Category Archives: Fulbright

An educational partnership with Northeastern Illinois University

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Elio Leturia, president of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, moderating a panel on International Education Leadership at Northeastern Illinois University

Along with Chicago Public Schools, Pearson Education, Advisory Council on Latino Affairs of the City of Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University Department of Education Leadership, our Chicago Chapter was a sponsor of the Educational Leadership Summit II at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.

The academic summit, that congregated over 120 educators, took place on an all-day event on June 27, 2011.

Dr. Ana Gil-García, a tenured professor at Northeastern University and Director of Membership of the Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter, was the main organizer of the event.

A panel session on International Educational Leadership formed by three Fulbright students, Tairou Goura from Togo, Yommon Tschinsala from Chad and Mateus Yumamanto from Indonesia, along with Dr. Alonso Villarán (also a chapter board member) from Peru, presented on the educational systems in their countries of origin. Elio Leturia, president of the Chicago Chapter a Columbia College Chicago professor moderated the panel, which provoked a fluid participation from the audience due to its international approach.

The participants who attended the summit were asked to donate a bilingual book as part of the Chapter’s International Book Partnership Initiative.  This project, already established, aims to deliver bilingual books to other countries in partnership with the different Fulbright offices around the globe.

The Fulbright team at the Northeastern Illinois University Educational Leadership Summit II: Elio Leturia, Yommon Tschinsala, Chad; Tairou Goura, Togo; Mateus Yumamanto, Indonesia; Dr. Ana Gil-García and Dr. Alonso Villarán

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So long, farewell, class of 2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Twelve graduating Fulbright students with board members of the Fulbright Association and guests shared a meal at Reza's Restaurant on May 6, 2011

This year, 33 international Fulbright students graduated and got ready to go back home. Some of them were staying for a little longer while getting practical training.

Fulbrighter Dorine Duives showing her certificate of completion, with Elio Leturia, Chapter President

To bid them adieu and congratulate them on their achievements, on the evening of May 6, 2011, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association invited them to celebrate with a dinner, as part of our annual Spring Farewell event.

Twelve students were able to attend the event that took place at Reza’s Restaurant in the River North area in Chicago. Reza’s is an established eatery that is known for its Middle-Eastern fare and variety of dishes.

Every Fulbrighter was recognized with a certificate of completion in an evening full of great moments of camaraderie and sharing.

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With “Bringing the World to the Classroom” Initiative Fulbrighters visit CPS schools

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Fulbrighter Baqar Sayed from Pakistan talking to Westinghouse College Prep students

“Bringing the World to the Classroom” is a unique outreach program that started in August of 2010. The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Institute of International Education (IIE,) matches Fulbright students with CPS teachers in order to promote the Fulbright program and provide opportunities for authentic cross-cultural exchanges. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding and respect for world cultures and motivate students to become engaged global citizens.

This past year five high schools, one elementary school and over two hundred students from Chicago area schools took advantage of this program. Board members also presented at four CPS professional development seminars to promote Fulbright programming to teachers. Fulbright students from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Colombia, Greece, Japan, Bulgaria, among others have participated in this program.

This ongoing program was originally developed by Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter board members Monica Swope, Cristina Sisson and Lisa Vásquez (now in Washington D.C.) This year, Jason Romano is the new addition to the team.

Fulbrighter Farida Abdulhafizova from Kyrgyzstan sharing her experiences with Northside College Prep High School students

Colombian Fulbrighter Andrés Gómez and his wife, Ana, visited Westinghouse College Prep

Fulbrighter Orestis Omran Koukouvitakis from Greece surrounded by a group of High School students

Fulbrighter Tetsushi Imatomi talking to Ogden High School students and sharing Japanese culture

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Theater with Passion

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

After the "La Pasión Según Antígona Pérez" theater performance, from left to right, Elio Leturia, Ana Gil-García, Javier Ruiz-Tagle, Leslie Parragüez, Vínicius Miranda Bragança and Márton Siklós.

On April 15, 2011, five Fulbright students and board member Dr. Ana Gil-García were invited to “La Pasión según Antígona Pérez,” (The Passion According to Antigone Perez) theater play.  Performed by Aguijón Theater, the play written by Puerto Rican author Luis Rafael Sánchez, is inspired by the original Sophocles Greek version of “Antigone.”

Taking place in a dictatorship in a Latin American country, the play directed by Marcela Muñoz, situates the performance in an impressive setting (newspaper front pages) that represents the control of the media by the dictator, Creón Molina.

Our Chicago Chapter Fulbright Association President Elio Leturia invited the group. In addition to being a college professor at Columbia College Chicago, Leturia is also an active actor in this theater organization.  With 22 years of existence, Aguijón Theater is the oldest continuously operating theater company in Spanish in Chicago.

Raúl Romero as the Generalísimo Creón Molina and Elio Leturia as Monseñor Bernardo Escudero in a scene from "La Pasíon Según Antígona Pérez" by Aguijón Theater.

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“I’ll be your Cultural Guide!”

Posted on July 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment

WorldChicago invited us to a wonderful reception for the Fulbright scholars and researchers who were visiting Chicago the last week or March. The reception took place at the Allerton Hotel, a Chicago landmark, right on the Magnificent Mile on March 30, 2011.

The Allerton Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Built in 1923, the Allerton Hotel was one of the early high-rises on Michigan Avenue. It was right on the 23rd floor of the hotel where the gathering took place. During the 1950’s Don McNeil broadcasted from that sumptuous space “The Breakfast Club,” a popular radio program that started in 1933. Famous Hollywood legends like Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Ginger Rogers, and James Stewart were featured guests.

