The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) is excited to announce the launch of an expanded alumni engagement initiative.  Through increased funding by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the PFP-IDE program is developing a comprehensive initiative to engage both foreign fellow alumni and US host alumni in the following 4-pronged strategy.   While many of the following components are still under development, we are announcing this initiative to the PFP-IDE alumni network to engage you in the process.

1. Increased Online Engagement and Promotion – We are increasing communications about alumni activities with a calendar of monthly blog posts being featured on program website, program success stories being shared through AUCD newsletters and listservs, and alumni content being shared through social media.
2. Quarterly  Virtual Networking Events – Held in June, September, November and March, these online activities will facilitate ongoing skill development, resource sharing, networking and outcome reporting of both East African and U.S. Fellow alumni.  They will also serve as opportunities for alumni to strengthen long-term institutional and individual partnerships and connect with relevant external stakeholders who will be invited to participate as guest presenters. Each event will include both topical content and networking/collaboration time enabling the alumni to collaborate and share ideas while also enhancing their leadership and professional skills.
3. Annual In Person Events – The remote connections will be complemented by in-person events held for U.S. Alumni at the AUCD conference in November and for East African Alumni in there respective countries in September.
4. An Annual Mini-Grant Competition – Finally, before the end of the year, two $2,000 mini-grants will be awarded – one to a US Alumni and the other to an East African Alumni to extend, enhance, replicate or scale up a successful outbound or follow on project.  These funds will be awarded through a competitive application process.  More details to follow.

These four components were designed with input from alumni through focus groups held with East African and U.S. participants in November and December 2018.  We are eager to hear feedback from current or former fellows about these plans and will work to ensure that the priorities of all program participants continue to shape these efforts moving forward.  Send feedback to pfp-idefellowship@aucd.org.

Save the Date for our first quarterly virtual networking event: June 10, 2019 11:00-12:30pm  Eastern US Time (6-7:30pm East Africa Time).

The agenda for this first virtual event will include opportunities

1. To review the alumni engagement initiative
2. To set priorities for the 2019 in-person and virtual meetings
3. To celebrate alumni accomplishments and share resources

We hope you will consider joining us for the first of many engaging sessions!