"Corporate Social Responsibility," a relatively new concept in Serbia, was the focus of the Community Connections program in the fall of 2010.  Ten professionals were chosen by U.S. agencies in Serbia to learn about corporate social responsibility in the Kansas City area, as well as to have the opportunity to learn about American people and culture in the Heartland of America.  During their time in Kansas City, KCIVC arranged meetings with their professional counterparts so that they could examine the following objectives:  1) the concept and system of CSR in the U.S. in comparison to Serbia; 2) developing a comprehensive CSR strategy, activities, and values; 3) promoting awareness of CSR within the company and at large; 4) the benefits of CSR; and 5) how companies engage in public-private partnerships. 

Delegates met with: Bert Berkley/Tension Envelopes, Professor Clancy Martin, David Jewell, Rockhurst University, Kansas Department of Labor, Rotary Club 13, The Roasterie, Schloegel Design, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Star, Children's Campus of Kansas City, Kansas City Power and Light, Ronald McDonald House, United Missouri Bank, ColorMark, UMKC, Bridging the Gap, Local Investment Commission, Mahnaz Shabbir/Shabbir Advisors

Kansas Department of Labor	Schloegel Design Remodel
The Roasterie	Rockhurst University

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KCIVC administered a program on "Volunteerism in Addressing Social Challenges" in May of 2010.  The Volunteerism program included ten enthusiastic delegates from Moscow, Russia, with backgrounds in business, nonprofit and politics.  These professionals were chosen by U.S. agencies in Russia to meet their counterparts in Kansas City and learn about effective recruitment, training, assignments, and rewards in volunteerism in the U.S.  They examined volunteerism in addressing social challenges and the experience in health and social welfare at the community level.  

Delegates met with:  American Red Cross, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, United Way, Missouri Department of Social Services, Catholic Charities, Harvesters, Children's Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI), Rotary Club 13, Johnson County Department of Corrections, Mid-America Regional Council Aging Services, Bert Berkley, reStart, Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Free Health Clinic, SafeHome, Coalition for Independence, Local Investment Commission (LINC), Habitat for Humanity, Newseum in Washington D.C.

Ten aspiring leaders from the Khmelnytskyy Oblast in Ukraine were selected by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to spend three weeks in Kansas City learning about volunteerism:  recruitment, motivation and utilization.  They all utilize volunteers in their sectors - economic development in rural areas, youth character building, providing services to the elderly and disabled, caring for orphans and more.  At the end of the program, the delegates went home to Ukraine with ideas, plans and dreams for developing a culture of volunteerism in their region to bring social and economic change to Ukraine.  During their three-week stay in Kansas City, they stayed with wonderful home stay hosts where they learned first-hand about American culture and made American friends.

Delegates met with:  The Andrew Drumm Institute, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bridging the Gap, Centurions Leadership Program, Coalition for Independence, Episcopal Community Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Harvesters, Junior Achievement, Kansas City Wildlands, Leawood Lions Club, Local Investment Commission, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Assocation, Operation Breakthrough, Ronald McDonald House, Rotary Camp, Rotary Club 13, Shabbir Advisors, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, St. Joseph Medical Center, The United Way of Greater Kansas City, The Volunteer Center of Johnson County, Volunteer Coordinators' Council, William Jewell College