Summer 2012

Foundation for Educational Exchange Between and the United States of America

A message from The 10th Anniversary of the CEO Michael Hawes Killam Fellowships Program Fulbright Canada is proud to boast an active and engaged alumni who are leaders in their In 2002, Fulbright Canada partnered with at Vanderbilt fields, champions of social action, the American Killam Trust to create an University, Barsky and proponents of diversity. They undergraduate exchange program that teaches literature remain committed to the core supported some of the best and brightest and works in Fulbright mission; promoting young minds in Canada and the United immigration mutual understanding at home States. This year, on the 10th anniversary, 250 studies, linguistics, and abroad. students will have participated in the Killam and radicalism Fellowships Program! in American In this newsletter we invite all of Jewish life. While you to read about the community To celebrate, Fulbright Canada is inviting many best known for and volunteer initiatives that of its key stakeholders (alumni, government his work as the our alumni have undertaken. We partners, and universities) to our 10th biographer of are proud of this opportunity to anniversary celebration. We are hosting famed linguist relay their stories of engagement, Guest lecturer the 10th Annual Elizabeth Killam Rodgers & and activist Noam collaboration and understanding. Dr. Robert Barsky Constance Killam Distinguished Public Lecture, Chomsky, Barsky is We also invite you to read about and a gala dinner at the Chateau Laurier in an important public intellectual in his own our various community leadership th Ottawa on September 13 . Invitations for the right. He is author of “The Chomsky Effect: programs, and our Killam and gala dinner are currently being sent, we hope A Radical Works Beyond the Ivory Tower”, Fulbright community campaigns, that you will be able to attend! and Chomsky’s biography “: “The Killam Day of Action” and A Life of Dissent.” He is also founder and the “2012 Hours against Hate.” We would invite all friends of Fulbright and editor of AmeriQuests, a peer-reviewed members of the community to join us for the e-journal devoted to writing and research I would also ask you to mark public lecture which will take place in the about real and metaphorical quests toward your calendar for the Killam Salon room at the National Arts Centre at “America.” Fellowships Program 10th 5:00pm on September 13th. This lecture will anniversary gala here in Ottawa feature Dr. Robert Barsky, who will discuss the We hope that you will join us for the 10th on September 13th. role and relevance of public intellectuals. Anniversary Distinguished Killam public lecture to celebrate the success of the Finally I would also like to A distinguished member of the humanities Killam program. welcome Michael O’Shea to the division of the College of Arts and Science Foundation as our new Education USA officer. Page 2

The Right to Learn: A Killam Day of Action “Education is a right. It should not only appreciation of different cultures, be provided for an elite few, nor should and even taught a lesson about the it be administered poorly,” says Josh importance of maintaining friendly Halpren, a Killam student who recently relations between Canada and the USA. dedicated a day to the Killam Day of At the year-end Ambassador Project Action. Expo, each student presented their country to parents and students with This summer, Josh was hired as a fifth confidence and pride. grade social studies intern at the KIPP Ujima Village Academy, a charter middle Ninety-seven percent of students at school in his hometown of Baltimore KIPP Ujima identify as being African- that enacted an educational model American, and many qualify for Free Killam Fellow Josh Halpren (2012-13) with called KIPP, the Knowledge is Power and Reduced Meals, a clear indicator KIPP students Program. Josh was responsible for of poverty. Teaching students from of dedicated teachers in empowering helping students with their Ambassador low socioeconomic backgrounds with students and increasing self-esteem.” Projects - each student researched a a diversity of skill levels was “very KIPP Ujima holds true to it’s mantra country to understand its geography, different from the neighboring schools Excellence without Exception, and Josh culture, history and government. Josh I attended in Baltimore” says Halpren. happily recalls that “the support they helped students build research skills, “This experience was and eye-opener, extended is something for which I will write papers, and give presentations not only for the drastic need for quality always be grateful.” on a topic that would create an public education, but the crucial role Fulbrighters fight for Human Rights while under the supervision of attorneys. Uganda for a three day comparative Duhaime, who created the first legal workshop on Human Rights Clinical clinic in Quebec, argues that they “are Legal Education where they discussed instrumental in preparing students the progress and methodology of the for human rights lawsuits.” Students clinic with the Ugandan students in assess the credibility of evidence, learn order to determine areas of success, techniques to interview victims and and avenues for improvement. “It was present evidence, and build arguments interesting,” Duhaime recalls, “how against human rights violations. African students are not used to being Fulbright Scholar Dr. Bernard Duhaime (2011-12) upfront with their professors. They were at the workshop on legal education at Makerere University, Uganda In 2010 Duhaime was contacted by very appreciative to have their opinions Fulbright scholar, Ismene Zarifis, who was matter, and to improve the project.” The educational model is difficult to on her exchange at Makerere University Duhaime was pleased to note that his alter. Author A. J. Rotherham argues in Uganda. Zarifis created a public friend and colleague’s legal clinic has that “education history is littered interest law clinic with similar objectives been permanently inserted into the with big promises […] and surprisingly to Duhaime’s, only she took domestic curriculum at Makerere University, and little change.” Despite this challenge, law actions to local tribunals. One that Ismene renewed her Fulbright grant Fulbright scholars and human right focus was the aggressive anti-gay laws for another year. lawyers, Dr. Bernard Duhaime and which essentially outlaw homosexuality. Dr. Ismene Zarifis, have managed to Lawmakers are currently debating a bill A huge amount of work goes into implement legal human rights clinics that imposes lengthy sentences on people creating, operating and supervising into their curriculum. for being gay, a year earlier they had these clinics, yet attorneys, human proposed a bill that called for the death rights lawyers and professors still Legal clinics originated from Germany penalty. choose to volunteer much of their time. in the 19th century, and have since When asked why, Duhaime’s sense of grown exponentially. The clinic is After the clinic had been running for a community shone through, “it’s fun, we integrated into the curriculum to expose year, Zarifis invited Duhaime to Uganda. are a group of friends and intellectuals students to real-world experiences In April, Duhaime joined Zarifis in that want to motivate the next generation of lawyers.” Page 3

