ExpandAllen Przysucha (Photo provided by Allen Przysucha) City of Sterling Alderman At Large Business Development Manager / First Onsite Property Restoration City of Sterling City Planning Commissioner Facebook - Allen Przysucha for Sterling Alderman At Large Dixon High School Class of 1995 Sauk Valley Community College 1995-1998 Shift Lead at Halo Branded Solutions in Sterling The first step is to find a logical & fiscally responsible way to address our homeless situation The problem is that an idea hasn’t been put forward yet that meets both criteria It would be great if we could get the shelter to a point where it was self-sufficient in those areas Then we could talk about expanding services I was at the city council meeting when this was reported and it outright scared me I can’t speak to where in the budget money would come from to pay for these upgrades as I am not a member of the city council yet if the county can approve the public safety tax the taxes already collected in property taxes in Sterling could then be redistributed to the fire department for much needed upgraded engines or equipment Or towards both the police department and fire department for more officers or firemen the council will have to find a fiscally responsible way to make it happen These upgrades are much needed for the public safety of the citizens of Sterling Even though I don’t necessarily want to pay more taxes It is unfair that Sterling and Rock Falls are funding the 911 Center for the entire county What is nice about the safety tax is that anyone that spends money in Whiteside County I think one great example of this is the solar farms that are being proposed in the area I am a supporter of solar energy and bringing solar farms to Sterling What I’m not for is the lack of research done by the solar companies trying to place these solar farms around Sterling A lot of the sites proposed are just outside of city limits but in areas that are projected growth areas for the city What I don’t like is that these sites will envelope the city’s prime growth areas and potentially stunt any city growth in those areas I‘m for the continued improvements to the city’s roads I wish that the city could get all of them done at the same time Unfortunately the funds allotted for those repairs every year just don’t go as far as they used to Roads repairs do continue to happen every year not at the pace that everyone wants them to Small Business is the backbone of any smaller municipality I am a big supporter of Small Business and Shop Small Small Business owners have invested in our community and put a lot of trust into the community to support them They are so important to the health of Sterling I would advocate for any program that helps promote our Small Businesses and helps Sterling Entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams to start a Small Business here in Sterling just like what Sterling Main Street does with the small business incubators at the Shoppes at Grandon Plaza My biggest public safety concern is getting much needed resources to our police and fire departments It scared me when I heard the fire department report in the fall about the state of our emergency vehicle fleet If we have equipment that is constantly down for repairs that is a huge detriment to the public safety We have to have the proper equipment and vehicles to be able to respond to emergencies that arise in Sterling the only way to ensure that is to study all amendments to ordinances or anything else that comes up for a city council vote to ensure that every Sterling citizen’s best interests are represented and upheld I do support it and take it very seriously I recently abstained my vote because of what I felt was a conflict of interest because of my professional relationship that I had with a petitioning party Even now with my career as a business development manager it is my job to form partnerships with with my company and with schools I have approached the City of Sterling about a relationship knowing that if I am elected I would have to recuse myself from any involvement in any potential votes or decision making that would involve both parties Sterling residents can reach me any time on my cell phone, 815-718-3863. By email, allenpc1@gmail.com. On Facebook or on Messenger at Allen Przysucha for Sterling Alderman At Large. Hannah Soukup is an editorial assistant with the Shaw Local News Network Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Election 2024ExpandAllen Przysucha speaks about his qualifications Wednesday during a candidate forum at Sterling's city hall MORRISON — One incumbent and one newcomer have been elected to Sterling City Council at-large seats while newcomer Allen Przysucha was elected to the council by unseating current alderwoman Kaitlyn Ekquist Ekquist received 490 and Ryan Nares tallied 465 There are 9,487 registered voters residing in Sterling Przysucha currently serves on the Sterling planning commission and as a youth committee member for Sterling Township He is also a board member at United Way of Whiteside County and is a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club Wise was first elected to the council in 2017 and was reelected in 2021 to serve his current four-year term Ekquist was first elected to the council in 2021 for her current term Nares is a business owner who in October opened The Mercantile Election 2024ExpandSterling City Council candidates (from left) Jim Wise Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha speak Wednesday Wise and Przysucha won at-large seats during the Tuesday STERLING – Sterling and Rock Falls’ city councils both will see a change in their lineup after Tuesday’s consolidated election unseated one incumbent on each council while newcomer Allen Przysucha was elected to the council by unseating Alderwoman Kaitlyn Ekquist Ekquist received 490 and newcomer Ryan Nares tallied 465 [ Shaw Local Radio Podcast: Talk Line with Steve Marco interviews Shaw Local about the election results ] He also is a board member at United Way of Whiteside County and is a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club “It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Przysucha told Shaw Local “I’m looking forward to continuing to give back to Sterling and do whatever I can to keep the city rolling in the direction it’s rolling I think there’s nothing but good things ahead.” “I am grateful for the support of the voters and the good people of our community who reelected