A group of thirteen graduates of the “PAFF Leaders” program took part in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program in the United States. The theme of the trip was “Generational Challenges and Working with Youth.” A meeting summarizing the visit was held at the Head Office of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.
The ten-day study visit to the USA as part of the “PAFF Leaders” program showed how diverse strategies and practices used in the USA can inspire action in Poland – from civic debates, through mentoring and support for people with disabilities, to combining education with social assistance. Meetings with organizations, universities, and local communities showed how to build a sense of agency, support diversity, and create space for development – even in difficult conditions.
The trip included Washington, D.C., Helena, Montana, and Akron, Ohio. Already the first meetings in the US capital showed how important freedom, federalism, and public debate are in American society. Professor Edward Rhodes introduced the group to the topics of division of powers and localism, inspiring them to organize civic debates in Polish schools and communities.
The “Life Pieces to Masterpieces” program, in which older students become mentors to younger ones, building community and a sense of security, made a strong impression. A visit to Generations United showed how to effectively cooperate with the administration and raise funds for social activities.
In Montana, the leaders met with Rise Native American Leadership, an organization that supports indigenous peoples through education and culture. This experience inspired them to consider adapting similar models in Poland, especially in working with ethnic minorities.
An important part of the program was a visit to Carroll College, where students with disabilities receive extensive support in developing soft and leadership skills. Similar conclusions were drawn from a visit to the University of Missoula, where tutoring and academic support systems are of particular importance.
In Akron, the group visited three organizations. The Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy integrates the local multicultural community, and its founder, an immigrant from Bhutan, has become an example of determination and entrepreneurship. The LeBron James Family Foundation runs the I Promise School and the House Three Thirty community center, combining education with family support and vocational training. Red Oak Behavioral Health, in turn, presented a holistic approach to youth mental health, based on long-term relationships and the presence of specialists in schools.
As Radosław Jasiński, PAFF Program Director, emphasized, this was already the sixteenth trip under the “PAFF Leaders” program, in which over 160 people have participated so far. Thanks to cooperation with the US Department of State, the US Embassy, and the Zbigniew Pełczyński School of Leadership Foundation, graduates have the opportunity not only to exchange experiences, but also to build lasting relationships with American institutions.
