“Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communit ies” Professional Fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia

in the U.S.A., April 1 - May 11, 2013

GUESTS’ VOLUNTEERING IN THE U.S.A

*/ Sponsored by the U.S. State Department

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development

with WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. – Contract Agent and Manager

Website: http://www.glc-teachdemocracy2.org/ Facebook: GLC_TeachDemocracy

E-mail contact: glc_teachdemocracy2@hotmail.com

19 European professional fellows spent six weeks in the U.S. to gain knowl-edge in citizen participation and advo-cacy, engaging minorities, and margin-alized populations in civil society and politics, collaborating with community leaders to inform changes in legislation that make a difference in minority communities and building grassroots democracy. Foreign participants were exposed to diverse community organiz-

ing methods for citizens in solving problems in their own communities and gained hands-on experience during their 3-week internship at both public and civil society institutions in the United States and a deeper understand-ing of U.S. society, culture and people. They enjoyed host families and/or home hospitality in different states across the U.S. As part of the experi-ence they participated in volunteer ser-

vice programs to give back to the U.S. communities where they were hosted. This report focuses on some highlights from the European fellows on their participation in volunteer work at their U.S. host organizations, and/or in the community with other volunteers (their host families or U.S. mentors).

Thank you for your support!

Martin Klus: “I am a member of the Rotary Club (RC) Banska Bystrica since 2011, and is it’s Youth Exchange Officer. The RC Banska Bystrica activities include supporting e.g. community, youth mo-bility and activity as well as interna-tional professional and volunteering partnership building.”

“On Friday, April 19, I had another delightful visit at the Little Rock Ro-tary Club 99, with my inviter Mr. Wil-liam Goolsby, a member of the RC in Little Rock and also father of my third host family. During this visit I shared my experience on service for the com-munity in Slovakia and established professional as well as friend connec-tions with the Rotary Club members.”

“On Tuesday, April 9, I visited one of the oldest Rotary club in the world, the Rotary One Chicago and participated in traditional flag changing ceremony with Ms. Lisa Russ, President of the RC in Chicago, and had a short discus-sion afterward about perspective col-laboration with Rotary Club Banska Bystrica in Slovakia on the various joint projects.”

Rotary Club in Chicago, Illinois and Little Rock, Arkansas

Volunteering in Chicago, Illinois

Milenko Milenkov: “On Tuesday, April 9, Dzhevid Mah-mud, Georgi Georgiev, Hajnalka Kiss and I participated in our first volunteer-ing work in Chicago. Together with the

team of the Chicago Coalition for Homeless (CCH) we prepared sand-wiches for the road for volunteer com-munity leaders traveling to the Legisla-tive Day in Springfield.”

Anita Vodal: “On Monday afternoon, April 29, Mi-roslav Ragac and I were doing out-reach on the North side of Chicago, State of Illinois. This outreach was part of the Homeless Education Committee of the CCH. Miroslav and I did three outreaches in different locations at various elementary schools. Sometimes we have to approach parents on the school parking lot while they were sit-ting in their cars, waiting for their kids. During outreach I met and spoke to an education coordinator at Huntington Learning Centre who has been very interested in learning more about homeless students’ rights. I showed him a flyer of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless about current school

closings and about rights and possible benefits that homeless students are en-titled for.”

For more information visit: http://www.chicagohomeless.org/

Page 2 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

Miroslav Ragac: “Anita and I were providing informa-tion and leaflets to all parents saying, that homeless families and children are eligible for free bus tickets, school uni-

forms and free school wavers. We were giving them advice about how to apply, who to talk too, who might be benefit from this, where to find infor-mation, etc. There I am speaking to a parent just in front of the school, which has got one of the highest numbers of homeless kids. ”

Ruxandra Borca: “On Thursday morning, April 25, George Georgiev and I volunteer at the workshop for LSNA staff on youth work in Romania. It was the staff monthly meeting and there were around 20 staff in attendance. I talked about Romania programs, popular and formal education, funding opportuni-ties and intercultural diversity in Ro-mania and Bulgaria. We compared the challenges youth are facing in Europe and in the U.S., and we found many common issues. I also talked about Romanian culture and traditions, which opened discussions about similarities and differences between European and American culture and mentality. We discussed political situation in Roma-nia, the transition from Communism to Democracy, the impact of Communism

