Highlights of the conference included:

• Concurrent and plenary sessions that provided excellent knowledge of U.S. public diplomacy and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, understanding of current U.S. foreign policy and its impact on local communities, and how to strengthen the programming skills of NCIV members, their public sector partners, and other leaders in the field of international exchanges.
• Opening reception at Mount Rushmore with a presentation by the Hon. George McGovern.
• Dinner hospitality in the homes of volunteers in Rapid City.
• Excellent opportunities to network with colleagues.
• Optional trips to Historic Deadwood and the Black Hills.

Photos of the NCIV Midwest Regional Conference

 This was an occasion to celebrate the many successes of the year and to plan for the future. Some highlights of the year were the 2011 Gala, the World Music Celebration, the wine tasting at the Lark and our many cultural events, not to mention successful programming for more than 120 international visitors! IVC Treasurer Colette Sirhal added that this year the budget deficit was decreased due to the successful World Music Celebration along with Gala proceeds- a significant accomplishment at a time when many non-profits are struggling.

 Another achievement was manifest in one of our new guests. A goal of our ongoing Strategic Plan is to make IVC Detroit more visible in the community with our new website. Invited guest Rhiannon Lewis, an international relations and political science major at Wayne State, discovered IVC by typing “international-detroit” into Google!

After the election of Officers & Directors we were pleased to welcome Dan Milan to our Board of Directors. He is a financial Advisor for AXA Advisors, LLC and the Principal and Founder of Estate Planning Strategies and Implementation Law Firm at the Law Office of Daniel J. Milan, PLLC. IVC recognized Faris Alami, Fouad Ashkar, Connie Hogan and Sue & Bill Ahlstrom for their service and promotion of IVC.

Attendees came from a wide variety of communities, and this year we welcomed new IVC Detroit Business Member Miller Canfield with representing attorney Tim Andersson. New IVC Detroit members are Ken & Kristin Enborg introduced to IVC by Connie Hogan.

Written by:  Tessa Huttenlocher, Intern

Gala Sponsors included:  General Motors, Dickinson Wright, Miller Canfield, Plunkett Cooney, DTE Energy, Lorna & Nick Abraham, Sue & Paul Nine, Erick Reickert & Lady Susan Willis Reickert.

IVC Detroit President Dr. Fern Espino welcomed special US Department of State dignitaries from Ghana invoking a Blessing. Co Chairs Colette Sirhal & Barb Browne recognized Chief Justice Robert Young, Justice Mary Beth Kelly, Justice Stephen Markman and former Justice Maura Corrigan (now Director of the Department of Health & Human Services appointed by Governor Rick Snyder) with a plaque that will hang in Lansing in the Michigan Hall of Justice. Bonnie Brennan, Senior VP of Sotheby’s New York served as Auctioneer for the 2^nd year encouraging bidding on a Comerica Suite for a Detroit Tigers Game and several other premier items.

The Gala was a stellar event that included Lebanon’s Acting Consul General Hussam Diab & Oscar winning producer Sue Marx among the attendees. Simone Vitale’s band & singers provided musical entertainment and guests enjoyed a solo by IVC veteran supporter Dr. Yvan Silva. The weather didn’t cooperate so guests enjoyed cocktails & appetizers on the beautiful porch of the Little Club in Grosse Pointe Farms overlooking Lake St. Clair. Dinner tables were decked with navy/yellow & white Spring flowers that were enhanced with international flags.

IVC Detroit is excited to welcome 12 delegates from Ghana at our Gala this Friday, June 10^th.  The participants are invited to the United States under the auspices of the Department of State participating in an International Visitor Leadership Program focused on “Local Government Administration & Public-Private Partnership in the U.S.”, for a 4-day visit to Detroit.

The Gala honoring Michigan Supreme Court Justices (Past & Present) at a private club in Grosse Pointe overlooking Lake St. Clair, will feature cocktails on the Verandah, Dinner & Dancing to Simone Vitale’s Band, a brief honoring ceremony and a fabulous auction by auctioneer Bonnie Brennan of Sotheby’s New York.

Premium Auction items include:  Katy Perry Concert Tickets, Tony Bennett Concert Tickets, a Suite at Comerica Park, a Persian Rug, and a “Fabulous Evening Package” including Summer Cruise Tickets on the Ovation Yacht, a Lark Restaurant Gift Certificate and a Townsend Hotel Stay, plus various other items!

Plans are well underway for the Tribute honoring Michigan Supreme Court Justices at a private club in Grosse Pointe overlooking Lake St. Clair. Several Justices (present & past) will be attending the Gala. Cocktails on the Verandah, Dinner & Dancing to Simone Vitale’s Band and a brief honoring ceremony will be part of the festivities.

