Leaders from Moldova examine rural women’s entrepreneurship in northwest Ohio
The Congressional Office for International Leadership (formerly known as the Open World Leadership Center), an agency of the U.S. Congress, will send a delegation of women entrepreneurs and community leaders from Moldova to Toledo from March 10 to 18. The delegation consists of five professionals and will be accompanied by a bicultural/lingual facilitator and an interpreter. Great Lakes Community Action Partnership/Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development (GLCAP/GLC) will host the delegation during their stay in Toledo.
Delegates will complete an orientation in Washington, D.C., before traveling to Toledo to meet with U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and local leaders to collaborate on best practices for women’s entrepreneurship, mentoring, networking, and training. The delegates will also visit Women of Toledo, ASSETS Toledo, and Common Space of Lake Erie West while in Toledo, and NW Ohio Cooperative Kitchen and BIG FabLab in Wood County.
Area women-owned small businesses will open their doors to the delegation as they visit Bailiwicks Coffee Company in Tiffin; Jera’s Heavenly Sweets, Calusto Terra, and other businesses in Toledo; For Keeps and LK Soaps and others in Bowling Green; Pottery Perfection in Fremont; and The Imagination Press in Maumee. The group will also attend the Downtown Rotary Club and HerHub luncheon and contribute to the International Club event at the HIP Intermediate School in Perrysburg.
“We, as an organization that supports economic and workforce development in our community, are looking forward to collaborating with GLCAP/GLC delegation again this year,” said Nina Corder, managing director of Inclusive for Women Inc (DBA Women of Toledo). “We believe this program can help share and exchange best practices on how to elevate the quality of lives of rural communities, youth, and minorities for self-sustaining economic empowerment in all aspects. In addition, we look forward to building a connection in understanding cross-cultural leadership and the exchange of knowledge.”
The delegation will stay with volunteer hospitality hosts in Toledo. This program is presented in collaboration with the World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio.
More than 30,000 current and future leaders from partner countries have participated in the Open World program. The Open World program offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders. It is a unique but no less powerful tool for Congress to engage legislatures in critical regions of the world.
The Great Lakes Consortium for International Training & Development is a collaborative effort of Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, The University of Toledo and GLCAP. Since 1999, GLC welcomed more than 1,500 professionals from 20 countries from around the world in NW Ohio. for more information on the program or GLC, visit www.glcap.org/international
COIL, a Support Agency of the Congress
Founded in 1999 by Congress, the Congressional Office for International Leadership maintains a vast network of more than 30,000 alumni in partner countries. It’s Open World program supports legislative diplomacy efforts for Members of Congress by conducting exchanges that establish authentic communication and enduring relations that are maintained through its extensive alumni network. Program participants are provided with exposure to the work of Congress, American politics, accountable governance, and volunteerism while being home hosted by American families. To learn more about the Open World program, please visit www.openworld.gov/