Square neighborhood in Chicago. We prepared and served lunch for around 50 homeless people together with other local volunteers. I had interesting con-versations with a couple of them - we talked how important the center is, and about the difficulties they have to go through, and we also shared informa-tion about our countries and our work in the United States.

on nowadays` society, and talked about social and economical issues the Roma people are facing at the moment. I was wearing my traditional Romanian clothes. On Thursday afternoon, Georgi and I volunteered at community service in the New Community Church warming center for homeless living in the Logan

Page 3 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

The VO’s core approach is to use an in-tentional method of building one-to-one relationships among people of diverse backgrounds, identifying issues of con-cern, providing training in research and leadership, and implementing strategies that break down traditional divisions as well as achieve concrete results.

in Virginia, has provided assistance in the development of new local organiza-tions addressing social and economic issues in communities, and has created a growing network of labor, human rights, faith, housing, environment, education and other non-profit groups to work to-gether to achieve concrete improvements.

Virginia Organizing (VO) is a statewide grassroots organization in Charlottesville started in 1995. VO dedicated to chal-lenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. For the past 17 years, VO has established a solid community organizing track record

low-income adults of their eligibility to apply for charity care from non-profit hospitals. Through outreach, CCH in-volves homeless youth, parents and sin-gle adults in developing advocacy cam-paigns that work to create more access and economic opportunities for people living in extreme poverty.

across Chicago. A youth attorney also runs a mobile legal aid clinic that makes three weekly stops at neighborhood pro-grams that serve unaccompanied youth. During these visits, CCH offers practical information. This includes telling parents about a homeless child’s right to free transportation to school, or informing

The Chicago Coalition for the Home-less (CCH) was founded in 1980 and started helping to those experiencing homelessness. CCH runs outreach at family and adult shelters, street pro-grams, and single-room occupancy (SRO) facilities. Each month, three field organizers visit at least 28 facilities

munity institutions including schools, churches, block clubs, and agencies are members of LSNA, engaging more than 2,000 people in organizing and support-ing programs and campaigns. To read more about LSNA’s and its programs follow the link: http://www.lsna.net

Avondale, and Lathrop Homes, a densely populated, low-to-moderate income com-munity in Chicago. LSNA is committed to empowering and maintaining these communities as diverse, safe, and afford-able neighborhoods in which to live and work, learn and grow. Forty-three com-

Logan Square Neighborhood Associa-tion (LSNA) was established in 1962. LSNA’s mission is to convene networks of neighbors, schools, businesses, social service agencies, faith communities, and other organizations to collaborate for thriving communities in Logan Square,

ing campaigns, one-to-one interviews, and focus groups, and more traditional research methods. GSOP’s community leaders design issue campaigns based upon the research and relationships de-veloped. Visit GSOP website at: http://www.granitestateorganizing.org/

housing, failing schools, barriers to citi-zenship, unjust working conditions, and lack of access to health care, that affect the livelihood and sustainability of com-munities. GSOP members and commu-nity leaders conduct research to deter-mine which issues to act on using listen-

The Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization rooted in faith and democ-ratic values and includes 28 religious, labor, and is the largest grassroots com-munity organization in New Hampshire. GSOP focuses on problems, such as poor

Volunteering in Charlottesville, Virginia

Sincere “THANK YOU” to all Host Families for their Generosity and Support!

Page 4 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

http://www.virginia-organizing.org/

Hajnalka Kiss: “On Thursday, April 18 Daniela Ba-tova from Slovakia and I from Hun-gary as European fellows spent all day working for Habitat for Humanity in Charlottesville helping to build houses

for low income families at an area that was before a trailer park. This day Habitat involved lots of volunteers, mainly business people and retired men, who offer their free time for sup-porting those in need.”

“On April 23 we were volunteering at the God’s Storehouse in Danville Vir-ginia doing the service work on behalf of Virginia Organizing Danville Chap-ter. This facility distributes unprepared food to low-income families either

from federal government or local shops and community donations. We took part in different activities from packing bread, service in drug store to admini-stration work and putting the data about clients into the system.”

Volunteering in Manchester, New Hampshire

Raluca Negulescu: “On Tuesday, April 16, I worked as a volunteer in the New Horizons soup kitchen in Manchester. I signed in over 80 people and I helped cleaning the tables. Kevin Kitner, the Program Di-rector, took me on a tour of the home-less and women shelter, as well as of the pantry. I am on the photo with other volunteer. New Horizons is an adult homeless shelter, a soup kitchen, food pantry and operates Angie's Shel-ter for Women. New Horizons' mission is to provide food and shelter to the people in need and offer supportive services to achieve self-sufficiency.

