Open World Leadership Center

Exchange Program in Washington, District of Columbia

To je cast za mene da ucestvuju u sledeue. It was an honor for me to participate in the Serbian Dele...gation Visitation. I enjoyed sharing ideas about a structured Career Services system of delivery in the presentation entitled "Choosing A College Major or Program of Study Based On The US Department of Education Career Clusters Framework" by Freda Leslie Pillow, Career Coach. This was an enlightening experience. Enjoyed meeting Bojana, Dejan, Fikret, Marina, Milica, Milena and others! See More

Dear friends,
This April as a member of the group in the frames of the program "Open World" I visit...ed Great Falls, Montana, where we discussed the subjects of education and socialization of the handicapped children. I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to the program "Open World" for the unique chance to learn American experience on the work with the blind, the organization "Friendship Force", families and personally Carol Clayton-Bye for their hospitality, warmth and opportunity to communicate in unofficial situation. We realized that while living and working on different continents we're doing one work and we're united by the mutual idea to transform limited abilities of our students into unlimited ones. I found colleagues and friends among the participants of our group. I hope that this newly born friendship will give a good start for our future beneficial professional cooperation.
I’d like to share the story of friendship of the students of our unique educational establishment, Grot boarding school for the blind and visually impaired children (Saint Petersburg), with the man of great heart, gifted educator and even more gifted artist Bing Davis.
Will “Bing” Davis, a famous modern American artist, was born in South Caroline, the USA, but grew, got education and turned into an artist in Dayton, Ohio, where he’s been living now. Having got the education he started an arts teacher’s career. Teaching was always enjoyable and interspersed for him. In 1998 he retired from teaching art after 40+ years to devote full time to operating an at studio and gallery of African – American art while being an outstanding representative and propagandist of the latter. “I thought that with retirement”, Bing Davis is writing, “ my participation at art education conventions were over, nevertheless It was a pleasure to get an invitation to serve on a 30 member delegation team of Art educators to attend the 2006 U.S.-Russia joint Education Conference, November 3-10th in St. Petersburg, Russia. This unique opportunity would provide the chance to meet Russian Colleagues face-to-face to discuss common problems, compare recent findings and evaluate areas for further collaboration. Shortly after arriving at the grot School, meeting the teachers I realized that the visit to Grot school was the reason I was suppose to come to the conference in St. Petersburg, Russia. The spirit of my studio and gallery, the spirit of the Living Art Center is alive and well at the Grot School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in St. Petersburg. It was obvious from the start that the teachers and administrators were strong professionals. We held discussions on the role art, music, drama, dance and creative writing can play in the lives of student’s learning experiences. I could hardly contain myself during the discussion. I just kept smiling and saying yes,yes,yes as Marina translated what the Director and teachers were saying. But The dialogue was so powerful and inspiring that at one point I had to step out of the room to compose myself. I wanted to be professional in this setting, but the more I heard from the teachers at Grot School the more I realized that at the opposite sides of the world we were embracing the same understanding that the arts can not only serve as forms of creative and artistic expression, but also enhance learning across the academic and assist in the holistic development of all learners”.
The result of Bing Davis’s visiting Grot School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in November,2006 was introduction of annual Students’ Awards named after Bing and John Davis (John Davis, the artist’s brother, famous African-American photographer, died in 2008) for the talented students of Grot School. 7 years turned this Awarding ceremony into a good school tradition. What’s more, the fact of being awarded with Bing and John Davis scholarship is an official acknowledgement of the student’s efforts, talent and creativity.
This story of friendship is a bright example that neither borders nor languages can separate people with open and generous hearts. The world is open for those who believe that they can make it softer and more kind. See More