BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. – A delegation of visitors from Ukraine sponsored by the Open World Leadership Program of the Open World Leadership Center participated in a reception and roundtable discussion hosted by the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on November 20, 2019.
The Center is part of the United States legislative branch and is housed in the Library of Congress in Washington. Every year, through the Senate and House Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations, grants are awarded to a variety of national and service organizations, institutions of higher education, sister-city associations and international visitor councils. The Open World Leadership Center is designed to build understanding and cooperation among Congress, American communities and global leaders in interest areas such as rule of law, accountable governance and social services, by establishing long-lasting professional relationships between emerging leaders and their United States counterparts in democratic institutions.
This year, the Open World Leadership Program visiting delegates included Oleksiy Mushak, the prime minister’s advisor on economic affairs; Valeriy Karpuntsov, a prosecutor; Taras Kremin, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Sciences and Education, chair of the Subcommittee on Education: Protection of the State Language; Olena Matushko, secretary of the Rada Committee on Information Security and Communications and former producer and advertising manager for Channel 5 Ukraine; and Roman Oleksenko, Community Development Program manager of the Peace Corps in Ukraine, who served as the program facilitator.
Dr. George Palamattam, executive director of the International Social Worker Exchange Partnership–Council of International Programs, and Karl Nowak served as the hosts, organizers and coordinators of activities in Illinois.
Delegates were scheduled to collaborate on best practices for rule of law in local government, law enforcement and veterans’ affairs. They were also scheduled to meet with leaders of the Ukrainian diaspora. National Deputy Leonid Bard, co-chair at the Assembly of the World Diasporas, joined as a guest of the delegation. John Jaresko, president of the Church Board of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, served as moderator for the roundtable discussions.
Participants in the roundtable discussions represented the following Ukrainian community organizations: Suburban Council of Ukrainian Voters, Ukrainian American Veterans Post 32; Ukrainian Congress Committee of America–Illinois Division; Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine; Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation–U.S.A.; Selfreliance Federal Credit Union; St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Church Board and St. Andrew Ukrainian School Advisory Board; and Chicago Sister Cities International–Kyiv Committee.
In addition, Dr. Pavlo Antonenko, associate professor of educational technology at the University of Florida (Gainesville), traveled to Illinois in order to meet with the delegation to share his expertise in the application of information technology and media in the field of education.
During the roundtable exchange, Ukraine’s Consul General in Chicago, Larysa Gerasko, stressed the importance of developing and establishing a strong advertising campaign in order to publicize the positive aspects of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
Messrs. Bard and Karputsov commented on the fact that the world is becoming increasingly connected: persons, goods, capitals, services and ideas travel more and more freely. Exchanges of thought and experience are an asset and an opportunity for both countries of origin and host countries. Both emphasized that diaspora communities contribute to the development of commercial links, business relations and transfer of knowledge; therefore, they are a very useful social, cultural and economic bridge between countries
Mr. Mushak shared that there is financial growth in Ukraine and that personal financial status and financial strength of Ukraine are important. He elaborated on the need for Ukrainians to understand the concept of investments.
During an extended exchange on the learning and maintenance of the Ukrainian language, or any native language, all participants agreed that one’s native language allows us to not only communicate and connect with one another, but it also allows us to understand and appreciate the history of our ancestors and our upbringing. Research indicates that communicative skills in one’s native language cultivate an appreciation and understanding of one’s culture, ensure better cognitive development and assist in the learning of other languages.
Mr. Kremin stated that research shows “that maintaining one’s native language is critical to one’s identity and contributes to a positive self-esteem in the individual. Teaching the Ukrainian language in Ukrainian Saturday language schools is important for strengthening one’s identity, contributes to positive self-esteem in the individual; in addition, maintains closer ties with family members, facilitates cultural and linguistic connections to Ukraine.”
Mr. Oleksenko reminded everyone that the Peace Corps was established in Ukraine in 1992 in a bilateral agreement signed by President George Bush and President Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine. Since that time, the Peace Corps has cooperated with the Ukrainian Ministries of Education and Science, Youth and Sports, and Regional Development in jointly initiated activities to help the people of Ukraine meet their need for trained men and women. Important to note, he said, that 250 visas are available for U.S. citizens to work for one year in Ukraine. He further emphasized that course transfer credits are available between colleges and universities of the United States and Ukraine.
Taras Petryshyn, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, businessman and a 10-year resident of the U.S, asked the group: “What do you hope to take back with you from your visit here in the U.S.?” Ms. Matushko replied that “there is a need for professional dialogue between the United States and Ukraine… we are focused on collecting the best information which could be applied to manage information technology and communication venues of interest in Ukraine… the group, as a whole, seeks to collect the best information and best practices in their respective professional areas of expertise to take back and apply in different factions of life in Ukraine – financial accountability, promotion and maintenance of native language, rule of law and civic services.”