Inaugural Youth Leadership Program promotes knowledge of U.S.-Ukraine relations (09/29/02)

Inaugural Youth Leadership Program promotes knowledge of U.S.-Ukraine relations

by Miriam Bates

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation conducted its first annual Youth Leadership Program in Washington, on August 3-9 for 13 U.S. college students interested in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's Youth Leadership Program was designed to encourage and support interest in leadership for the next generation of leaders in U.S.-Ukraine relations within the context of the overall U.S. community or within the Ukrainian-American community. A weeklong program of meetings and discussions focused on U.S.-Ukraine relations, leadership, public policy, the political process and public service.

Students were able to see the wide genre of careers available in Washington, the organizations active in Ukraine, the importance of the Ukrainian-American community in U.S.-Ukraine affairs, and the need for activism. They also gained a greater appreciation of the culture, institutions and history of Ukraine.

The 13 students of the Youth Leadership Program 2002 were: Nazar Balaban of West Seneca, NY, a freshman at Canisius College; Markian Dobczansky of Silver Spring, Md., a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania; Markian Hadzewycz of Morristown, N.J., a freshman at Drew University; Kristen King of Toledo, Ohio, a junior at the University of Toledo; Natalia Diana Kujan of St. Clair Shores, Mich., a junior at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; David J. Odomirok of Thiells, N.Y., a junior at New York University; Vadim Ostrovsky of Danville, Va., a senior at Averett University; Maryana Pavlyshyn of St. Petersburg, Fla., a senior at St. Petersburg College; Bohdan Pechenyak of Springfield, Pa., a junior at Yale University; Natalia Siouta of Jersey City, N.J., a sophomore at New Jersey City University; Larissa Szczupak of Old Field, N.Y., a freshman at Georgetown University; Stephan Nestor Vitvitsky of Sudbury, Mass., a freshman at Tufts University; and Damian M. Zajac of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., a junior at New York University.

Twelve of the participating students were of Ukrainian heritage. Only one, Ms. King, was not Ukrainian, but, interestingly, she had already been to Ukraine. Her father, a government official from Toledo, Ohio, participates in the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's Community Partnerships Project and has worked with officials from Nikopol, Ukraine.

The Youth Leadership Program 2002 was free to participating students. All program costs, including lodging, were borne by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. The foundation also received financial support from individuals and organizations of the Ukrainian-American community; the key organizations supporting the Youth Leadership Program 2002 were the Rochester (N.Y.) Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, SUMA Yonkers Federal Credit, Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, and Self Reliance (N.J.) Federal Credit Union.

The Washington experience

The foundation organized a full schedule of meetings with government and non-governmental officials in the nation's capital. Students toured and attended briefings at all three branches of government. Among the week's highlight were the following.

Following a tour of the White House, Ambassador Eric Edelman of the Office of the Vice-President discussed the importance of strong U.S.-Ukraine relations and his road to public service at the Old Executive Office Building.

At the Supreme Court, Staff Lawyer Cynthia Rapp briefed students on the history and role of the Supreme Court in the checks and balances of the U.S. government. Students sat in the courtroom, toured additional meeting halls, learned about the justices whose portraits hung on the walls and toured the law library.
Students toured the U.S. Capitol and visited their local congressman's office, where they had the chance to discuss U.S.-Ukraine relations one-on-one with congressional staff. Each student will follow-up the meeting with a letter to his or her member of Congress on an issue related to Ukraine in September.
William Green Miller, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, spoke to students at an opening reception. Ambassador Miller's candid and frank speech focused on the need for leaders in the United States and Ukraine to champion a strong Ukraine. Ambassador Miller said, "We need engagement in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Otherwise, we will partly be responsible for Ukraine's failure. We have to keep at it - one day we will hopefully have a Ukraine that both the United States and Ukraine want it to be. Be active. Be knowledgeable. This is not just magnanimity - it is in U.S. interests to help Ukraine. We should fight for Ukraine because America, a real melting pot, has put a little Ukrainian blood in all of us."

A panel discussion with three Ukrainian-Americans working in Congress showed participants how they can practically integrate their interests in U.S.-Ukraine relations with a career after graduation. Panelists Orest Deychakiwsky, staff advisor of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), Xenia Horczakiwskij, legislative assistant at Rep. Curt Weldon's office, and Oleh Chernyk, legislative assistant at Rep. Bob Schaffer's, office shared their views on U.S.-Ukraine related issues, their experiences on Capitol, and how they as Hill staff can work on behalf of U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Students had the unique opportunity to speak with Judge Bohdan A. Futey at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Judge Futey, who has often been referred to as the "father of the Ukrainian Constitution" due to his assistance in its writing, shared the story of his appointment and his feelings about the current Constitution of Ukraine. Judge Futey answered many questions, gave students a personal tour of the courtroom and encouraged them to take pictures sitting at the bench holding the judge's gavel.

