Open World Leadership Center, a legislative branch agency, will send a delegation of Crimean Tatars from Ukraine to Pittsburgh from April 13 - 21 2018. While in Pittsburgh, Open World delegates will be hosted by GlobalPittsburgh.
The 5 delegates comprising the delegation includes Mr. Khalil Khalilov, Head of the Crimeam Tatar Cultural Center “Crimean House in L’viv; Ms. Maryna Liakh, Head of “Smile of a Child” Charitable Foundation; Ms. Mariia Huliaieva , Coordinator of the Severodonetsk Office , Charitable Organization “Vostok-SOS;” Ms. Anastasiia Martynovska, Lawyer at Strategic Litigation Center, Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; and Ms. Elnara Abdullaieva, Postgraduate student at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The group is accompanied by Mr. Viacheslav Zub, a bicultural facilitator, and Ms. Olga Shostachuk, a bilingual translator.
Prior to their arrival in Pittsburgh, the delegates will have completed an orientation in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill. A meeting has been requested for the group with the office of Representative Mike Doyle, Pennsylvania District 14. In Pittsburgh, delegates will collaborate on best practices for programs and services for immigrants and refugees. They will meet with representatives of the Offices of Mayor Bill Peduto and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Additionally, they will have appointments with key organizations working in the region with immigrants and refugees including: Jewish Family and Community Services; Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center; the Community Assistance and Refugee Resettlement, Northern Area Multi-Service Center; and the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, among others. The group will participate in a roundtable discussion facilitated by the University Center for International Studies, Center for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. The delegation will stay in the homes of local residents, serving as hospitality hosts.