Tag Archives: Mary Mares-Awe

Garfield Park Conservatory —perfect venue for the 2015 Fulbright Spring Farewell

Posted on April 21, 2015 by | Leave a comment
The Garfield Conservatory was erected in 1907.

The Garfield Park Conservatory was erected in 1907.

By Mary Mares-Awe—THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION and the Institute of International Education (IIE) invite you, your family, colleagues and friends to attend our 2015 Spring Farewell Luncheon in the Jensen Room at the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory.

The purpose of this event is to bid fond farewells to the visiting Students and Scholars who will soon be returning to their home countries. The farewell gathering provides an opportunity for Fulbright Association members of the Chicago Chapter to say ‘thank you’ to our guests, and for visiting Fulbrighters and alumni to affirm friendships​, ​ academic,​ and professional connections which will last for years.
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WHEN Saturday, April 25, 2015, 11am-2pm
WHERE ​ Jensen Room, at the​ ​​Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL ​
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The Conservatory is easily reachable via the Green Line “Conservatory” stop. Please plan your trip via transitchicago.com. There is also street and lot parking available.
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A catered buffet lunch from Wishbone Southern Kitchen and beverages will be provided, including vegetarian options. ​

After the event, you and your guests are welcome to wander the Conservatory greenhouses and grounds at your leisure. The entry to the Conservatory is FREE (there is a suggested donation is at the door).​

​COST  FREE to current Fulbright students and scholars.​ $25/person for each accompanying adult family member and/or guests, Fulbright Alumni, Association Members, Friends of Fulbright, etc. is  You may pay by PayPal when you R.S.V.P. using the link below (preferred), or you may pay by cash, check, or credit card at the event.

R.S.V.P.  NOW (and NO LATER THAN Thursday, April 23) by clicking here or on the link HERE.

We look forward to seeing you at this final event of the 2014-2015 academic year!

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Contribution of immigrant women to US economy, main topic of the 14th Intl Women’s Day Celebration

Posted on March 19, 2015 by | Leave a comment
Front row: Elina Ruka, MFA in Photography Student from Latvia, attending Columbia College, Claudia Figueroa, Master of Public Policy at The University of Chicago student from Chile, Onontsatsal Gantsog from Mongolia, studying at Loyola University Chicago, Katerina Psimogiannou from Greece studying anthropology at UIC, Josep Mª Nadal Fdez from Spain, attending DePaul University and Shafia Imtiaz from Pakistan, MPP student at University of Chicago. Standing:Mary Mares-Awe, Fulbright Chicago Chapter Board President, Board members Marilyn Susman and Meredith McNeil, and PhD Public Health student Kate Vergara from Peru.

Front row: Elina Ruka from Latvia, MFA in Photography, Columbia College, Claudia Figueroa from Chile, MPP, University of Chicago, Onontsatsal Gantsog from Mongolia, Loyola University Chicago, Katerina Psimogiannou from Greece, Anthropology at UIC, Josep Mª Nadal Fdez from Spain, DePaul University and Shafia Imtiaz from Pakistan, MPP, University of Chicago. Standing:Mary Mares-Awe, Fulbright Chicago Chapter Board President, Board Members Marilyn Susman and Meredith McNeil, and PhD Public Health candidate Kate Vergara from Peru.

By Meredith McNeil—MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO Chapter of the Fulbright Association and visiting Fulbright students attended the 14th Annual Chicago celebration of International Women’s Day on Monday, March 9th. The event took place at the stately Union League Club of Chicago.

The event was hosted by WorldChicago, the Union League Club of Chicago, and the International Trade Club of Chicago. The Fulbright Association Chicago Chapter not only was a partner organization for the event, but, eleven current and former Fulbrighters and friends of Fulbright attended the luncheon.

The message of the day pertained to immigrant women and their contributions not only to the U.S. economy in terms of labor and entrepreneurship, but also to women’s role in academia in this country. Both Carole Segal, co-founder of Crate & Barrel, and Michele Wucker, Vice President of Studies at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, highlighted in their presentations the value of immigrants’ contribution to the U.S. at universities and in long term academic, and skilled careers.

