Developing young leaders Supporting new thinking Creating a shared future Annual Report 2013 Contents Letter from the Chairperson 1 Executive Summary 2 Chapter 1 WIP Organization & Governance 3 Chapter 2 WIP Alumni Community 5 Chapter 3 The WIP Class of 2013 9 Chapter 4 Key WIP Activities & Events in 2013 18 Chapter 5 Host Families 21 Kevin J. Sullivan Letter from the Chairperson For 19 years, the Washington Ireland Program (WIP) has supported peace and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Identifying young people with a commitment possibility of peace. You have to remind The WIP Class of 2013 also presented the to service and a track record of leadership, us of hope again and again and again. third annual WIP papers to a group of WIP builds their skills through work Despite resistance, despite setbacks, despite politicians and practitioners for discussion experience, educational opportunity, and hardship, despite tragedy, you have to and debate. They developed three policy hands-on citizenship both in the U.S. and at remind us of the future again and again documents, which examined the under- home in Northern Ireland and Ireland. and again.” I am confident that the WIP representation of minority groups in the Community is contributing greatly to this political sphere; mental health in young The graduation of the WIP Class of 2013 effort of consolidating the peace process. people during the transition to University marked a crucial milestone for WIP with or College; and the creation of a body to our thriving WIP Community surpassing The demand to be part of our WIP monitor and evaluate the positive impact of 500 alum. WIP’s 525 alum represent a rising Community continues to grow. The sport in reconciliation. generation of leaders committed to service, recruitment process to join the WIP Class peace and prosperity in Ireland and Northern of 2013 was the most competitive yet with As we reflect upon WIP’s many achievements Ireland. 525 applications received. We offered a in 2013, it would be remiss not to wide variety of internships in Congressional acknowledge the work and steadfast support To consolidate this achievement WIP offices, federal agencies, newsrooms, of our network of government, university, launched a new series of alum initiatives nonprofits and businesses in Washington nonprofit, and corporate partners. The future at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. The alum D.C. This gave the WIP Class of 2013 of WIP lies not just in our alum but also in initiatives included a series of leadership the opportunity to develop the skills and the hands of our supporters and friends. You dinners in Belfast, Dublin and London, a confidence that they need to address the provide work placements, homes for our mentoring scheme and the launch of a new urgent challenges of a post-conflict Ireland, students and financial support. In all these dedicated website for WIP alum from its economic troubles to the ongoing roles, your help allows WIP’s young emerging (alum.wiprogram.org). sectarian divides. leaders take on leadership and service roles in diverse fields, from public policy and Another highlight for WIP in 2013 was It was a pleasure to present the WIP Class journalism to business and advocacy. the formal thanks received from President of 2013 with their graduation certificates in To each and every one of you we say thank Obama for our support of his visit to Belfast. Derry-Londonderry alongside Martin Reilly, you. We hope you will join us to celebrate Over 50 WIP Alum supported the event by the Mayor of Derry and WIP Alumnus from WIP’s 20th Anniversary next year and stay volunteering at the Waterfront Hall where 1999 at the University of Ulster Magee’s Great with WIP into the future as we continue President Obama delivered his keynote Hall. The graduation ceremony was followed to support Ireland and Northern Ireland’s speech. During the speech President Obama by a reception, then a walk across the new leaders of tomorrow. outlined the following challenge to young ‘Peace Bridge’ to a City of Culture event— people in Northern Ireland: “You must “The Walled City Tattoo”. Kevin J. Sullivan remind us of the existence of peace — the Chairman of the Board Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2013 / 1 Our Purpose For nearly twenty years the Washington- WIP Vision peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland Ireland Program (WIP) has supported peace and Ireland. As part of WIP’s deeply held and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland WIP’s vision is for a peaceful Northern commitment to service, each student also and Ireland. Identifying young people with a Ireland and Ireland with mutually supportive completes a thirty-hour public service commitment to service and a track record of and constructive relationships between and placement in their local community before leadership, WIP builds their skills through within all communities. departing for D.C., and