The New Horizons soup kitchen was the first component to New Horizons expansive services. The soup kitchen began as a group of concerned citizens making soup and sandwiches at their

need to build and renovate decent, af-fordable housing. I have been at the Habitat for Humanity site for several hours with Zayne Knoy and my US Mentor Sarah Jane’s father. I helped on the isolation of the building, I drilled holes in the pieces of wood we were using to isolate the building, and I took measurements for the pieces we needed to fix on the walls.”

homes and then serving them from a borrowed camper that would go to those impoverished people in need of nutrition. The soup kitchen is now a place where very poor people, those whose paths in life have met with dev-astating financial circumstances and the homeless from elsewhere come to receive a hot meal, encouragement and companionship in a place where they are treated with dignity and respect.”

“My host organization Granite State Organizing Project celebrated the Earth Day 2013 on Monday, April 22 through a community clean up in the

Manchester Police Chief Mr. David Mara joined this community clean-up event along with many kids from the neighborhood.”

Elmwood Gardens area in Manchester. Together with residents and kids from the neighborhood, we collected the garbage in the large area.

Page 5 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

“On Saturday morning, April 20, I made volunteer work for the Greater Manchester Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH). This is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, serving the various communities in Manchester, Hooksett, Candia, Au-burn, Derry, Londonderry, Litchfield, Bedford and Goffstown. GMHFH works in partnership with people in

Silvia Elena Ursu: “On Wednesday, April 24, I made a presentation at the Board Meeting of Paraquad, which organization is the leader in disability services and advo-cacy in St. Louis. In my presentation I introduces my organization and the problems that most of disabled people are facing in Romania.”

Presentation in Saint Louis, Missouri

Page 6 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

Monika Vaskovicova: “I held two presentations for the orga-nizing staff and other people from some NGOs. The first presentation was on Monday, April 22, at the Southwest Community Gardening Neighborhood. There were around 50 people, mostly from neighborhoods, and also commu-nity aldermen - Joe Vollmer Conway, and Lewis E. Reed, the president of the Board. At presentation I introduced myself, my country Slovakia and talked about our democracy: how young it is - only 23 years old, and how it was during socialism.

I was talking about my organization and our working on the basis of social enterprise rules, our innovative pro-jects: the non-formal learning multicul-tural tool implementing in my county, and about the Museum of socialist cu-riosities. Then I introduced Fellowship Program and my host organization MORE (Missourian Organizing for Reform and Empowerment), and en-courage the participants to support their bullet action for which they were collecting the signatures. My mentor was present at this presentation and he collected 40 signatures thanks to this

initiative. At the end a lot of people came to ask more questions democracy and thanked me for my presentation afterwards. The second presentation was held at the World Community Center on Thursday, April 25. The topic was “Capitalism vs. Socialism”.

I was talking about the democracy as compared to the U.S.A., velvet revolu-tion and the impact of socialism on environment, architecture and peoples behavior in Slovakia.”

Follow the link to read about our fellowship program that was mentioned in the community newsletter on page 8: http://www.southwestgarden.org/wp-content/uploads/April_2013_Newsletter.pdf

ing, Consumer Directed Services, Deaf Way Interpreting, Employment, Inde-pendent Living, Public Policy, and Youth and Family. Last year, Paraquad served over 4,000 people with disabilities. As the largest organization serving people with all disabilities, with an emphasis on increased independence, Paraquad is truly distinctive within the St. Louis region.

vance the independent living philosophy. Paraquad’s administration is looking to-ward an integrated community in which people with disabilities are valued and participate in all aspects of society. Paraquad provides over 40 services, ad-dressing the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities. Programs include Assistive Technology, College for Liv-

Paraquad, Inc in St. Luis, Missouri is a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1970. The Company mission is to empower people with disabilities to increase their independence through choice and opportunity. Paraquad is one of the oldest non-residential Centers for Independent Living in the country. The Company’s guiding principle is to ad-

Page 7 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Earth Day 2013 in Saint Louis, Missouri

Delyana Mihneva: “On April 21, Monika Vaskovicova and I participated as volunteers on Sunday activities at the Forest Park in Saint Louis and celebrate the Interna-tional Earth Day with Saint Louis communities and guests. We made vol-untary work in helping with organizing some events. We met the organizers of the Medicaid expansion Rally in Jef-ferson City. There we are on the photo below, wearing the green t-shirts and become green eco volunteers.

