COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:  TOUCHING HEARTS, CHANGING MINDS.

The Community Connections program officially ended in September, 2005.   Beginning as Business for Russia (BFR) in 1994, this program offered business internships in different parts of the United States to young entrepreneurs from Russia. It was expanded to also include non-profit professionals, educators, lawyers, and government representatives from many of the countries of the formerSoviet Union.  More than 13,000 citizens of Eurasia had the opportunity to travel to the U.S and expand their knowledge of business practices, non-profit management, and local governmental methods. Here in southern Virginia,  Legacy hosted 380 interns from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kygryzstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan in more than 200 private homes and over 300 businesses and organizations.  

During the eleven years we have been privileged to conduct this program, this area of the world has changed tremendously.  The economies of the newly independent countries in Eurasia have improved and become more stable, but continue to struggle.  Political growth has experienced periods of contraction and expansion. The shift from government-controlled businesses to privately-owned enterprises has required much hard work and a steep learning curve, but is beginning to bring significant rewards to those brave entrepreneurial spirits.  In the non-profit sector, the shift from government-delivered services to private sector organizations has come more slowly, but the dedication, compassion, and inspiration we find in these professionals promises great benefit to their clients. 

The growth of small businesses and non-profit service organizations is usually seen as the expected benefit or the main value of such citizen exchanges.  Though the purpose of traveling may indeed be to learn new business practices, gain marketing ideas, or adopt more efficient organizational models, the real essence of citizen exchange is what happens between the hearts and minds of individuals.   This very personal experience is of such high value it cannot truly be measured.  Though such effects may not be quantifiable, they should not be dismissed.  The impact of one person on another can be of incalculable value, with far more lasting and longer-reaching effects than any training course or seminar. 

Traditional wisdom tells us that  actions follow intentions.  Practical experience has shown that the intention to welcome those of another culture into our homes and businesses, to share both our culture and our professional knowledge, and learn about those different than ourselves produces friendly, hospitable, and cooperative actions. Citizen exchange remains a powerful means of building strong bridges of understanding and long-lasting personal and professional relationships across cultures.

We are grateful to the host families (over half of whom were regulars) who opened their homes and hearts to strangers from abroad, and for the cooperation of hundreds of businesses and organizations in the Roanoke, Lynchburg, Bedford, Salem, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Washington, DC and northern Virginia, which shared their knowledge and expertise with our visitors.  And we extend our deepest appreciation to the program officers at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Citizen Exchange, whose dedication and commitment to building a better world make this and other programs possible. 

The Community Connections program may soon be re-born under the auspices of different government agency.  We hope to have definitive information soon.

"We have gained invaluable knowledge on conflict prevention and resolution during this short-term training. We talked about the necessity of training highly-skilled specialists and trainers on ways of preventing and solving different types of conflicts. The establishment of the Southern Center on Conflict Prevention will become the aim and the result of our work. The center will focus on developing partnership between community based and non-governmental organizations, mass media, law enforcement and local government.

"We can't help admiring your unique knowledge of Russian and Kyrgyz languages, and culture of our people, which unites us and makes communication fruitful. We hope to continue our communication and partnership because TOGETHER WE ARE POWERFUL, which enables implementation of vitally important plans."

Letter from the Kyrgyz Community Connections cross-sectoral delegation, 2003

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Legacy facilitated a series of dialogues and working groups on key environmental issues during the major political shifts that occurred in the early 1990's. Partnering with various NGO and government entities, these projects convened hundreds of scientists, government and non-government representatives, and industrialists from many countries to work together in strategic issues. A few examples:

• Environmentally Sound Development and Management: Model Oil and Gas Project in Russian North
• Corporate-Community Dialogue on the Environment
• Virginia Growth Management Forum
• Middle East Environment and Development Professional Visitors Program
• Responsible Tourism Development in Uzbekistan: Planning Workshop
• Sister Seas Chesapeake Forum
• Planning for Sustainable Development in Russia: Using Environment and Health Databanks

"The [Virginia Growth Management] forum made me recognize the need for local governments to provide incentives that will encourage developers to help the system. More flexibility in sight plans would be a big help."

Mark Erkiletian, President, Erkiletian Construction Corporation

"'Growth Management' is not a code word for stopping growth, or slowing growth. Rather, it embraces the common-sense yet still radical idea that you should plan for that growth. People need to learn not to be mislead by loaded, ideological words."

John M. DeGrove