me to serve as alderman at large,” Wise told Shaw Local “I look forward to working with Allen and my fellow council members to do great things for our community.” A total of 1,310 registered voters live in Rock Falls’ 2nd Ward “I’m truly honored by the trust that my constituents placed in me,” Doane told Shaw Local “After knocking on over 500 doors and having many more conversations they made one thing clear: They are ready for leadership that listens and real progress I won this election on a platform of honesty but this election wasn’t about politics to me but tonight the people of Rock Falls chose proven results I’m ready to bring these ideas and relationships I’ve built for over three years to the table There’s a vibrant downtown ready to thrive Doane previously served as a 4th Ward alderman He ran for a four-year 4th Ward seat in 2021 against Violet Sobottka; when he lost that election he was appointed to a two-year term as the second 4th Ward representative alongside Sobottka He resigned in 2022 after purchasing a home outside 4th Ward boundaries Doane said in an interview with Shaw Local Doane has lived in Rock Falls almost his entire life and works as a logistics coordinator with Riverside Logistics in Sterling Snow was first elected to his 2nd Ward seat in 2005 and was reelected four times Steven Dowd was elected to the 3rd Ward seat with 99 votes Longtime school board members Julie Aitken and Savannah Mussington retained their seats against newcomer Tyler Holesinger “I am incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from our community and I want to acknowledge that these results are still unofficial,” Mussington told Shaw Local “I remain committed to the continued excellence and impact that Sterling public schools brings to our students families and educators who make our community so special.” leaving Holesinger trailing close behind with 898 votes an Orzech stepped foot on Polish soil for the first time in two generations never returned to his home country after the Holocaust and she has never been able to return to Poland either I set out to travel across Poland with a group of Jewish genealogists I was selected for the 2022 JewishGen Future Scholars Fellowship, which partners with The Matzevah Foundation and Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland to take Jewish students — many studying genealogy — to Poland meeting with scholars and religious leaders and ultimately working to restore the Przysucha Jewish Cemetery it was a way to give back to family or fellow Jews lost during the Holocaust I was struck by many people and perspectives while touring so many incredible cities across Poland, particularly the prevailing attitude that Poles were not responsible for the persecution of the Jews during the Holocaust instead simply doing what they had to do to get by under Nazi persecution (One notable exception to this rule was Sabina Sklepik a non-Jewish Pole and Przysucha native who worked with our group to clear overgrowth at the Przysucha Jewish Cemetery and spoke of her personal guilt for playing there as a child.) in Krakow’s “Jewish quarter,” it was philosemitism that seemed to be on display In what our tour guide coined “Jewish Disneyland,” Krakow restaurant owners advertised their “authentic Jewish restaurants” — most of which served pork vendors sold Judaica alongside SS memorabilia including gold menorahs and swastika stamps and patches While every Polish town seemed to love the Jews the preservation of actual Jewish architecture and land seemed to be hit-or-miss we were pleasantly surprised with the dedication of Tarnow residents to the Jewish cemetery and old synagogue’s bima remains the only remaining synagogue seemed to be rotting away covered in dust and supported only by ugly Sabina explained to us that this site was once used for public toilets the physical preservation of Jewish life varied from town to town while cultural preservation seemed to be alive and well as long as it was slightly altered for tourist consumption one of the most moving aspects of the trip for me was more personal than it was a learning experience My visitation of Majdanek represented my family’s first return to the camps Though my grandfather was imprisoned at Auschwitz and Mauthausen I was overcome with emotion a few times while touring Majdanek While I won’t delve into the details for fear of being too graphic After placing a stone in front of the gas chambers to honor the victims of Majdanek a little portion of the camps that could be controlled by a Jew I plan to place the rock — in addition to rocks from the Szydłowiec Jewish Cemetery — on my grandfather’s grave to give him back a bit of the homeland taken from him where we aided in cleaning up the Przysucha Jewish Cemetery The cemetery itself was an incredibly important space but it wasn’t what made the experience so meaningful to me There was no doubt that finding tombstones clearing trees and honoring those buried at the cemetery was significant work the broken headstones and mass graves were heartbreaking for us all the cemetery became a place both of suffering and heritage I felt that there was great power in the legacy that we were leaving behind The Przysucha Jewish cemetery was overgrown, neglected and littered with trash. The headstones were broken and thrown into piles, covered with moss and buried in mud. They had been thrown there after the Holocaust and probably never moved since to the point where the gates around the cemetery were nearly invisible A Jew could not find a loved one in this cemetery had there been any Jews left in Przysucha at all It was a stark contrast to the monuments mounted for non-Jewish Holocaust victims in nearby towns we cleared the foliage overtaking the Przysucha cemetery I spoke with many of the fellows and volunteers about the legacy that we were leaving We had an intense focus on respect and preservation and our presence made it obvious to the local community that someone cared we were cutting down trees and uncovering tombstones But the plants would grow back and the headstones would be lost again in a few years the neighbors of the cemetery would remember the Americans Ukranians and Poles that came to clean the cemetery and honor the Jews of Przysucha Many of the fellows being Polish-American Jews A band of Jewish Americans and non-Jewish Europeans dedicated to Jewish preservation is something that our persecuted grandparents and great-grandparents could probably have never