We spent nice time with my lovely American friends Inga and Phyllis.”

My host family Tom and Carol Braford presented their eco village project.

ties to come together and fight back. MORE seeks to be a powerful organiza-tion of low- and moderate-income peo-ple, building strength in our communi-ties. The Company works in relationship with other organizations pushing its allies to engage in creative direct action with us to foster good policy changes. MORE seeks to be part of a movement that cuts across, class, age and race lines that is envisioning and building the world in which we would like to live.

afflicting our schools. Most importantly, MORE engage in direct action and build power in low- and moderate-income communities based on our ability to move people to action. MORE believes that Missouri is positioned at a unique intersection of social, economic and en-vironmental injustice and that as corpo-rate power continues unabated expansion and the gap between the rich and the poor widens, and there has never been a better time for our low-income communi-

Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) fights corporate power. MORE are an uncom-promising voice for social and economic justice, gender and LGBT equality, envi-ronmental sustainability and peace. Organizers, members, and leaders are saving homes from foreclosure, fighting to protect our planet, demanding equal pay for equal work, working to end vio-lence in our communities, and figuring out creative solutions to the problems

to stand up to power, speaking truth, challenging injustice, and acting with conviction, respect and integrity, (3) Leadership based on active participation and commitment, (4) Unity to win jus-tice, provide opportunities and take col-lective action, (5) Service Work to build credibility, demonstrate commitment to communities, create opportunities for political education, and organize on a concrete, personal level, and (6) Training to share information, transfer skills and build a strong movement.

The Alliance works to develop strong grassroots organizations that transform their communities, making them more equitable and just. With its strong orga-nizing, policy, and communications teams, the Alliance centralizes the tools that transform grassroots leaders' passion into the power to effect policy change. The Alliance values include (1) Justice to ensure equal access to power and oppor-tunity, supporting and defending the rights of all people, and eliminating dis-crimination and oppression, (2) Courage

The Alliance For a Just Society (Alliance) formerly the Northwest Fed-eration of Community Organizations is a national coalition of ten state-based grassroots community organizations. Alliance mission is to execute regional and national campaigns and build strong state affiliate organizations and partner-ships that address economic, racial, and social inequities. Alliance goal is to make the movement stronger by stimulating growth in others and promoting the col-lective work of its partners.

Simona Barbu: “On Friday, April 19, Timea Kovacs and I delivered a presentation about the exchange program we are here with, and our own background and experi-ences, and the organizations we are working for. Because both of us work with the Roma minority, we made a short presentation on the Roma issues in Europe at the meeting.”

undocumented in America. The partici-pants were encouraged to donate money for this cause.

Fundraising event included a small lunch with people that were interested in social justice, and which have been invited in by the activists from the AJS and WA CAN or their friends.”

“On Sunday, April 21, we helped at the fundraising event organized by the di-rector of the Alliance for a Just Society (AJS). The goal was to raise money for supporting the reform on immigration that organization are working during this period and that it will mean a big change for millions of people that are

Volunteering in Seattle, Washington

marching on the main important boule-vards of the city and organizing the members of the immigrant communi-ties to participate. We’ll be volunteer Peace Keepers during the march on the 1st of May, 2013.

Timea Kovacs: On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in the In-dustrial district named an Aka China Town, Simona Barbu and I had the opportunity to participate at the meet-ing of the coalition for preparing May 1st Day in Seattle, a totally different

concept that what we usually celebrate in Romania or in Hungary. In Europe May 1st Day is the International Worker’s Day and is a celebration of international labor movement. In the U.S. the May 1st Day is the Immi-grant’s Day and will be celebrated by

“On Saturday, April 27, the Peace Keeper’s training began. The organizer explained the issues, we and all other volunteers might face during the march. Such training is provided in Seattle from 2006. During the years

volunteers gained a lot experience on how to lead a good march. They are expecting 400 people. We are trained on the does and not-to-does during the march and on how to act in different scenarios.”

For more information visit: http://allianceforajustsociety.org/

Page 8 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Simona Barbu and Timea Kovacs: “On Tax Day, Monday, April 15, we went to Olympia City with many mem-bers from 44th LD, families with teens and children, and elsewhere, and vol-unteer our time in pre-organizing meet-

Martin Klus: “On Monday, April 29, I made volun-teer work as operating personnel on community meeting in the Hickory Hills in Little Rock, in the private gar-den of Bill and Debbie Goolsby, my host family, who are very active volun-teers in several community organiza-tions. I helped serving community peo-ple small refreshment with cookies during their monthly neighborhood meeting. It was approximately 25 peo-ple here, most of them from this neighborhood and family friends.”

