Open Competition for Participation in“CITIZEN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES”

Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development

in collaboration with Creating Effective Grassroots Alternatives Foundation (C.E.G.A.) in Bulgaria, Civil College Foundation (CCF)
in Hungary, The Resource Center for Public Participation (CeRe) in Romania, and Center for Community Organizing (CKO) in Slovakia
announce an

Open Competition for Participation in "CITIZEN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES"
An exchange program for Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and United States of America

We invite professionals from any regions of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to apply for participation in a 42-day
fellowship in the U.S.A. We encourage professionals to submit their application who are actively involved in the legislative
process and/or policy-making through their work in government, civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups,
community activists, community organizers who work with minority population.

The overall goal of the program is to provide a professional development opportunity for up-and-coming and mid-level professionals
to gain knowledge of U.S. practices in engaging citizens and community leaders in collaboration to inform changes in legislation
that make a difference in minority communities (incl. Roma, disabled, immigrant populations) and strengthen democracy.
European participants will be exposed to diverse methods to engage citizens as active participants in solving problems in their
own communities. They will also gain hands-on experience at both public and civil society institutions in the U.S., and a deeper
understanding of U.S. society, culture, and people.  They will learn about the U.S. legislative system on different levels and
examine the relationship between civil society and government, and learn methods to fight public corruption and develop accountability.