Week 2
This past week, I participated in two programs: Communication with the Media and The Use of Freedom of Information Acts (FOIA) as Anti-Corruption Tools. In the first program, judges and experts spoke about how courts can improve communication with the public by creating a cohesive communication strategy, updating their website, and organizing the press’s access to court information without disrupting the judicial process. The U.S. federal judge used his court’s experience with the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooter case to demonstrate what steps he took without infringing on the constitutional right of freedom of the press.
In the Use of FOIA program, I learned that the laws regarding freedom of information (FOI) worldwide have evolved a lot from their beginning in the 1990s. Hearing representatives from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Croatia present their country’s laws and practices was fascinating. A common theme was that while many countries initially legislated laws that liberally allow the public to request information, over time, governments tend to restrict the process through new regulations, bureaucratic requirements, or broad categories of data that may not be released. Another critical topic is the impact of new technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to improve or hinder the ability to get information from public organizations. After the programs, I wrote detailed summaries from my notes to be used in social media posts and on CEELI’s website.
I also received the responsibility of taking notes at the weekly staff meetings. It is an excellent way for me to learn the ins and outs of what people are working on, as well as a broader view of how the departments work together to put on programs.
Additionally, I have been working on writing program evaluation reports from participant survey data. In addition to its Eastern Europe and Africa programs, CEELI has a longstanding partnership with judicial academies in India. The flagship program is the “Training-of-Trainers,” where Indian judges learn how to develop a curriculum to train other judges. CEELI collects feedback on the program’s relevance, applicability, and instructors to improve the program and demonstrate deliverables to grantors.
An unexpected highlight of the week was the staff training on non-violent communication. I had never heard of “non-violent communication,” but I guessed it was related to sensitivity/diversity training or effective workplace communication. Instead, it covered a much broader topic and avoided the usual small group analyses of “what would you do” scenarios! Non-violent communication (NVC) is the theory of how our morals, values, and desires impact our feelings, which then impact our words and actions. It is a way to understand our words and actions even more deeply than our feelings, by determining what “need” is causing the feeling. It focuses on self-awareness, even before you think about how it impacts others. It was almost inconceivable that every staff member participated for the entire 3.5 hours. To me, it demonstrates the importance CEELI places on having a strong team by investing in opportunities like this.
The CEELI team also had a surprise going-away party for the Senior Events Manager. She has worked at CEELI for six years and from the moment I met her, it was clear she is deeply invested in the work. It was touching to hear colleagues speak of her talents and contributions. Many people brought homemade food for the best potluck I’ve been to in a long time.
I also had the chance to travel to the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria, on the weekend, a relaxing four-hour train ride from Prague. I packed my day and a half with four audio guide tours (St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, Kunsthistorisches Art Museum, Schönbrunn Palace), a concert at St. Charles Church of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Naschmarkt (food stalls and flea market), and dinner at a local restaurant. The most memorable part was hiking up to the Gloriette at Schönbrunn Palace. At the top is a beautiful view of the Palace and Vienna. Then I enjoyed a Viennese coffee and a slice of sachertorte while reading my book (Persuasion by Jane Austen) at the cafe.