The six board members who attended served as “Cultural Guides” after the reception. Marilyn Susman, Cristina Sisson, Monica Swope, Don Garner, Ana Gil-García and Elio Leturia took groups between six and 13 Fulbrighters to dinner. These academics, who were coming from different parts of the country, enjoyed a delicious meal at an ethnic restaurant.

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Sharing a meal with the Fulbright community

Posted on July 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Board member Cristina Sisson, right, and three Fulbright students she took to dinner to Irazú, a Costa Rican restaurant in Bucktown, Chicago

On the evening of March 25, 2011, four board members of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association shared a meal and their time while getting to know Fulbright visitors. Each spring, the Institute of International Education (IIE) organizes the Fulbright Enrichment Seminar which invites dozens of Fulbright fellows studying around the country to Chicago.

The Home Hospitality Dinner is a community-building event in which a Fulbright alum takes a couple or more (sometimes ten!) visiting Fulbright students to dinner, either at home or at a restaurant. Monica Swope, Vice President of our chapter, who took two students this year says, “the Home Hospitality Dinner provides me with the opportunity to meet Fulbrighters in a more informal setting and is always a time well spent and treasured.”

A similar event took place the week after, on April 1, 2011 when a different group of visiting Fulbright scholars and researchers were invited by four chapter members to share a meal. They opened their homes to host groups of Fulbrighters who were coming from different academic institutions across the U.S.

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Dance, Poetry, Semiotics, Photography and Painting

Posted on July 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Dance piece by Kuumba Lynx

Poetry piece by Kuumba Lynx

Celebrating Poetry Month at International House, University of Chicago in Hyde Park, the International Spoken Word & Image event took place on April 9, 2011.

Dr. Stephen Hill from Northwestern University

Among the activities of our program we enjoyed a presentation on Semiotics by board member Dr. Stephen Hill from Northwestern University (Dr. Hill made Semiotics really interesting and engaging!)

It was followed by a special performance (dance and poetry) by Kuumba Lynx, Chicago Public Schools “Louder than a Bomb” Poetry Slam competitors.

Also, two Fulbright students, Chris Campe from Germany and Guillermo R. Gudiño from Mexico, both pursuing their degrees at the Art Institute presented their art work, in painting and photography respectively.

Fulbright students Chris Campe from Germany and Guillermo R. Gudiño from Mexico presented their artistic work to the audience

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April 9: Celebration of words and images!

Posted on March 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Join us for a celebration of visual art, spoken word, and music showcasing the talents of our Fulbright Students/Scholars, Alumni, and Chicago Public Schools high school students.
A complimentary sweet and savory afternoon tea will be served.

Guest lecture by Dr. Stephen Hill, Northwestern University

With a special performance by Kuumba Lynx, Chicago Public Schools
“Louder than a Bomb” Poetry Slam Competitors

When Saturday, April 9, 2011

Time 12-2 pm

Where University of Chicago, International House, Assembly Hall
1414 East 59th Street, Chicago

Cost Free for all visiting Fulbright student/scholars and IH guests
Suggested donation: Fulbright Alumni members $10
Non-chapter members $15

RSVP email Elio Leturia at fulbrightchicago@gmail.com by April 4, 2011
This event is co-sponsored by the International House

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International Women’s Day and Fair at the Union League Club of Chicago

Posted on March 18, 2011 by | 1 comment

Dr. Joaquín Villegas, Monica Swope, Maria Petrova, Dr. Ana Gil-García, Kay McSpadden, Don Garner, Julie Oh and Ceyda Aykan

The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association participated in partnership with World Chicago in the celebration of the International Women’s Day that took place at the Union League Club of Chicago on March 7, 2011.

Board member Dr. Ana Gil-García and Elio Leturia, Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter president

Our chapter also participated in the fair that started in the morning. During this time, board members had the opportunity to promote Fulbright and our chapter and distribute information about our activities and the Fulbright programs.  The fair was followed by a luncheon where keynote speaker Deborah L. DeHaas, gave a preentation “The Business Case for Diversity: Why Developing Women Leaders is Imperative to the Success of Global Companies” in which she discussed the important role of women in the corporate world and the efforts that are being made to offer them equal of opportunities.

Dr. Erika Cook, Maria Petrova, Monica Swope, Julie Oh, Ceyda Aykan and Kay McSpadden after the luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago

Three current Fulbright students accepted our invitation to participate in the event. Ceyda Aykan, from Turkey, studies painting at the Art Institute of Chicago, Maria Petrova from Russia, who specializes in American Literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Julie Oh from Canada, who is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Photography at the Art Institute of Chicago.

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$5,000 Prize for Project with Greatest Impact in Promoting Mutual Understanding

Posted on February 14, 2011 by | 1 comment

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is Now Accepting Applications for the IIE New Leaders Group Award for Mutual Understanding.

In 2005, the Institute of International Education (IIE) New Leaders Group created the IIE New Leaders Group Award for Mutual Understanding to recognize the outstanding work of one recent or current Fulbright grantee who actively promotes mutual understanding between the United States and another country. The individual whose work is judged to have the most impact will receive a $5,000 Award to continue the project. The IIE New Leaders Group will select the winner. The project being recognized must be an ongoing activity that is currently underway; it cannot be a proposal for a project to be done in the future. The Award can be for work in any field. The intent of this Award is to recognize some of the best and the brightest young professionals and to encourage them to contribute and further promote their innovative ideas, valuable knowledge and dedication to the cause of mutual understanding with the $5,000 Award. More information about the IIE New Leaders Group can be found at: www.iie.org/NewLeadersGroup

Application Deadline: March 7, 2011

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