistan as well as to strengthen ties between American and Pakistani journalists. Through
2017, the U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism will bring 230 Pakistani journalists to the
U.S. for month-long fellowships in newsrooms across the country, and send 70 American journalists to
Pakistan.
Photo (top): Teri Schultz, freelance reporter for NPR and CBS Radio News, interviewing workers at the USAID
Dairy Project, promoting sustainable development in Pakistan through farming. (Bottom): U.S. Delegation
with Imran Khan
The Professional Fellows Program spurs new ideas, new experiences , and lasting partnerships
between individuals and organizations around the world.
Western Hemisphere
Page 9
New Joint Venture with U.S. Promotes Economic Development in Costa Rica
Two alumnae of the Professional Fellows Economic
Empowerment Program, Natascha Moscoa from Costa
Rica and Day Moore from Connecticut, have started a
joint venture aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in the small business sector. In June 2013, they
launched “Miss Manos,” a fair-trade sewing venture
that creates eco- and animal-friendly handbags and
accessories. Natasha and Day were paired up during
the 2012 Professional Fellows Program, in which
Natascha worked with Day’s Milford-based “GG2,” a for-profit company specializing in eco-friendly
products and materials, while Day paid a follow-up visit to Natascha’s “HipN’Verde” business in Costa
Rica resulting in the creation of “Miss Manos.” The materials and production will originate in Costa
Rica for sale in the United States. Natasha and Day are currently recruiting investors in both countries.
Check out their campaign video to learn more! Photo: Natascha Moscoa, Day More, and Hip N’ Verde
employee in Costa Rica.
Advancing the Treatment of Incarcerated Youth in Paraguay
In May 2014, Amanda Weitekamp, a public defender in Minnesota, spent three weeks in Asunción, Paraguay, assisting
the Human Rights Division (HRD) of the Paraguayan
Supreme Court in its efforts to improve rehabilitation and
treatment programs for incarcerated youth—a cause Amanda
has been eminently involved with in Minnesota for nearly
eight years. Through her fellowship placement with the HRD,
Amanda learned first-hand about the treatment of juveniles in the Paraguayan court system, and had
the opportunity to tour juvenile detention facilities in surrounding cities. She delivered presentations
and led workshops with a wide audience of Supreme Court staff, judges, social workers, public
defenders, and prosecutors to strategize effective ways to improve Paraguay’s juvenile justice system.
As a result, Amada helped establish a new partnership between public defenders in Ramsey County,
Minnesota, and the HRD in Paraguay’s Supreme Court to continue collaboration on this important issue. Photo: Amanda Weitekamp and fellow US PFP participant Bernadette Genis Casey present at
Paraguayan Supreme Court.
Participant Blogs & Media
Page 10
Participant Blogs:
Fellows in the Media:
Mike Sexton- Bangladesh & Nepal
Does the Arab Spring Wither
on the Vine
Mary Beth Hartenstine— Brazil
Amie Thurber– Cambodia
On the Road to a More
Progressive Morocco
Sumedh Bahl– China
Sophie Fletcher– Macedonia
Home from Africa with a new
understanding
Dan Swislow– Mexico
Tadd Long— Mongolia
American Fellow on advancing
human rights in Georgia
Christine Kohlmann– New Zealand
Tara Mastel—Vietnam
Montgomery County
Government Officials meet
with Bornova Municipality
Collection of blog posts from
young entrepreneur
exchanges in The Middle East
and North Africa.
American Journalists’
Reports from Pakistan:
Do you get death or kidnap
threats for doing your job? My
friends do.
Pakistan 2.0: Moving Forward
My Pakistan Education.
Prospective from American
exchange program host
Berkshire Eagle Editor
Journeys to Pakistan
Mekong to Montana: Exchange
Benefits Asian Communities
State Department Magazine
highlights impact of Professional
Fellows Women’s Empowerment
Program in Lower Mekong.
Help Spread the Word:

A glimpse of #Kenya through the
eyes of American journalists
on @ECAatState #ProFellows
exchange: http://goo.gl/
MKwhHn. @ICFJ

American journalist @RobByersWV shares experience hosting
Pakistani media fellow
on @StateDept #ProFellows
exchange http://ow.ly/wxBfv

American #ProFellows explore
entrepreneurship and innovation in
the Mid East & N. Africa
through @StateDept exchange http
://ow.ly/wxDYA
SWAT M.D.
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Fellows PD Toolkit to
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