Chicago Chapter President Mary Mares-Awe with members of the Canadian delegation Scott McCook, Coleen Duke and Paula Cabrera

Chicago Chapter President Mary Mares-Awe with members of the Canadian delegation Scott McCook, Coleen Duke and Paula Cabrera

Ms. Wucker stressed the importance of correcting immigrant stereotypes in this country by changing the focus to those who come for education and their children’s educations rather than negative representations. Ms. Segal lamented the brain drain that occurs in this country when student visas expire and how increasing the number of work visas would bolster the U.S. economy. It was refreshing to hear women of civic engagement discuss the importance of international intellectual talent that the U.S. gains from immigrants to this country.

Other topics included immigrant women’s lack of legal options, immigration as a political card, and the effect the politicization of immigration has on women. According to one of the featured speakers, women currently outnumber men in the “foreign born” category in current U.S. immigration statistics. This directly relates to the role all women play in strengthening families.

Chicago Chapter Board Member Meredith Mc Neil at the Fulbright table during the fair prior to the luncheon

Chicago Chapter Board Member Meredith McNeil at the Fulbright table during the fair prior to the luncheon

The International Women’s Day Luncheon also featured a fair of exhibitors involved in international pursuits and women’s issues, including Fulbright Chicago, the Canadian Consulate, the YMCA, and the Consulate of Sweden, among others. The fair provided a great opportunity for the Fulbright Chicago representatives to engage with other attendees and discuss potential future partnerships.

 

 

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Fulbright Chicago celebrates the Holidays and Ron Harvey gets the 2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award

Posted on December 30, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Chicago Chapter board members Kari Burnett, Cristina Sisson, Jenni Schneiderman and Meredith McNeil celebrate with Ron Harvey, recipient of the 2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award

Chicago Chapter board members Kari Burnett, Cristina Sisson, Jenni Schneiderman and Meredith McNeil celebrate with Ron Harvey, recipient of the 2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award

By Mary Mares-Awe—MORE THAN 80 GUESTS attended the annual, end-of-the-year, Winter Holiday reception sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Professor Norma Green, Ahmed Affan from Pakistan and Gigi Posejpal, Director of International Student Affairs at Columbia College Chicago

Professor Norma Green, Ahmed Affan from Pakistan and Gigi Posejpal, Director of International Student Affairs at Columbia College Chicago

Mr. Ilker Pak, Consul of Turkey in Chicago

Mr. Ilker Pak, Honorable Consul of Turkey in Chicago

The event took place on Friday, December 12th at Columbia College, downtown Chicago. Among those in attendance were Fulbright Association members, board members, friends of Fulbright, alumni, Fulbright scholars from more than 35 countries, as well as consular representatives including the Consul General of France, Vincent Floreani, Consul of Turkey, Ilker Pak, and the Consul of Costa Rica, Javier Rojas.

Mr. Javier Rojas, Honorable Consul of Costa Rica, Fulbright Chicago Chapter President Ron Harvey and Mr. Vincent Floreani, Honorable Consul General of France

Mr. Javier Rojas, Honorable Consul of Costa Rica, Fulbright Chicago Chapter President Ron Harvey and Mr. Vincent Floreani, Honorable Consul General of France

Guests enjoyed several types of wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of foods including Vietnamese Spring Rolls, South of the Border specialties, cheeses and charcuterie, salads, and wonderful deserts with beautifully decorated Christmas cookies.

A Columbia College Chicago jazz trio entertaining the audience

A Columbia College Chicago jazz trio entertaining the audience

A trio made up of Columbia College Chicago music students certainly did justice to the great American music genre—jazz, adding a festive atmosphere to the event and entertaining guests throughout the evening.

RON HARVEY GETS THE 2014 DEE SARELAS SERVICE AWARD

2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award

2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award

The annual celebrations present a great opportunity to see old friends and make new connections within our Fulbright community. It’s also a time when the Chapter presents the prestigious Dee Sarelas Service Award.

This year Dr. Ron Harvey, a psychology researcher at DePaul University and current president of the Chicago Chapter, was the recipient of the award. The other nominees were Cristina Sisson (Argentina 2007,) treasurer of the Chapter, and Don Garner (European Union 2001,) Consular Corps Liaison and past-president 2006.

Last year Dee Sarelas Service Award Elio Leturia presenting Ron Harvey with the 2014 award.