Volunteering in Little Rock, Arkansas

Page 9 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

Volunteering in Olympia, Washington

ing conducted in the Davis Williams Building office. We help with organiz-

ing and distributing information, pre-paring the posters, etc.”

tions, hold government and corporations accountable and more. The Panel values include social and economic justice ad-vanced through respect for human dig-nity, embracing diversity and inclusive-ness, empowerment and a political proc-ess. The Panel vision view Arkansas as a place where an enlightened and empow-ered population ensures that the eco-nomic, social and political resources are managed to serve the public good and the state’s natural environment is respected and nurtured. For more information fol-low the link: http://arpanel.org/

in Arkansas. The Panel provides organiz-ing, training, leader development and strategic planning services. In addition, the Panel also supports a diverse coalition of community groups and organizations that develop campaigns and lobby at the legislature as the Arkansas Citizens First Congress. The Citizens First Congress works to get laws passed that improve Arkansas schools, protect Arkansas’ envi-ronment, change regressive tax structures, add citizen representation to state boards and commissions, strengthen civil rights, protect victims of violence, reform elec-

Arkansas Public Policy Panel (Panel) is a statewide organization dedicated to achieving social and economic justice by organizing citizen groups around the state, educating and supporting them to be more effective and powerful, and link-ing them with one another in coalitions and networks. Panel is a non-profit or-ganization founded in 1963 working for social justice by helping community peo-ple to organize, to grow as leaders, and to influence public policy at the local level and the state level. Panel mission is to bring balance to the public policy process

Volunteering in Charlotte, North Carolina

Milenko Milenkov: “On Sunday, April 14 Maros Chmelik and I took part in the event called “Picnic with our immigration reform members group in Charlotte”. We were helping our U.S. host organization - Action NC in the preparation for this event. We were helping with arranging tables, cleaning, buying food and preparation of sandwiches in Sanchez house. My idea was the arrangement of the tables, and also I was taking pic-

Spanish speaking participants who were not able to debate fluent English. In the meeting there were more than 70 immigrants’ participants, and one law-yer, who answered their questions re-garding immigration policy in the United States.”

tures during whole meeting for the or-ganization. Our mentors took us shop-ping on Saturday, April 13 for the pic-nic. As a part of the team of Action NC we prepare the food, the room for meeting, and we help with cleaning after the action. Maros was helping

Page 10 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

of their issues, by organizing their own communities to take action and are active in running the organization, not just con-tributors or newsletter readers. Action NC’s mission is to confront and reduce the root causes of poverty, underdevelop-ment, and social and economic inequality through grassroots education, training, organization and mobilization.

For more information follow the link: http://www.actionnc.org/

Action NC achieve these goals by build-ing community organizations that have the power to win changes - through com-munity direct action, negotiation, legisla-tion, and voter participation. Action NC recognize three fields of direct action including (1) fair & affordable housing, (2) education, (3) neighborhoods safety, and (4) immigrant rights. Action NC be-lieves that social change comes from the bottom up. Members are black, white, and Latino families who take ownership

Action North Carolina (Action NC) is a grassroots community organization that empowers low to moderate-income com-munities to take action and win victories on issues of concern to our communities. Action NC priorities include: better hous-ing conditions for tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, affordable health care, more investment in our communi-ties from banks and governments, com-prehensive immigration reform, and bet-ter public schools.

Csaba Szikra: “I volunteered in the Downtown Syna-gogue on Friday, April 5. This was the Shabbat night, so before Shabbat’ ser-vices I and others cooked for the local neighbors: Jews, Christians and Mus-lims, Black and White people from all nations and religions. Then we had dinner together. While cooking, I met Sam Molnar, a Jewish organizer and a Black activist from the Harriet Tubman Center. I also established other Jewish connections.”

Volunteering in Detroit, Michigan and visits in New York City

“On Thursday, April 25, in New York City, I visited Borough Park in Brook-lyn and met with Rabbi Isaac Schon-feld and local Jewish activist working with young people with various chal-lenges like drug addictions and other family problems.”

