World Affairs Council Of Oregon Inc

THE MISSION OF WORLDOREGON IS TO ENGAGE OREGONIANS WITH THE WORLD AND BROADEN PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAMS-THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATES PROFESSIONAL VISITS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO OREGON FOR APPROXIMATELY 250-500 CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EACH YEAR. THESE VISITORS ARE TOP BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, CULTURAL, AND YOUTH LEADERS, AND PROMISING EMERGING LEADERS. THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN OREGON FOR MEETINGS, OR COME FOR WEEK TO MONTH-LONG PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS. THE VISITORS COME THROUGH HIGH-PROFILE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATES INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (IVLP), THE USAID-SPONSORED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM, AND THE OPEN WORLD PROGRAM-THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE THROUGH THE U.S. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. WHILE IVLP PARTICIPANTS STAY IN HOTELS, THE REMAINING GROUPS OFTEN STAY WITH LOCAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES. THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM ENABLES CROSS-CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS AND FACILITATES PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE BETWEEN OREGONIANS AND THE WORLD. AN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES INPUT TO THIS WORK.

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GLOBAL CLASSROOM-THE GLOBAL CLASSROOM INCLUDES THE GLOBAL & MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER, INCLUDING CULTURE BOXES, YOUNG LEADERS IN ACTION, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS LED BY THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. THE GLOBAL CLASSROOM ENABLES K-12 EDUCATORS TO TEACH ABOUT THE WORLD BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTING THEM WITH MATERIALS, PEOPLE, AND CREATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES, SUCH AS A LIBRARY OF OVER 100 CULTURE BOXES, SUPPLEMENTARY ONLINE MATERIALS, LESSON PLANS, AND CLASSROOM CURRICULUM. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, SPEAKERS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS ON INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. AN EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS PROVIDE TEACHER INPUT TO THIS WORK. THE YOUNG LEADERS IN ACTION PROGRAM INCLUDES 15-20 STUDENTS ANNUALLY FROM PORTLAND METRO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP TRAINING, EXECUTE ACTION PLANS AND SERVE AS AMBASSADORS TO THEIR SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 25-50 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS ANNUALLY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THROUGH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. THESE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ENGAGE WITH AREA YOUTH LEADERS AND STAY WITH LOCAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES IN OFTEN THEIR FIRST EXPOSURE TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND U.S. CULTURE.