Advisory Boards Program Staff Community Connections is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Community Connections is a professional development program for Russian, Moldova, Armenian and Georgian business people and professionals. This program enables visiting participants to work directly with American colleagues to share information and exchange ideas. All programs are designed to meet the specific needs and interests of the participants.
Individuals stay with host families to experience American culture and lifestyles.
As a result of these community-based training programs, lasting linkages between people, organizations and communities are created. They receive some group training on business topics, but during the majority of the program participants work in individualized internships with businesses similar to their own. Professional programs are three weeks long and are organized around a particular theme, for instance, agriculture, NGO development, public policy, business development or education administration. Participants on the professional programs do not need to speak English to qualify for the program. Participants in Community Connections programs are selected through a highly rigorous, merit-based process.