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Welcoming delegations from Ukraine

Commission hosts Ukraine Parliament members as part of its eighth Open World delegation 

people standing in front of government center
The delegates and Ukraine Citizen Diplomacy Commissioners attended a welcome ceremony and flag raising co-hosted by Supervisor Otto Lee at the County Government Center on Sept. 24, 2024. This special event celebrated citizen diplomacy and international relationships with five members of the Ukraine Parliament.

 

The County of Santa Clara/Ukraine Citizen Diplomacy Commission was awarded its 8th grant from the U.S. Congressional Office of International Leadership's Open World Program to host a five-member Ukrainian delegation. The commission welcomed members of Ukraine Parliament as part of the “Accountable Governance” themed delegation in September 2024. 

Program highlights:

  • The delegation’s visit shone a positive spotlight on the critical role that citizen diplomacy can play in increasing understanding and cooperation amongst nations.
  • The delegation met with scholars and practitioners at Santa Clara University and Stanford University who are conducting leading edge research in the areas of rule of law, democracy, combating disinformation, overcoming political polarization and campaign funding. 
  • The delegation participated in a Ukraine Flag Raising and ceremony co-hosted by Supervisor Otto Lee. This special event celebrated citizen diplomacy and international relationships with members of the Ukraine Parliament.
  • The delegation met with leaders of the Ukrainian diaspora at the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco.
  • Delegation met with Professor Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia, and Professor Francis Fukuyama at Stanford. McFaul and Fukuyama fielded questions from the delegates and shared their concerns about the current situation in Ukraine.
  • Meeting with Stanford Law Professor Erik Jensen and a Ukrainian law student about a project to prevent Russian organizations and individuals from circumventing US sanctions.
  • Delegates met with members of Congress and congressional staff.
  • At the conclusion of the delegation visit, the commission, delegates and host families gathered for a farewell event to celebrate a successful delegation visit. 
people standing in board chambers
The Ukrainian delegates received commendations from the Board of Supervisors at its meeting on Sept. 24, 2024, at the County Government Center.

 

man raising flag at government center
The delegates and commissioners participated in a Ukraine Flag Raising, co-hosted by Supervisor Otto Lee at the County’s McEntee Plaza in celebration and honor of the Ukraine Citizens' Diplomacy Commission's second Ukrainian Open World Delegation. 
Delegation meets with Cortese

Delegates met with Senator Dave Cortese and other elected officials.

Meeting Supervisors

Delegates met with members of the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. 

Delegates visits Hoover Institute

The delegates toured the Stanford University Campus during a day of meetings and presentations.

Delegates visit archival collection

Hoover Institution Research fellow Bert Patenaude reviewed curated Ukrainian archival collection with the delegates.

Delegates post in front of the Hoover Archive

Ukrainian Parliament members, Sister County commissioners and Hoover Institution Research fellow Bert Patenaude gathered in front of the Hoover Archive after a tour.

Professor William Burnett talking to delegates

Delegates toured the Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design and listened to a presentation from Professor William Burnett.

Delegates visit Santa Clara U

Santa Clara University Law School welcomed the Ukrainian delegation again this year.

Delegates and commissioners post for a group photo

The commission, delegates and host families gathered for a farewell dinner to celebrate a successful week of activities.

Commission receives grant to host its seventh Open World delegation 

A group of people holding a Ukrainian flag
Delegates attended a welcome event with commissioners and host families at San Juan Bautista. 

The Commission was awarded its 7th grant from the U.S. Congressional Office of International Leadership's Open World Program to host a five-member Ukrainian delegation. The commission welcomed the “Management Think Tanks and Analytical Centers” themed delegation in May 2023. 

Program highlights:

  • A group of people in a meeting inside of a conference room
    The delegation met with government and academic luminaries.

    The delegation’s visit shone a positive spotlight on the critical role that citizen diplomacy can play in increasing understanding and cooperation amongst nations.

  • Dr. Sloss giving a presentation to a group of people sitting in a conference room
    Dr. Sloss gave a presentation on combating information warfare.

    As part of the delegation visit, delegates and a COIL representative met with both US Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s Office in Washington, DC.

  • The delegation met with government and academic luminaries such as Ambassador McFaul, Ambassador Pifer, Professor Fukuyama, Former World Bank President Paul Wolfowicz, and Professor Emeritus Paul Gregory.  
  •  Discussions with government and academic luminaries gave the delegates insight into current thinking in the U.S. about both supporting Ukraine during the war as well as during reconstruction.
  • The use of Deliberative Polling to help shape public opinion gave the delegates food for thought as Ukraine works through the process of strengthening its democracy. 
  • A group of people that were apart of the Hoover Institution presentation smiling at the camera in a conference room
    Hoover Institution presentation.

    The concept of journalists as “democracy detectives” was presented by Stanford’s Knight Journalism Program citing specific examples of how technology can be used to facilitate this role and highlighting the economics of investigative journalism.   

  • Dr. Sloss, a Professor of Law at Santa Clara University, gave a very relevant presentation on combating information warfare, citing cogent examples of disinformation techniques and uses. 
  • Commissioners and the delegates in front of an airplane at Moffet Field
    Moffett Field tour.

    The Hoover Institution presentation about the objectives and structure of war games was of particular interest to the delegates since war games do not seem to be used widely, if at all, in Ukraine.

  • Commissioners and the delegates visited Moffett Field for a museum tour and presentation by the Moffett Field defense innovation unit.
  • The delegation met with Ambassador Pifer for a presentation titled Ukraine at the Crossroads.
  • A group of people are standing in front of a flag pole during a flag raising ceremony
    Delegates attended a flag raising ceremony.

    The delegates attended a flag raising ceremony hosted by Supervisor Otto Lee, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. The event celebrated citizen diplomacy and international relationships, while also extending solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans. 

  • The delegates met with California Senator David Cortese to learn about California’s legislative process. 
  • The delegates met with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s office.
  • Over the course of the visit, the delegates had the opportunity to meet and interact with close to 100 Americans.
  • Delegates standing next to California Senator David Cortese
    Meeting with Senator Cortese

    At the conclusion of the delegation visit, delegates expressed interest in follow up projects, including applying for the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford; strengthening a Ukrainian Democracy and Development Program - a 7-week training program at Stanford for Ukrainian practitioners and policymakers; and working with Stanford’s SPICE program to develop educational materials about Ukraine.

  • Commissioners, delegates and host families gathered at the farewell event to celebrate a successful week of activities. 

 

Group of people at a restaurant with red and white gingham tablecloths
At the farewell event, commissioners, delegates and host families celebrated a successful week of activities.