Volunteer Edition Food for Thought program. The project was designed to of pride and ownership in the school educate and nourish students at Rogers community.” Middle School - where 81% of students receive free or reduced meals. Through a sustainable garden project that reflects urban students’ basic Increasing evidence has revealed that need for better food, and a greener underachievement and high dropout and more liveable environment, Li’s rates among urban students from team was able to engage students lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods and teachers in a more personalized are correlated with ineffective literacy context. Li argues that the community instruction, and a lack of awareness project strengthened the mutual Fulbright Scholar Dr. Jia Li (2011-12) with Rogers among youth that eating nutritious foods understanding of the complexity of the Middle School students, planting an apple tree can enhance their concentration. challenges that diverse urban students Fulbright scholar Jia Li went on her Students, teachers and school encounter in both Canada and US, Fulbright exchange to the Harvard administrator were enthusiastically about thus enabling them to explore a joint Graduate School of Education, where the project, actively working with Li’s tactic that will reverse the trend of she focused on narrowing the literacy team in planting fruit trees, perennial academic underachievement among gap at economically disadvantaged herbs, and flower bushes. “Students such students. “Ultimately this project urban schools. Concerned about and teachers were excited to see the has provided my team with a great building rapport with students and transformation.” reports Li. “Afterwards, opportunity to interact with students teachers, Jia chose to engage Boston they were so motivated that they cleaned and teachers not just as education Public Schools in a community garden the flowerbeds against the school researchers, but even more importantly project that was sponsored by the building, which had long been ignored. as individuals who care deeply about Fulbright Canada-RBC Eco-Leadership This is one of the most valuable things the holistic wellbeing of their local that the project nurtured – a strong sense communities” says Li.

Creeks and Canadians Russell M. Lawson was a Fulbright of American Indian medicinal wildflowers work. He has Visiting Research Chair in Transnational from the Northern, Eastern, Southern just finished Studies during the fall 2010, at Brock and Western tribes. This garden will be editing the University. He researched Anglican used as an educational tool, and hopes Greenwood Missionaries to Canada’s First Nations to revive interest in aboriginal healing Encyclopedia Communities in the late 18th century. practices. of American “Since my Fulbright experience”, Lawson Indian Issues explains, “I have been inspired to find a Lawson was surprised at his acceptance Today, which variety of ways to bring my knowledge into the Bacone Indian community, will be and experience of the interaction “Although I am a white professor, published in between whites and American Indians to the Bacone Indian community has 2013. He will a variety of people and venues.” embraced my Fulbright experience to soon publish allow me to lecture, teach, and speak his book Fulbright Scholar Dr. Russell One venue Lawson used was through the at seminars and colloquiums that focus entitled Lawson (2010-11) Fulbright Canada-RBC Eco-Leadership on American Indians; and, to bring my Frontier Naturalist: Jean Louis Berlandier Program. This past winter, Lawson understanding of the historical and and the Exploration of Northern Mexico constructed a traditional medicinal contemporary relations experienced by and Texas, about a 19th century French garden on the Bacone College campus in white and Indian Americans to a broader scientist who grew to understand Muskogee, Oklahoma. Bacone College audience.” In doing so, Lawson hopes to the American Indians of the Mexican was founded by the Creeks in 1880, and increase knowledge and understanding frontier. “My Fulbright experience continues to serve American Indians. The between the two cultures. continues to inspire and motivate me!” Medicine Wheel garden hosts a variety Russell’s passion is also reflected in his Page 4

