Synopsis "Taking Action--Changing Lives in Minority Communities Volume IV (in English)"
Volume IV "Taking Action-Changing Lives in Minority Communities" is a result as well as a study guide for community organizers, practitioners and students, of a grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division to the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development (GLC), a program of WSOS Community Action Commission. GLC has received grants from the Department of State since 2011 to provide professional development in the field of community organizing (a relatively new practice and profession in Eastern Europe) through training, mentoring and two-way exchanges of mid-level professionals from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the United States. Urban and rural participants alike gain knowledge of U.S. practices in citizen participation and advocacy, engaging, minorities, and marginalized populations in civil society and politics, collaborating with community leaders to inform changes in legislation that make a difference in minority communities (incl. Roma, disabled, homeless, immigrant, LGBT). Volume IV, published December 2018 contains 39 stories documenting successes and efforts undertaken in Eastern Europe to develop grassroots democracy through citizen engagement. Volume III, published November 2017 contains 60 stories, Volume II, published December 2016 contains 48 stories and Volume I, 2nd Edition Taking Action-Changing Lives published September 2014 contains 85 stories. U.S. mentors from the U.S. internship hosting organizations are selected to travel for a reciprocal visit overseas. Mentors have the opportunity to share professional expertise, gain a deeper understanding of the societies, cultures and people from Eastern Europe, and learn different practices and issue variations from the Europeans to broaden horizons with their work in the United States and for global democracy. The citizen civic exchange promotes mutual understanding, creates long-term professional ties not only between the U.S. and the European participants, but also among the participants within Europe and in their respective countries. These programs strengthen the capacity of our European partners, their European Networks and in the United States.