Participants also learned about the power of lobbying in a lunch panel briefing with three of the founding members of the Action Ukraine Coalition, former Congressman Charles Dougherty, and Vera Andryczyk and Zenia Chernyk of the Ukrainian Federation of America. The panelists spoke on how Action Ukraine works to advance a democratic Ukraine by developing more effective channels of communication between the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian-American community.

Mr. Dougherty posed students a strong challenge to participate politically on behalf of Ukraine by lobbying on issues such as the lifting of Jackson-Vanik restrictions and membership in the World Trade Organization. He said, "Politics is power. How do you make an impact in them? Have the desire to make an impact and know the system. Identify your goal, allow time and make yourself known by volunteering, networking and building relationships."

Another panel with USUF President Nadia McConnell, CPP Director Vera Andrushkiw, and CPP consultant Tom Gittins introduced the participants to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, its beginnings and current projects, and how they can get involved with USUF.

Earlier in the week, students also had the chance to hear Michael Sawkiw, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America speak about the history of his organization, its lobbying efforts and the important role of the Ukrainian American community in his work.

Participants also met with Ambassador William Taylor, Europe assistance coordinator at the Department of State, Deputy Director Rick Gold of the Eurasia Division of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Dr. Jerry Dutkewych, former director of the Peace Corps in Ukraine. Participants had an opportunity to visit the Embassy of Ukraine. Minister Counselor Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi called on the students to pursue lives of leadership, and to continue their desires and endeavors to help strengthen U.S.-Ukraine relations.

As part of their introduction to political activism, participants visited the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees. Each institution briefed students on the party platforms, activities of the committees on the national and local level, and how students can help get out the vote on their campuses in the upcoming November elections. Simone Ward, director of the Young Democrats, said, "We should be fighting to make sure that what we want now will be around in the future."

In addition to the meetings around town, participants attended official leadership training seminars at the Close Up Foundation, the nation's largest non-profit and non-partisan citizenship education organization. Close Up Vice-President Charles Tampio led group discussions on leadership characteristics, leadership models and modern-day examples.

Visits to the Holy Trinity Particular Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral offered students an alternative introduction to leadership within the Ukrainian American community. The beauty of these two churches in combination with the presentations by Father Taras Lonchyna and Father Volodymr Steliac underlined the importance of leadership and unity within the community, and instilled in the participants a greater appreciation for their ancestral heritage. Earlier in the week, students also had a chance to visit the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family.

In their free time, students were able to enjoy some of the other fun activities in Washington such as an afternoon at the Smithsonian museums, walking tours of the national monuments at night, a visit to the National Cathedral and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a Dixieland Jazz performance at the Kennedy Center, participation in the live audience of CNN's "Crossfire," and attendance at Screen on the Green, an outdoor film festival on the National Mall.

The program concluded on Friday morning with a ceremony at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in downtown Washington led by USUF President Nadia McConnell, Vice-President John A. Kun, and Program Coordinator Miriam Bates. Mr. Kun spoke on Taras Shevchenko's moral leadership and dream for the day when Ukraine would have "its own Washington." Mr. Kun said that the students' desires to help Ukraine brought them full circle back to Shevchenko, one of Ukraine's greatest leaders. After a week of leadership training, the participants are better equipped to help Shevchenko's hopes become Ukraine's reality in the 21st century.

In addition to their certificates of completion, students received some parting gifts from the foundation: Dr. Myron B. Kuropas' book "Ukrainians in America" to supplement their knowledge on Ukraine and the Ukrainian American community, and a commemorative, illustrative book on the District of Columbia.

Overall, the Class of 2002 loved the Youth Leadership Program experience and members still e-mail each other on a daily basis.

One student wrote in his evaluation: "I wanted to find out more about what was being done in the sphere of non-governmental aid. I also wanted to learn a little bit more about career paths, specifically those that were pursued by Ukrainian Americans with an active interest. The program met my expectations and exceeded them in every way. This program was the unquestioned highlight of my summer. I had so much fun and learned so much. It sends me back to school with an actual sense of purpose and excitement that I have never felt before."

Looking back on the success of its first YLP, the USUF eagerly looks forward to the second annual Youth Leadership Program in 2003. The foundation's hope is that the Youth Leadership Program will inspire many in the Ukrainian American community's next generation to follow lives of leadership and service on behalf of the immediate community and U.S.-Ukraine relations.

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