Building a Culture of Peace Through Food

Canada, Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food said that “Canada has long been seen as a land of plenty. Yet today one in ten families with a child under six is unable to meet their daily food needs. The Canadian system presents barriers for the poor to access nutritious diets and tolerates increased inequalities between rich and poor, Food is a basic need that many people are hosting an online course through and Aboriginal non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the United States cannot the National Peace Academy (NPA) that . [...]These rates of food insecurity are afford. Protests have sprung up across aims to share the vision of creating a unacceptable.” Nunavut to call attention to the shocking culture of peace through food. Hannah Hannah’s online course aims to address price of food in Canada’s North. In the notes that “the food system is the food insecurity, a poverty-related human United States, 14.5% of households human system that is most deeply rights challenge, by examining the were food insecure in 2011. connected to and dependent on the relationship between food and peace natural environment. Promoting a at different levels, from the personal to Hannah Renglich was a Killam Fellow culture of peace requires that we the global, using various frameworks who pursued a Master’s degree in develop a good relationship with the including culture of peace, food natural resources and peace studies at environment through our production sovereignty, and food security. This course the U.N.-mandated University for Peace, and consumption of food”. aims to help people from all walks of and is now devoting her time to the fight life establish safe, healthy and sustainable for food security. In the face of today’s struggles – the communities. ongoing impacts of war, faltering This summer, from August 20th to housing and financial markets, and an To register for the course and for September 17th, Hannah and her ever expanding income gap – the right scholarship information, please visit the colleague Stephanie Knox Cubbon to basic needs is essential. On his trip to NPA’s Registration Page.

Compassion for Canada

University, Aporta explains that “trails share my research on Arctic issues and were much more than just a means of in particular my insights on the Inuit getting from point A to point B, they culture.” represented a complex social network across the North that helped create part What Aporta found particularly of the Inuit people’s cultural identity.” rewarding were the conversations As part of his 2011-12 Fulbright Visiting with students and colleagues. He was Research Chair in Canadian Studies surprised and excited to see American at the University of Washington, in students and scholars share his love of Seattle, Aporta undertook a lecture Canadian Inuit culture, “A highlight of tour, visiting universities and colleges the trip was my visit to a small Arctic Dr. Claudio Aporta (2011-12) at the Arctic in Oregon. The tour, organized by the museum at Western Oregon University, Museum at Oregon University host institution, and funded by a small which hosted an impressive collection Claudio Aporta is a Fulbright scholar grant of the Government of Canada, of Alaskan and Canadian artifacts. It whose research focussed on Inuit land included Western Oregon University, was wonderful to have the chance to and sea trails. Aporta has amassed Willamette University, and Portland State meet such diverse groups of people, evidence that a vast network of trails University. “It was an honor to represent passionate about what they do, and linked Inuit communities across the Canada, Fulbright, and Carleton with a remarkable love for Canada and Arctic. In an interview with Carleton University” Aporta explains, “and to Canadian issues.” Page 5

Genocide Prevention Volunteer Edition

Genocide is not a sudden catastrophy; The Baha’i in Iran are a minority group rather it is the result of a deliberate that has been systematically excluded process. Killam Fellow Rebecca Dixon has from education. Their holy sites are often recently linked to The Sentinel Project restricted and vandalized, and the Iranian for Genocide Prevention, a Canadian regime often incite targeted hatred by non-profit that develops warning accusing them of working with Israelis or systems to prevent genocide. This year, Americans. Rebecca has helped the Sentinel Project open its first two chapters at Mount To prevent genocide, the Project aims to Allison University. use technology to identify and counter websites that incite hatred, to use mobile The Sentinel Project is currently phone networks to document abuses and Killam Fellow Rebecca Dixon (2010-11) monitoring situations of concern for warn threatened communities, and to Nations Assistant Secretary General and ethnic groups in Kenya, and for the employ GPS technology to guide targeted a former UN Humanitarian Coordinator Baha’i community in Iran. Kenya has people to safety. for Iraq.” The main challenge “was that longstanding ethnic divisions, formerly our chapter found it difficult to attract held in check by the authoritarian Rebecca’s chapter participated by people’s attention because genocide is regime. As multiparty democracy holding fundraisers to support the an overwhelming and depressing topic. developed, those with ethnic ties to the organization’s research, learning about We chose to emphasise the fact that ruling party were favoured. With high early warning systems and genocide something can indeed be done to prevent income inequality, the stakes are high for studies, and raising awareness about it, and that the Sentinel Project provides the Kenyan election and Rebecca states the Iranian situation of concern. “The a hopeful and strategic way to address that there “is concerned over reports of highlight of our year,” Rebecca relays, this kind of mass atrocity.” an arms race amongst tribal militias in “was a film screening and discussion preparation for the December elections.” with Hans von Sponeck, a former United For more information, visit the website at: http://thesentinelproject.org/

