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Northland College hosts Russian Environment Delegates

October 5, 2009

Open World leaders from Russia arrive in Wisconsin Saturday, October 10th for a week long program to promote mutual understanding between American and Russian civic leaders.  Northland College will host the Open World delegation and has planned a program to promote mutual understanding and share ideas about sustainability and environment in the United States and Russia.  Participants include a manager in a private manufacturing plant; municipal staff; and NGO representatives committed to environment conservation, protection, education and advocacy.

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.   

Northland College volunteers have scheduled professional sessions with many regional resources for the delegation from Russia.   Delegates will meet with Northland College faculty, Ashland city officials, representatives of Xcel Energy, Ashland Business Development Corp; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission; and Bad River Watershed to explore sustainable environment management and community development.  Delegates will also visit Morse, WI and discuss with Northland College students, indicators for sustainable forestry management.

Homestays allow the Open World delegates to experience family life in America.  Ashland area volunteers will welcome the delegation into their homes and share life in America and Wisconsin.  Homestays are a memorable experience; connect the Russian visitors with new friends in the United States; and contribute to mutual understanding.

The Open World Program is a non-partisan initiative of Congress designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and Russia.  Since 1999 more than 15,000 Open World participants from Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union countries have been hosted in all 50 states.

For more information about the Open World delegation’s visit to Wisconsin, contact Mark Leach, Northland College, at (715) 682-1223.  For more information about Open World, please visit www.openworld.gov.