Last year Dee Sarelas Service Award recipient Elio Leturia from Columbia College Chicago, presenting Ron Harvey with the 2014 award.

The service award was created to honor the memory of one of the founding members of the Fulbright Association’s Chicago Chapter—Dee Sarelas. Dee is remembered for her unique ability for bringing people across cultures together. In addition to her many contributions, Dee also worked for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army Training College, and as a liaison at White House conferences.

Dr. Richard Farkas of DePaul University, Fulbright Specialist to Ukraine, Taras Tzlupko and Ron Harvey

Dr. Richard Farkas of DePaul University, Fulbright Specialist to Ukraine, Taras Tzlupko and Ron Harvey

“It’s a real honor to be in the company of such high caliber people who have won the award previously,” said Ron after receiving the award. Some of the past recipients are Marilyn Susman, Thomas Ahleman, Ana Gil-García and Elio Leturia.

Fulbrighter Aziz Pulatov from Uzbekistan and his daughter

Fulbrighter Aziz Pulatov from Uzbekistan and his daughter, Shakina

“It’s great that we can do our part to fulfill the Fulbright mission here in Chicago. The honor is a great accomplishment of that. It’s a reminder that you can fulfill the Fulbright mission no matter where you are”, he added.

Ron, who did his Fulbright in Bulgaria in 2009-2010, will be leaving for Bulgaria again next year to work on a pioneering project in the field of community psychology. He, no doubt, and true to form, will continue to work in the Fulbright spirit— making the world a better place.

Fulbright alumna Virginia Miller (Guatemala 1993, Mexico 1996-97) and Adam Gehr

Fulbright alumna Virginia Miller (Guatemala 1993, Mexico 1996-97) and Adam Gehr

Chicago Chapter Treasurer Cristina Sisson and her husband Michael Tamm

Chicago Chapter Treasurer Cristina Sisson and her husband Michael Tamm

Fulbright alumna Maureen Warren (Poland 1980-81,) Fulbright scholar Almir Pestek from Bosnia, and Mary Mares-Awe, Chicago chapter Board member

Fulbright alumna Maureen Warren (Poland 1980-81,) Fulbright scholar Almir Pestek from Bosnia, and Mary Mares-Awe, Chicago Chapter Board member

Uruguayan Fulbright alumna Andrea Catarivas and her husband Andre Frieden

Uruguayan Fulbright alumna Andrea Catarivas and her husband Andre Frieden

Photos by Mary Mares-Awe, Jenni Schneiderman, Ron Harvey, Elio Leturia

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Fulbright Chicago celebrated International Education Week at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

Posted on November 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Visiting Fulbright scholaras and students celebrated International Education Week at the Jane Addams-Hull Hose Museum.

Visiting Fulbright scholars and students celebrated International Education Week at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum at the University of Illinois at Chicago campus

By Jade Stanley—ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014 the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association celebrated International Education Week with an educational program focusing on immigrant communities who’ve played an important part in Chicago’s history.

Visiting Fulbright Scholar Dr. Sani Basha with his family at the Jane Adams Hull House Museum

Visiting Fulbright Scholar Dr. Sani Basha with his family at the Jane Adams Hull-House Museum

Over sixty participants including Fulbright students and scholars, alumni association members and Institute of International Education (IIE), friends and family joined us for a tour of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum with a look at the legacy of Jane Addams—a reformer, sociologist, and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Fulbright Scholars and Friends viewing a documentary film about Jane Adams

Fulbright Scholars and Friends viewing a documentary film about Jane Adams

The tour began at noon, and included a documentary film – narrated by Eleanor Roosevelt, on the history of Hull House and the life and work of Jane Addams. After the tour, everyone met at 2pm, to enjoy a wonderful lunch at Pompei, an authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Pompei was established by Luigi Davino back in 1909. The family restaurant has been serving up delicious Italian food for four generations.

Everyone enjoyed a fun conversation and delicious food at Pompei Restaurant during the annual International Education Education Week program

Everyone enjoyed a fun conversation and delicious food at Pompei Restaurant during the annual International Education Education Week program

Little Italy is another unique ethnic neighborhood in Chicago to explore for its restaurants and unique small businesses. Walking into the restaurant on a cold and windy Chicago day was delightful and wonderful smells coming from the kitchen greeted us as we entered. The menu included various types of delicious pizza, two kinds of salads, pasta and meat sauce and homemade bread, followed by incredible pastries and hot coffee.