ANNOUNCEMENT: New Education USA Officer

Michael O’Shea is a Program Officer with to U.S. schools, and serves as a contact for EducationUSA, helping Canadian students American institutions seeking to recruit who wish to study abroad at U.S. education students in Canada. institutions. He shares his time between He is proud native of Chicago and a Foundation for Educational Exchange graduate of Pomona College, where he between Canada and the United States received his B.A. in Public Policy Analysis. As of America and the American Embassy in a Fulbright Scholar at McGill University last Ottawa. year, he evaluated the quality of public park space in urban communities. He is currently His responsibilities include disseminating helping develop a new public green space in information about study opportunities in through the Fulbright Canada-RBC the U.S. through social media tools and Eco-Leadership Program. presentations at school and education fairs. He advises students about applying

Education USA Officer Michael O’Shea Page 6

GET INVOLVED WITH: The Killam Day of Action

to pledge a day of community Kaitlyn Innes your shirt size and the service. The “Killam Day of Action” best mailing address to send it to, and represents an excellent opportunity you will receive a free Killam Shirt! to demonstrate the important role We strongly encourage everyone to that Killam Fellows play in bringing document their day of action through communities together. Several students videos, photos, and a narrative of some have already dedicated a day to this sort. We will then showcase a number fantastic initiative. For example, one of the photos and videos that you share student is organizing a catch and release with us at the 10th Anniversary gala fishing derby that educates youth on dinner, which will be held in Ottawa British Columbia marine life. Another on September 13th. Please send the will dedicate a day to the Killam Day documented volunteer work to kinnes@ of Action while in Ghana volunteering fulbright.ca by mid-August . As you may know, this year marks the with Global Medical Brigades. Other 10th anniversary of the Killam Fellowships possibilities include volunteering at a Program. In an effort to commemorate soup kitchen, a shelter, or at a hospital. this, we are asking our Killam alumni To partake in this event please email

2012 Hours Against Hate

The 2012 Hours who does not look like you, live like in the lead up to the London Olympics, Against Hate is a you, or pray like you. We would like to activities are best suited to take place campaign to stop encourage you to participate by taking in July and August. We would strongly bigotry and promote the time to create projects in your encourage all alumni who participate to pluralism and respect communities, help out a neighbor, take pictures and send us an article on across lines of culture, volunteer at a local school, or learn from your experience and thoughts on ending religion, tradition, someone with whom you otherwise hatred. class, and gender. People around the would not or have not had the chance world are pledging their time to stop to interact. As the initiative takes place hate—to do something for someone Fulbright Canada’s Community Programs for Alumni

Fulbright Canada recognises the world a better place. The Fulbright groups of three and tackle a community importance of community action. Canada-RBC Eco-Leadership Program or ecological-based project., while The We have, over the past few years, provides grants to Fulbright alumni Killam Local Ambassadors Program is developed a variety of programs for to engage in environmental action in a mentorship program that connect our Fulbright and Killam alumni. These their community. The Fulbright Canada current Killam fellows with Killam programs are designed to help alumni Mentorship Program is designed alumni. create a community or ecological to create a community of Fulbright project. The Community Leadership scholars, to connect new Fulbright All of these programs are currently Program, which is co-sponsored by the students with established Fulbright accepting applications, please visit the U.S. Embassy in Canada and Fulbright alumni. website for more information. Canada, provides an opportunity to take action, get involved, and The Killam Community Action Initiative help make your community and the allows Killam alumni to team up in Page 7

The mandate of Fulbright Canada is to en- hance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the people of the United States of America by providing support to outstanding individuals. These individuals conduct research, lecture, or enroll in formal Address: 2015-350 rue Albert Street academic programs in the other country. In Ottawa, ON K1R 1A4 doing so, Fulbright Canada aims to grow intel- Tel: (613) 688-5517 lectual capacity, increase productivity, and www.fulbright.ca assist in the shaping of future leaders.

For more information, subscribe to Educational exchange allows for the development of our future leaders, our blog or LIKE us on Facebook! it encourages a more nuanced appreciation of each other, and it con- tributes to a more thoughtful and more reasoned public policy debate in both countries.

VOLUNTEER AT ORIENTATION 2012! Fulbright Canada is looking for keen alumni located in or near Ottawa to volunteer at this year’s Fall Orientation. We are also looking for a talented pianist interested in performing at the 10th anniversary dinner Gala. If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact Kaitlyn Innes. [email protected] SEND US YOUR STORY! If you are interested in having your story featured in the Fall newsletter, or on the blog, please send it to your alumni relations officer Kaitlyn Innes at [email protected].