Planning Chairs: Colette Sirhal & Barb Browne assisted by Sue & Paul Nine, Lorna & Nick Abraham, Connie Hogan, Dennis Archer, Justice Maura Corrigan, Ellena Gatzaros, Anne & Brian Green have secured Gala Sponsorships and Auction items.

Bonnie Brennan of Sotheby’s New York has again volunteered her auctioneering skills.

Co-Chairs Ellena Gatzaros, Steven Rybicki, and Bernadette Lussier

IVC Detroit’s World Music Celebration on April 7th at Fishbone’s in Greektown featuring Detroit musical artist & composer Sean Blackman was a unique event attended by a diverse audience of young professionals and veteran IVC Detroit supporters. They enjoyed an eclectic mix of music from around the world specifically Armenia, Brazil, West Africa and Detroit Jazz and Rock& Roll. Host Committee member Bernadette Lussier comments “The World Music Celebration was a wonderful success. Thanks to Chairs Steven Rybicki & Ellena Gatzaros and their Committees for all of their hard work. It really paid off. We had such a wonderful turnout of new friends and faces that will sure to be interested in joining IVC and/or attending our events.” IVC Detroit event supporters enjoyed the Concert, cocktails and hearty Fishbone appetizers in a bistro setting affording opportunities for networking and even dancing to the sounds of Senegal. Guests followed the lead of longtime supporter Sophia Holley Ellis along with Sandra Richardson-Smith (in her African headdress) as they encouraged young professional Marie Alexander to get up and dance during the evening’s festivities. The success of the event was also due to the generous sponsorships: Greektown Casino-Hotel, Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Mango Language Services, Charter One Bank, Compuware, Erick Reickert & Lady Susan Willis-Reickert, La Fontaine Import Center, DTE Energy, Infinity & Ovation Yacht Charters, Fishbone’s and Styleline Magazine.

The program’s successful implementation depends on Project Director Judy Kebl and Interpreter Irina Jesionowski who make themselves available 24-7 meeting all needs of the participants. Irina states: “Our participants praised the design and the organization of the program on Inclusive Education that Julie Oldani, Imke Baumann & Liz Bauer arranged. Participants appreciated the fact that they were provided with an academic overview first (WSU), and next, with the perspective at the state (Lansing), county (Oakland Intermediate Schools), and local school district levels (Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills)They found the program to be remarkably comprehensive and diverse, allowing them to study various aspects of inclusive education: legal background and government policies, parent involvement, innovative technology and methodology, best practices of working with children of various ages and socio-economic backgrounds who have a range of disabilities and special needs.”

Participant Nazira Yusupova commented, “This program provided me with the answers to a multitude of questions that have tormented me for many years of my professional practice.  I have received the validation of many of my own ideas, and I also learned about a plethora of innovative methods and educational concepts I was not aware of before.” All of the participants expressed gratitude for a comprehensive program. Hayrulla Mashrabov, Program Manager in Uzbekistan sends a message “Please extend my appreciations to IVC Detroit for their great work.”

ROYAL OAK - When teacher Julie Barrett asked her students to count by 10s, they took turns speaking into a microphone or typed into a small communication device that turns touch-screen choices into words.

After 100, the children kept counting, but by ones to 120. All the while, a group of educators from Uzbekistan took photos and videos. The math lesson for the students who have physical and other health impairments (POHI) also was a lesson in inclusive education for the policy makers and administrators from central Asia.

“Someone with the State Board of Education who knows about the Royal Oak program felt they would be interested in this,” said Judy Kebl, project director for the International Visitors Council of Detroit, which arranged Thursday’s tour at Keller and Addams Elementary School.

The delegation from the independent Turkish state, which was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, wants to learn how government supports inclusive education and how children with physical and cognitive disabilities are mainstreamed into schools.

In Barrett’s high-tech class they met 11 students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are dealing with cerebral palsy, seizure disorders and other challenges. The students who are non-verbal use devices called Dynavoxes to answer questions. Three paraprofessionals help the students who use wheelchairs. The POHI students take all their classes together except for music, when they join their prospective grade levels.

The 10 visitors and their interpreter also went to a more traditional first-grade class with 18 students. One of the 6-year-olds is a bright boy with muscular dystrophy. He has no trouble keeping up with lessons and a paraprofessional offers one-on-one assistance with other tasks, such as writing and getting materials.

After Keller, the group moved on to Addams, where about 30 toddlers and 45 preschoolers are enrolled in the Early Childhood Special Education program.

To read the full article published in the Daily Tribune (Friday, March 18) — Please visit the link below: http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/03/18/life/doc4d829cf75c94f736720196.txt?viewmode=fullstory

A delegation of educators from Uzbekistan visited Keller Elementary School in Royal Oak to learn how the school system meets the needs of children with physical and cognitive disabilities at its general education schools. Catherine Kavanaugh/Daily Tribune