Members of the Fulbright Chicago Board, (L-R) Patti Powel and Mary Mares-Awe with visiting Fulbright Scholar Liz Bacwayo from Uganda


Members of the Fulbright Chicago Board, (L-R) Patti Powel and Mary Mares-Awe with visiting Fulbright Scholar Liz Bacwayo from Uganda

Board members Mary Mares-Awe, Cristina Sisson, Patti Powell, Elio Leturia, Shannon Anderson and Jade Stanley extended a warm welcome and thanked the participants for joining us for this event. The room resonated with great conversations, opportunities for networking, and plans to attend the next Fulbright event in December.

Fulbright Scholars enjoying lunch at Pompei Restaurant in Little Italy

Fulbright Scholars enjoying lunch at Pompei Restaurant in Little Italy

Sarah Grace Gleisner of IIE is enjoying a conversation with visiting Fulbright Scholars

Sarah Grace Gleisner of IIE is enjoying a conversation with visiting Fulbright Scholars

Photos by Mary Mares-Awe

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Celebrate 2014 International Education Week at the Hull House Museum & Little Italy

Posted on November 5, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

By Mary Mares-Awe—TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK, the Fulbright Association-Chicago Chapter, University of Illinois-Chicago, and the Institute of International Education (IIE) invite you, your family, the Consular Corps of Chicago, friends and colleagues to join us for a tour of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum with a look at the legacy of Jane Adams—a reformer, sociologist, and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

WHEN Sunday, November 16, 2014
TIME 12:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m.
WHERE Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, University of Illinois-Chicago, 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607 View Larger Map

Please RSVP via the online form HERE or using the direct link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bRzs2Ll3sHC2lJ56gE9PN8B3JEWleFOkuoA0BE-Fi4Q/viewform

Pompeii Restaurant in Little Italy

Pompei Restaurant in Little Italy

The tour includes a documentary film on the history of the Hull House. After the tour, we will walk to Little Italy, for an early-afternoon luncheon at Pompei Restaurant, 1531 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607 starting at 2:30 p.m.

COST This event is FREE for current visiting Fulbright Students and Scholars. Guests of Visiting Students and Scholars, Fulbright Association members and guests, $20 (includes lunch and tour)

You may pay online after you submit this form, or at the event via cash, check, or credit card.

RSVP by Friday, November 14, 2014, using the form HERE.

Transportation and Parking Attendees are responsible for their own transport and parking.

CTA Blue line to the UIC-Halsted station.
CTA Bus Route 8 at the Halsted and Polk Street intersection.
Paid street parking available. Paid parking lots nearby.

Plan your trip via www.transitchicago.com

If you have questions about the event, please email
fulbrightchicago@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

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How does a Fulbrighter ride the bus? In style of course…

Posted on September 8, 2014 by | Leave a comment
The advertising campaign includes billboards, buses, bus stops, inside trains and the COlumbia College Chicago campus.

The advertising campaign includes billboards, buses, bus stops, inside trains and the Columbia College Chicago campus.

By Mary Mares-Awe—OUR VERY OWN Elio Leturia is riding in style—on the bus, literally. Some of us may have seen the elegant image campaign promoting Columbia College Chicago on CTA buses around town featuring Elio Leturia along with a handful of professors at Columbia.

Leturia was invited for the advertising campaign in late April. The professional photo shoot took place at Columbia’s studios and since last month his face has graced the side billboards of CTA buses, plus the digital screens in four CTA stations at Clark and Lake, Addison Red Line, Davis Purple Line and the Belmont station, as well as inside trains. Elio’s larger-than-life image can also be seen on two billboards along I-90.

Leturia teaching Visual Journalism at Columbia College Chicago

Leturia teaching Visual Journalism at Columbia College Chicago

Besides being a journalism tenured professor at Columbia College Chicago and the vice president of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, Leturia is also an accomplished theater actor. But he’s never been on a stage this big—with such an extended daily run—and more audience than can pack all of Chicago’s theaters, combined.

