Archive: Around Town

Sixteen years ago former Senator Bill Bradley (D, New Jersey) started a program to teach young people from former Soviet Union countries about democracy.  He said that the best way to teach about democracy was to start with the young.  The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) offered competitive scholarships through the U.S. State Department to bring young people here to study and participate in American communities for a school year, to learn about our culture and teach about their own.

"What better way than to bring youths from Russia and former USSR countries to the United States, have them be in our schools, participate in our communities," says Lori Sonken, who plans to bring at least three students to the Ithaca area later this year.  "Kids that come over have to contribute a certain number of volunteer hours in the community.  They're supposed to give presentations at their school and teach Americans about life where they live and also learn about life here."

Sonken is the local representative of PAX (Program of Academic Exchange), a Port Chester, NY- based company certified by the State Department to administer the FLEX program.  She has been approaching local school officials and looking for at least three host families to accept eastern-bloc students for the next school year.  In Lansing she recently met with acting Principal Tom Helmer and guidance counselor Carol Miller, who were encouraging about accepting three students if Lansing families can be found to host them.

"That's what I'm looking for," she says.  "Homes in the Lansing area that might want to take in a student."

A California native, Sonken lived in Washington, D.C. for 25 years before moving to Ithaca with her husband and two children.  She has travelled extensively, visiting Russia, Turkey, Europe, among others.  She got interested in the FLEX program when she saw an employment ad on the Internet in Craig's List.  After getting the job she had to attend phone conference training sessions and pass a test before she could begin looking for host homes.


"I think that we learn a lot about the world by traveling," she says.  "It's exciting to learn about other countries.  As a mother I would love it if my kids participated in a program like this where they went to another country and experienced their culture.  I thought it would be something interesting to support, so I applied for the job."

	If interested in hosting a student for the 2009-2010 school year This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 257-2728.

The State Department conducts a highly competitive screening process, choosing the best students from their respective countries.  These students typically excel at American schools when they come here.  The experience comes with strings attached -- students are expected to volunteer in their host communities.  When they get home they are asked to talk about their U.S. experience, and encouraged to join a FLEX alumni association that helps them reacclimate to their own society and to keep the experience fresh with a lasting connection to the United States.  To date the program boasts almost 20,000 alumni.

"It's a very competitive process," Sonken says.  "In addition to doing well in school they have to compete.  They have to write essays, they are interviewed, and to demonstrate leadership capabilities.  In general it's not kids from cities like Moscow.  They have to go through a rigorous competition at home as well as over here.  The State Department does it."

Under State Department rules there must be a minimum three kids from the program in an area so they have others to relate to.  Sonken will meet with them regularly and take them on field trips around this area and farther.  "I'm looking forward to taking them to events around town, and to learning about their culture," she says.  "I'd love to take them to Washington.  I've spent a lot of time in Washington so I know it well, and I think that I would be a great tour guide."

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