Ioana Petrache: “On Tuesday, April 23, Laszlo Jakab and I spend the afternoon distributing flyers in the GermanTown - one of the two neighborhoods that Action United is organizing around this tax issue. Our host organization has just started to work on a campaign related to the increase in property taxes. The Action United wants to fight to diminish the rate of property taxes in order to make it easier for people with low and fixed income. At the end of May, Action United had organized big meeting with two of their neighborhood chapters that

firefighters and paramedics union, that are also going to be affected by this tax increase.”

are affected by the property taxes increase. They are also searching for allies, such as blue-collar unions – the

Volunteering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Page 11 Professional Fellows in the U.S. (April 1 - May 11, 2013)

Cooking with Sam Molnar on the right and another member of community

“On Sunday, April 28, I participate in a Jewish event, where we celebrated Lag BaOmer, a big Jewish holiday with my colleagues in New York City.”

Wages - to win an increase in the state minimum wage, (6) Quality Affordable Health Care - to win full enactment and implementation. Action United mission is to build power through organizing com-munities to win changes on the issues that are important to a low and moderate in-come Pennsylvanians working Pennsyl-vanians.

For more information follow the link: http://actionunited.org/

the state and have a long history of victo-ries in PA, including: (1) Voter Registra-tion and Mobilization, (2) School Fund-ing - delivering millions of dollars of ad-ditional funding to low income schools districts around the state, (3) Tax Prepara-tion and EITC - helped prepare free taxes and delivered tax refunds back into PA low income communities., (4) Fighting Foreclosures - to sit down with families in foreclosure and work out a solution to keep the family in their home, (5) Better

ACTION United (AU) was formed in 2010 to advance the interests of low and moderate income families around Penn-sylvania (PA) on the issues of critical importance: (1) Economic justice for low income and working families, (2) Fair lending practices and a real solution to the foreclosure crisis; good schools, (3) Clean air and a safe environment, and (4) Quality affordable health care. Action United's 35,000 members are organized into 17 neighborhood chapters throughout

Volunteering in Boston, Massachusetts

“On Wednesday, April 24, I presented in the FXB Center for Health and Hu-man Rights at the Harvard University discussing on Roma issues in Bulgaria and Hungary. I met with Margareta Matache and spent time in her office reviewing my presentation. A group from the research center is to come and meet in the summer. During presentation many participants were interested to hear for the issues of Roma people in Bulgaria and Hungary.

visit the countries and research n depth the situation of Roma in order to bring more awareness of the issue in the U.S. through the Harvard University.”

They were stricken by the level of op-pression and discrimination which the Romani people live through every day. Participants have expressed desire to

Page 12 “Building Grassroots Democracy in Minority Communities”

level and the problem is widely shared by congregations across a metropolitan area, (3) Leadership development at the con-gregational level to develop new leaders and strengthen the skills of existing lead-ers as the key to building large scale in-volvement. (4) Reflection on religious faith and democratic values.

For more information visit website: http://www.mcan-oltc.org/

gregation or organization. MCAN are characterized by being: interfaith, multi-issue, multi-racial, multi-economic class, dues based, making decisions by a large group of leaders not a small hierarchy, employing professional organizers as staff persons, taking action to address deeply felt community and work prob-lems. MCAN’s focus based on 4 main areas: (1) Action on local concerns of a city, neighborhood or town, (2) Action on problems at a regional or statewide

Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN) is a federation of community improvement organizations working for social and economic justice by putting religious faith values and de-mocratic values into action. MCAN is affiliated with the PICO National Net-work of community organizations, a na-tional federation of over fifty congrega-tion based community organizations lo-cated in twenty states. MCAN works to strengthen the community and the con-

Dzhevid Mahmud: “On Saturday, April 21, I volunteered in cooking for lunch in the Irish com-munity in Dorchester, a historic neighborhood of over 6 square miles in Boston, Massachusetts. The brunch and the dinner took place in the house of one of the community organizers. Irish community is multicultural and international brunch.

An attendants are Spanish, French and U.S. citizens in origin.

Ms. Ann Grady helped also cooking with us.”

Our special thank you to the all U.S. Partners and following Internship Hosting Organizations from nine states for their generous support to our guests from four European countries - Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania

and Slovakia - for welcoming and help the delegates participation in various volunteering events:

Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights, Logan Square Neighborhood Association,

Massachusetts Communities Action Network & Organizing and Leadership Training Center, Missourian Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, Paraquad, Granite State Organizing Project,

Action North Carolina, Action United, Virginia Organizing, and Alliance for a Just Society