The Partnership for Children has sponsored a number of professional exchanges since its formation in 1998. The early trips to Russia by American child welfare professionals and to the US by their Russian counterparts focused on how to set up a foster family care system. As foster families were recruited, trained and a foster care system took hold, our Russian colleagues began asking for dialogue about more advanced ideas in social work practice with families and children in crisis. In 2004 two professors of Social Work from the Greater Rochester Collaborative MSW program, a unique graduate program jointly sponsored by Nazareth College and SUNY Brockport, traveled to Novgorod to conduct a seminar on the most current ideas on working with families. The multi-day seminar was attended by about 30 psychologists and school personnel who work with families. Since that time several Russian child welfare staff have come to Rochester but an American presence in Novgorod has been lacking. In June the same two professors, Debra Fromm-Faria and Jed Metzger (a member of the Linkages Board and chair of the Partnership for Children) will return to Novgorod, again to meet with professionals. This time they will train on a nationally researched approach to working with families that emphasize making use of internal family resources and strengths as the engine for family healing. This approach may be especially useful in Russia where public resources to support families in their struggles are extremely limited.

 
[More recent information about our trip is at http://linkagesrochester.org/tour2009.]
This year, the city of Velikiy Novgorod will celebrate its 1150th year.  Many events will mark the occasion, and the city is polishing and painting to prepare.  One major event is the "Hansa Days" on June 18 - 21, noting the impact of the Hanseatic League.  Another is the actual anniversary celebration on September 19-21.  The official calendar is here.
Linkages is preparing to send a delegation to the event.  The timetable and cost are not yet set.  It will be 10 days to 2 weeks in the latter part of September. For more information (when it becomes available!)  contact Shae Hanford.

In 2009, Novgorod celebrates 1150 years since it was first mentioned in 859 in the most ancient national annals — the Russian Primary Chronicle. From the very outset till the present days, Novgorod has been embedded as “the father of Russian cities” in the national memory.

 
The Linkages Education Committee has selected two junior high school language teachers to lead the annual seminar for English teachers in Velikiy Novgorod this summer.

Featuring student and faculty performers from ECMS

Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:30 pm, in Kilbourn Hall

Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604

Free and open to the public

Presented by Eastman Community Music School and Linkages, Inc.

Linkages had a table at the very successful Russian Family Day at the Memorial Art Gallery on Sunday, November 16, from noon to 5. There was traditional music - folk music and some chanting monks, folk dancing, including some striking costumes, crafts and puppets for the kids. It was a wonderful event.  The Gallery is featuring an exhibit of Russian religious icon art, which will run until January 4.

Baskets from Velikiy Novgorod at High Falls Gallery

Galina Matveeva and Asya Ryazantseva are visiting from Velikiy Novgorod.  While they are here, they will participate in the Women and Leadership Conference in Seneca Falls Oct 11 &12.  Recently, they met the president of Brockport College.

There are fourteen members who serve on the Linkages Board of Directors, each for a three-year term. They attend a monthly Board Meeting and also meet with their committee(s). Included are present and former educators, business people, a lawyer, a nurse, an historian-librarian and a social worker. Most have visited Russia at least once but each one has her/his own story of willingness to be involved with Russia from afar and up close.