also completes work experience, educational opportunity, regular service projects with WIP partners and hands-on citizenship both in the US and WIP Mission during their time in D.C. at home in Northern Ireland and Ireland. WIP’s mission is to develop, support and The WIP program culminates with a Both Northern Ireland and Ireland face engage generations of leaders who can build Graduation ceremony in August. Upon significant challenges that have an impact and sustain these relationships graduation, students join the WIP Alum upon the sustainability of the peace process Community – an active and vibrant and the economic viability of the island. In WIP believes that we have the capacity to network of young professionals based this post-conflict context it is vital that a new create opportunities for the answers to be primarily in Northern Ireland and Ireland. generation of leaders emerge to take on the found to the pressing issues that are facing Professional development courses, mantle of leadership and public service in the Ireland and Northern Ireland today. The core networking opportunities, leadership years ahead. program is not about ‘teaching leadership’ dinners, fundraising and social events and a but rather about creating the crucible for mentoring scheme are some of the activities WIP believes in the value of creating positive constructive relationships to be formed. It is in which the WIP Alum engage. personal and working relationships among WIP’s goal to create increasing opportunities individuals with diverse views, backgrounds for these relationships to be formed and By September 2013, more than 500 young and political perspectives. These strengthened, both in Washington D.C. adults from Ireland had graduated from relationships should be underpinned by a and in Ireland and Northern Ireland. These WIP, representing different traditions and sense of empathy, and respect for divergent opportunities will be led by our alum, but backgrounds in Northern Ireland and points of view as well as a personal sense of include many people outside our immediate Ireland. Many graduates are now emerging in humility. network who share our values and vision for important careers in politics, law, business, the future. communications, education and community With this in mind, the WIP Board went organizations. As they move into critical through a lengthy process to revise WIP’s University students selected to participate in leadership roles, they retain their connection vision and mission statements to reflect the WIP participate in a unique and challenging with WIP and continue to give back to their goals and values of the organization. The six-month program of personal and local communities through an active alum results are as follows: professional development. Two months of network. Our 525 alum now represent a this is spent in Washington, D.C. As part rising generation of leaders committed to of the experience, students undertake a service, peace and prosperity in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Pictured above: demanding work placement coupled with The graduates of 2013 gather on the steps of the an intensive leadership curriculum that Capitol Building in Washington D.C. helps to train them for roles as leaders of a 2 / Washington Ireland Program / Annual Report 2013 Chapter 1: WIP Organization & Governance 1.1 / WIP Board & Executive WIP’s Board of Directors The Staff of the Washington Management Ireland Program Jim Boland, Chris Bollard, John Buscher, WIP was delighted to welcome a new board Frank Cantrel Jr., Jim Carroll, Prof. Roger Bryan Patten member in 2013: Downer, Breidge Gadd, Heather McCormick, Kristin Leary, B.R. McConnon III, Patrick Dr. Duncan Morrow McDermott, Kevin Moran, Dr. Duncan Morrow, Paul Quinn, Anne Shields, Kevin Dr. Duncan Morrow served for a decade Sullivan, Jim Walsh. as the Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council and WIP Patron’s Committee is widely respected in Northern Ireland when it comes to ethnopolitical conflict, Carol Wheeler, Co-Chair, Susan Davis, Co- peacebuilding, and community relations. Chair, Oakley Brooks, Manus Cooney, Jerry Duncan is a co-author of The Equity, Easom, Jerry Hogan, Joe & Lynne Horning, Diversity and Interdependence Framework Jim Kennedy, Ambassador James C. Kenny, that has been highly influential in shaping Anne Nolan, Peggy O’Beirne, Ron & Patti community relations work in Northern Rosenfeld, Ali and Mark Russell, Mary Anne Ireland. He has recently returned to his Sullivan, Mark Tuohey. Bryan Patten is WIP’s Executive Director, post as a Lecturer in the Department of primarily based out of our Dublin and Criminology, Politics, and Social Policy at Belfast offices. Prior to joining WIP, Bryan the University of Ulster, where he also serves was a founding member of the educational as the University’s Director of Community non-profit Suas, leading their work on Engagement. access to education in India and Kenya for 7 years.