His reaction to all this attention: “I feel very honored that Columbia has chosen me to be a part of their promotional campaign.” Each professor was invited for the high honors they’ve achieved in their career. Elio Leturia was specifically chosen as a Fulbright-Honored Faculty. “To me it was really exciting because it was serving the campaign of the college—highlighting me as a member of the faculty, but at the same time it was highlighting Fulbright which is very close to me.”

When asked about what went through his mind when he found out he was selected for the advertising image, he says with a laugh, “Well, my first reaction was, what am I going to wear?” From the photo we can see he made an excellent wardrobe choice. Leturia also says he finds it amusing when people who’ve seen the promotional images, send him pictures they took and tell him he looks like a model in a GAP ad.

The advertising campaign is in full swing now and runs through the end of September.

Photos. Susy Schultz, Bethel Swift, Teri Arvisú, Brittany Delk

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“Korean Central Asians after the U.S.S.R” Conference presented at NEIU

Posted on March 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Dr. Valeriy Sergeevich Khan

Dr. Valeriy Sergeevich Khan

By Mary Mares-Awe—FULBRIGHT RESEARCH SCHOLAR Valeriy Sergeevich Khan will be the key presenter at the 19th Annual Asian & Asian-American Heritage Conference at Northeastern Illinois University on April 3rd, 2014.

Dr. Khan is a Fulbright Research Scholar at the Center of Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies at the University of Kansas. He is a well-known authority in the area of cultural and ethnic studies of the Korean diaspora and an expert on ethnic transformation of Korean emigrants. He has been a research fellow at the National Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan serving as the Vice-Director of the Department of Ethnic Studies.

Dr. Khan’s presentation entitled, Korean Central Asians—after the U.S.S.R, will take place on Thursday, April 3rd, at 10:50 am at the Golden Eagles room of the Student Union on the campus of Northeastern Illinois University.

The event is co-sponsored by Fulbright, NEIU College of Arts & Sciences, and Asian/Global Resource Center.

We encourage all our members and those interested in the topic of cultural identities among immigrant communities to attend this unique and interesting lecture.

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Distributing knowledge through the Book Partnership Project

Posted on March 11, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Fred Siegman, Ron Harvey and Jane Florine

Fred Siegman, Ron Harvey and Jane Florine getting ready to pack books.

By Mary Mares-Awe—THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION  is in the final push of completing this year’s book drive as part of its Book Partnership initiative. More than one thousand books have been collected from various schools, organizations, libraries and private individuals over the past several months. Most of the books have been sorted, boxed, and are now ready to be shipped.

The books will be donated to Ethiopian children and to students and children in Macedonia. We are in negotiations with Turkish Airlines for their contribution to this worthwhile project—shipping the books to Macedonia. Some of the Spanish-language books in our collection have been earmarked for children in Guatemala.

José Rodríguez, Jim Nowaczok, Ana Gil-García and Mary Mares-Awe

José Rodríguez, Jim Nowaczok, Ana Gil-García and Mary Mares-Awe

At this point many thanks to everyone  including José, Ron, Mary, Jeff, Ana, Jenni, Fred, Jim, Jane and others who gave up a  part of their  Saturday March 1st, and this past Saturday, March 7th,  in sorting, and boxing up the books. Also, thanks to and many others who’ve been involved with gathering and delivering the books to our storage facility at the Ethiopian Community Association in Rogers Park. This is a huge effort and anyone’s contribution, no matter how small or large, is paramount to the success of this wonderful project.

The books should be on their way to their destinations in the next few weeks.

Background: The Book Partnership began in 2007 and has involved strategic relationship building between our Chicago Chapter and Fulbright Alumni Associations in different countries. Over the last 7 years, thousands of books for school-aged children have been donated. They’ve then been shipped to Fulbright Alumni in Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Moldova, Ghana and Botswana. The Fulbright Alumni Associations have then distributed the books to local NGOs and schools, and ultimately into the hands of teachers and children.

Photos by Jenni Schneiderman

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Documentary “Mexico: Reporters Against Silence” presented at Northeastern Illinois University

Posted on February 9, 2014 by | Leave a comment
Panelists discuss the dangers journalists face while reporting on the drug cartels in Mexico: Documentarian Alex Ormaza, Columbia College Chicago Associate Professor Teresa Puente, “Sin Censura” radio host Vicente Serrano and Northeastern Illinois University Assistant Professor Brandon Bisbey.

