Archive for June, 2016
Montana Youth Leadership Program
Monday, July 18 the students visiting from Iraq will attend a Native American Powwow by the Last Chance Community Powwow performers on the Carroll College campus. Students and staff from Montana Youth Leadership Program (MYLF) will be hosting the Iraqi students and WorldMontana staff.
MYLF is a program for high school students with disabilities. Through the program delegates develop leadership plans and skills to use within their own communities. The program also educates student delegates on the different types of disabilities and introduces them to adults living successfully with their disabilities.
WorldMontana and MYLF’s goal is to introduce both groups of student delegates to new cultures through interaction. The cultures present will be the Native American, Iraqi, and Disabled cultures. The programs hope to expand understanding and acceptance by all parties by introducing these new cultures to the groups.
The Iraq students will also attend the MYLF banquet Thursday, June 21 at the end of their summer program. The banquet will feature guest speaker Blessing Offor, 26, a blind singer/songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who was a contestant on the TV series The Voice. A dance will follow the banquet for the students to mingle and get to know one another better.
Kosovo Prosecutors Visit Montana
A group of prosecutors from The Republic of Kosovo visited Montana June 1st through June 5th to investigate Judicial and Prosecutorial Misconduct. The group consisted of Mr. Zef Prenrecaj, Director of the Offices of Disciplinary Counsel, Mr. Arianit Salihu, Senior Judicial Inspector of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and Mr. Ismet Ukshini, Basic Prosecutor of the Municipal Prosecution Office. The delegates came to Montana through the International Visitor Leadership Program. Being a new country, Kosovo has faced challenges of misconduct by prosecutors and judges, through this program they sought to find effective ways to investigate and discipline individuals accused of misconduct. The objectives for the project included examining the best practices for criminal and non-criminal disciplinary investigations, studying the process for establishing and defining clear rules of conduct, conflict of interest standards and disciplinary procedures, examining the distinctions between misconduct and the need for professional development, and exploring the inherent challenges of investigating judicial and prosecutorial misconduct.
During their stay the prosecutors were able to meet with a wide range of professionals to learn more about the procedures and standards within Montana. Their meetings were with the Montana Judicial Standards Commission, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, District Court Judge Mike Menahan, Edwin Bender the Executive Director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Carl Rostad the Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chuck Johnson a former political journalist, Matt Volz of the Associated Press, and Jim Hunt a local Personal Injury Lawyer. The group was also able to tour Helena and visit local attractions including the Capitol building.
Jim Hunt commented on the experience, “I think I learned just as much from them during the meeting as they did from me. I’m glad I had the change to sit down with them and exchange experiences and ideas.”
WorldMontana would like to thank the individuals who took the time to meet withe Kosovo delegates. It was a great learning experience for all involved!
Delegates with Executive Assistant District Attorney Carl Rostad in front of Hatfield Federal Courthouse
From left to right, Mr. Zef Prenrecaj, Mr. Arianit Salihu, and Mr. Ismet Ukshini in the State Capitol Building