State Leaders Go Global

State legislators in the pilot class of the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Leadership Institute embarked on an intensive six-day retreat to Chile last November. This select group traveled to the Southern Hemisphere to learn first-hand about issues of global importance, including trade, education and the environment.

Representatives from "A Roof for Chile" explain how their volunteers construct affordable transitional homes for indigent families from recycled materials gathered in nearby communities.

By visiting Chile and meeting with leaders and representatives from Chile’s public, private and non-governmental sectors, the Fellows reported they were better equipped to understand the perspective of a developing country and how it concerns local U.S. policy. "The program enabled me to see the connections between what is happening in my community and what is happening globally," explained Hawaii Rep. Roy Takumi. "For example, the connections of how trade operates at a macro and micro level became clearer."

Many Fellows realized that their opinions and concerns were quite similar to those held by Chileans. For example, like Americans, Chileans hold a wide variety of views on free trade, from seeing it as an economic panacea, to considering it a policy that will hurt local industries, weaken environmental standards, and diminish the number and quality of jobs. The Fellows left Chile with a much more balanced and holistic view of trade, and with a serious interest in increasing their participation in trade discussions back home.

For instance, some Fellows plan to review their state’s trade impact reports and become more involved with state delegations traveling overseas. Others are arranging information exchanges with the contacts they made in Chile. Takumi plans to reactivate the International Committee in Hawaii’s legislature.

"The great benefit of the retreat is that it enabled Fellows to learn about model policies and programs to provoke new ideas for problem solving at home," observed CPA Board Chair Linda Tarr-Whelan, who participated in the retreat.

"The initiatives in Chile to provide housing, education and a clean environment, but also to do so in the context of an involved citizenry and a strengthened democracy, after years of military dictatorship, were inspiring," commented Maine Sen. Sharon Treat. "I found that I learned much from this program that I will take back to my own statemodels of citizen participation, education, even trade promotion."

Reflecting on the experience, Montana Rep. Steve Doherty said he would recommend the program, "in a heartbeat." Added Michigan Rep. Mark Schauer, "International experiences like this are a must for state legislators if we are to realize the full implications of our actions."

CPA offers special thanks to its Chilean partner organization PARTICPA, which offered the Fellows an invaluable insider view of Chile. The informative, frank and culturally-sensitive hosts helped plan the retreat activities and served as translators. For more information about the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Leadership Institute, please click here.

Parents and teachers from La Pintana Polytechnic School shared with the Fellows their role in successfully developing a competitive school through a public-private partnership to accommodate some of the poorest children in Santiago, Chile.