It's been a while since I've posted an update. Freelance life has it's rhythms and this last stretch has been a period of plans, pitches and possibilities. One of those possibilties is about to be a reality.
This winter, I partnered with an alum of a U.S. Exchange Program in Azerbaijan and an organization called Camping Azerbaijan to apply for a CDAF Grant Award. CDAF (Citizens Diplomacy Action Fund) awards are small grants from Global Ties U.S. and the State Department awarded to teams of U.S. Exchange Alumni and partnering organizations, focusing on one or more of the following themes:
-Strengthening democratic institutions & fighting disinformation;
-Protecting the environment;
-Human rights, refugees & migrants;
-Building community through arts, sports, language & technology;
-Supporting communities impacted by illicit drug use
Our idea was focused on building community and protecting the environment, specifically among the Lezgin people in the mountains of northern Azerbaijan, where Camping Azerbaijan has done other projects over the years. The Lezgi are an indigenous Caucasian minority with a distinct language and culture. About one third of them live in northern Azerbaijan and two thirds of them live across the northern border in Dagestan, Russia.
Happily, our application was successful. In August, we will run Qusar Youth Leadership Camp, two 4-day camps for youth ages 10 - 15 in the village of Imamgulukend, about 10km from the Russian border. The Camp will focus on teaching English and Leadership skills, but will include all sorts of camp actiivities and looks to be a lot of fun. I've attached here our poster for the camp in Azerbaijani, which is the 2nd language for most Lezgi people. Many or most will also speak Russian, so I'm sure to practice my Russian there, as well as in Baku, the capitol city, where I'll also spend about a week. It's a fascinating country and region, with Russia to the north, Iran to the south, the Caspian sea to the east and Armenia and Georgia to the west. I wish I could stay longer than 3 weeks, but I have no doubt it will be a rich adventure.
Meanwhile, upon leaving Kyrgyzstan in mid-June of 2023, I was invited by Ala-Too University to apply for a Fulbright Specialist Grant and return to Bishkek to teach workshops in Public Speaking, Speaking on Camera and the give some faculty workshops. My peer-reviewed application was successful at this end, so I'm on the Specialist roster, but the Bishkek embassy's review of the university's application (also part of the process) has been delayed for some reason. So it remains to be seen if I'll return to Kyrgyzstan as a Fulbright Specialist or not. Fingers crossed.
I have some other very interesting possible projects in the works, but nothing yet for certain until late fall, when I'll go back to Milwaukee to work again with fabulous John McGivern, and my co-adaptation of A Christmas Carol will be remounted yet again at the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, TN.
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