Events 2010
Czech Roma Get Inspiration on U.S. Program
Group of Czech young Roma leaders in Washington
January 10 — For three weeks in December, young Roma leaders participated in the U.S. in the International Visitor Leadership Program which focused on social, political and economic engagement for minorities. During their visit of several big U.S. cities, they met business and NGOs practitioners that work on programs providing minorities access to equal employment opportunities and economic development. “The program was inspirational. We believe some U.S. approaches could be used in CR, too,” said one of the participants.
In Washington visits and discussions with representatives of The National Black Chamber of Commerce and The Small Business Administration (SBA) which are focused on programs that provide assistance to minority owned small and mid-sized businesses were highlights of the program. They agreed on further cooperation on taking over American programs and organizing training in the Czech Republic.
In the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) they got acquainted with development and advocation policies that improve lives of low income people, and create pathways to education and work. They considered laws related to these issues apposite to follow. They were surprised by public respect to policemen and their action.
In Cincinnati in BRIDGES NGO facilitators coordinated training how to work with NGO communities on behalf of a minority group. The Urban Morgan Institute (UMI) gave participants insight on education and training of lawyers whose mission is to promote and protect human rights at all levels and also in international environment.
In New Orleans they were impressed by activities of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which is in charge to defend and preserves the individual rights and liberties that is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. The Education and Human Rights Coordinator spoke about human rights abuses that took place in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and how American laws were imposed on abusers.
In Portland they visited Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) – an urban Indian Agency that serves over 1,200 youth and their families from over 300 tribal backgrounds annually. The agency programs are good examples to follow in the Czech environment. The Su Casa programs on education and employment will be worth to follow. The future cooperation with Su Casa could bring to the Czech Republic educational programs that would be useful for workers of such NGOs like NATAMA.
Journalists of the online magazine Afro-American magazine The Root, which is a branch project of Newsweek and Washington Post, are interested in publishing articles on Czech Roma community and environment.
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