Panelists discuss the dangers journalists face while reporting on the drug cartels in Mexico: Documentarian Alex Ormaza, Columbia College Chicago Associate Professor Teresa Puente, “Sin Censura” radio host Vicente Serrano and Northeastern Illinois University Assistant Professor Brandon Bisbey.

ReportersAgainstSilenceBy Mary Mares-Awe—EARLIER THIS WEEK the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association partnered with Northeastern Illinois University’s Latino Resource Center for the screening of the documentary “Mexico: Reporters Against Silence.” The film is produced by a fellow Fulbrighter, journalist Alex Ormaza.

The documentary portrays the dangers journalists in Mexico face while reporting on the drug cartels and the drug war in that country. Ormaza produced this work while in Mexico in 2012-13 on a Fulbright grant.

NEIU organized two panel discussions to complement the documentary screenings. On Monday, February 3rd the panel discussion focused on press freedoms in Mexico. The second panel discussion took place on Tuesday, February 4th and focused on Economic and Social Relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Both sessions were attended by members of the Chicago Fulbright Association.

Chicago chapter members Fred Siegman, Sandra McQueen (Fulbright Association Atlanta Chapter,) Regina Mamou, Jenni Schneiderman, Alex Ormaza, Ana Gil-García and Mary Mares-Awe

Chicago chapter members Fred Siegman, Sandra McQueen (Fulbright Association Atlanta Chapter,) Regina Mamou, Jenni Schneiderman, Alex Ormaza, Ana Gil-García and Mary Mares-Awe

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Exploring six degrees of separation in Fulbright branding workshop

Posted on November 16, 2013 by | Leave a comment
Fred Siegman leading the "Branding " workshop at Columbia College Chicago

Fred Siegman leading the “Fulbright Branding Effect on Membership Development” workshop at Columbia College Chicago

By Mary Mares-Awe—LEADERSHIP, CONNECTIONS, relationship building, common values…these are some of the concepts discussed at last Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 workshop entitled “The Fulbright Branding Effect on Membership Development” that took place in the journalism department at Columbia College Chicago.

The workshop was possible thanks to a small grant from the National Fulbright Association and led by Fred Siegman, a branding expert and consultant to major corporations and nonprofit organizations. Forty people attended the workshop including eight members of the Fulbright Chicago Chapter board. Organized by Chicago Chapter Director of Membership Ana Gil-García, and President Ron Harvey, the purpose of the four-hour training session was to develop a strategy to promote the Chicago Chapter, expand awareness of its activities among Fulbright alumni, and increase membership.

Participants during breakfast prior to the workshop

Participants during breakfast prior to the workshop

Participants had the chance to get to know one another through a series of communication exercises. Because of the workshop we now know where the term “six degrees of separation” comes from. It’s all about finding commonality with complete strangers and building new relationships.

Among other exercises, Fred Siegman explained how to find connections between people.

Among other exercises, Fred Siegman explained how to find connections between people.

For me personally, it was fun to learn, in just a few seconds, that I had something in common with the person sitting next to me. It turns out we both are life time members of the Fulbright Association. She had a Fulbright to Warsaw, Poland; my best friend in college was born in Warsaw, and the Cultural and Educational Attaché at the American Embassy in Macedonia, the country where I had my Fulbright, taught ESL in Poland before joining the Foreign Service.

Siegman also emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and learning from each other especially from those who’ve been part of Fulbright for many years. He said the workshop provided a great reflection of cross generational communication and shared interests.

Eighty eight year-old Dr. Bruce Douglas , the first president of the Chicago chapter of the Fulbright Association participated in the workshop.

Eighty-eight-year-old Dr. Bruce Douglas, the first president of the Chicago chapter of the Fulbright Association, participated in the workshop.

“We have here age groups spanning 40-50 years” Siegman observed. Just then someone chimed in “65 years… or more.” All heads turned in his direction. To everyone’s surprise and delight, he introduced himself as 88-year-old Dr. Bruce Douglas, the first president of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association.  We’ll hear more from Dr. Douglas in an upcoming post in the form of an interview.

Participants networking in the Orange Area of the Journalism department of Columbia College Chicago during a break.

Participants networking in the Orange Area of the Journalism department of Columbia College Chicago during a break.

Photos by Elio Leturia

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