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For Immediate Release

Contact:
Thomas Rhodenbaugh
April 20, 2009 Supporters of Civil Society in Russia
(314) 772-6587
c(202) 549-6366 trodenbaugh@sbcglobal.net

Maura Shelden
Open World Leadership Center
Tel. 202-707-6197
mshelden@loc.gov



(St. Louis)— Twenty-one (21) Russian Civic and Political leaders participating in an innovative Open World Leadership Program will spend April 25, 2009 through May 3, 2009 in the Saint Louis area examining how government at all levels works with each other and with the business and non-profit sectors under our system of government. This effort, designed and coordinated locally by the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is supported nationally by Supporters of Civil Society in Russia, a non-profit organization committed to promoting the development of a free and open society in Russia and its Russian program partner, the Moscow School of Political Studies, that since 1992 has trained and supported more than 6,000 Russian civic and political leaders around the issues of good governance, transparent public policy development and human rights.

Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system.

While in St. Louis, the delegates will meet with a number of civic and political leaders including city and county officials including St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, Tom Irwin, Executive Director of Civic Progress as well as leaders from organizations across a broad range of public policy areas including city, county and regional agencies, the media, former State Legislators, local business leaders, leaders from the non-profit sector and students and faculty and students from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. They will also take part in several cultural and community activities during their stay. A copy of the group’s schedule, opportunities for the press to attend sessions or conduct interviews with participants can be obtained by contacting, SCSR’s local program coordinator Tom Rhodenbaugh at: trodenbaugh@sbcglobal.net

A list of the visiting delegates is attached. This will be the fifth visit of Russian civic and political leaders to St. Louis in partnership with the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

As former ambassador to Russia Thomas R. Pickering, who chairs the Supporters of Civil Society in Russia board has noted “Programs such as this are critical to building important bridges of understanding and cooperation between our two countries.” If fact, there are few more important activities that we can undertake than to highlight the workings of our systems and society to new and future generations of Russian leaders, particularly at a time of increased tension.

The U.S. Congress established Open World in 1999 to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. In 2003, Congress made all post-Soviet states eligible for the program. Thanks to Open World, some 14,400 current and future Eurasian leaders have experienced American civil society and have been exposed to new ideas and practices that they can adapt for use in their own work. Open World also promotes partnerships and continued communications between delegates and their American hosts and professional counterparts. Open World currently operates exchanges for political and civic leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

For more information, please contact Tom Rhodenbaugh (314) 772-65787 or cell (202) 549-6366 with SCSR or Maura Shelden, Open World Public Affairs Officer at 202-707-6197.

For more information on Open World, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.
Follow Open World on Twitter! http://twitter.com/OWProgram

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