imagined But the Przysucha cemetery wasn’t the only Jewish cemetery we visited While on the bus on our first day of cemetery work a fellow named Jake learned from our bus driver that there was a Jewish cemetery in Szydłowiec the town where my grandfather and his family had lived The town had once been predominantly Jewish and now harbored only one Jewish cemetery and almost no Jewish residents Our bus driver agreed to take us to the Szydłowiec Jewish Cemetery at the end of the day Despite being completely beat after a long day of work we detoured the bus to my family’s cemetery This sort of genuine kindness is something that I will never forget Lia would do some genealogical research and discover an ancestor of mine featured in a photo I unknowingly took in the cemetery I was definitely emotional while walking through the cemetery Gratitude that I had the opportunity to finally return to an ancestral homeland but also an intense gratitude for the group — who decided to do this kindness for me though they all would have probably preferred a shower The respect and appreciation for each other and our lineage was overwhelming and I was sobbing as I exited the cemetery We completed our cemetery work and I jetted off for JFK I filled my family and friend’s ears with Polish town names and residual gratitude I hope to continue working with incredible organizations who brought me to Poland in the first place And the next time I step foot in Szydłowiec Victoria Dozer (she/her) is a junior at Wesleyan University studying Astronomy and Physics but is loving her time on the East Coast as a student hike and spend time at CA’s beautiful beaches By submitting I agree to the privacy policy CDP shapes the digital revolution with cutting-edge diplomacy The Department of State established the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) in April 2022 to advance national security and human rights in an age increasingly shaped by digital technologies CDP is elevating cyberspace and digital policy issues across U.S diplomacy and deepening worldwide partnerships to help Americans The international information and communications policy team focuses on international digital policy issues and promotes connectivity and vibrant digital economies across the globe that are underpinned by resilient Through bilateral and multilateral engagement the team promotes the free flow of data across borders while protecting privacy; supports a multistakeholder approach to internet governance; bolsters consensus-based private sector-led Information and Communications Technology standards development; and encourages the responsible development and deployment of emerging digital technologies.  the international cyberspace security team focuses on promoting a stable cyberspace by strengthening adherence to the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace All United Nations member states have endorsed this framework and the team musters partners and allies to call out and impose consequences on states that engage in destructive It also helps countries build their capacity to defend their networks and participate in international cyber policy conversations and provides foreign policy guidance on U.S the digital freedom team coordinates within and across CDP to promote a positive vision for digital freedom and inclusion commitment to an internet that benefits all CDP’s digital freedom efforts promote meaningful internet access everywhere and respect for human rights in emerging digital contexts including a dedicated policy focus on commercial surveillance technology The CDP bureau also has a dedicated strategic planning and communications unit and an executive office Through the combined efforts of these teams the bureau is positioning itself as the hub within the U.S government for international cyberspace and digital policy.   and governance of digital technologies are already influencing global affairs The foreign policy stakes will only continue to increase in an era defined by ideological contests between authoritarian and democratic societies.  Speaking at the 2021 Munich Security Conference “We must shape the rules that will govern the advance of technology and the norms of behavior in cyberspace [and] biotechnology so that they are used to lift people up Doing so will require strong international partnerships and consistent diplomatic engagement—which CDP is not alone in carrying out its mission diplomats are working to prevent and resolve international conflict and protect human rights while grappling with the ways digital technologies are transforming the Department’s work CDP’s mission includes helping colleagues across the Department reckon with new policy dilemmas as cyberspace and digital technologies are influencing the course of events around the world Before and since Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine began in February government to address the cyber and digital issues Russia’s actions brought into stark relief CDP team members liaised with international allies and partners to understand the scope of Russia’s use of malicious cyber activity leading up to and during its further invasion Through cyber officers at embassies worldwide they shared cybersecurity advisories and mitigation steps to help international partners bolster their cyber defenses the CDP bureau has worked with colleagues in the U.S government and around the world to shed light on Russia’s cyber activities and build a global coalition to condemn them.    CDP team members also worked to help Ukraine defend its networks and stay connected to the internet despite a barrage of kinetic and cyber attacks CDP partnered with others across American and foreign governments to understand Ukraine’s needs and respond to them swiftly with foreign assistance or through public-private partnerships CDP also worked to ensure that actions taken to hold the Kremlin accountable for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine did not unintentionally degrade access to the internet (and with it access to independent sources of information) for people in Russia Speaking at the bureau’s launch on April 4 Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored his commitment to infuse expertise on cyber and digital issues throughout the Department “Because cyber and tech issues are so critical,” he said “I’m determined to not just build a new bureau that we retain diplomats who understand and can navigate this new frontier.” The CDP bureau is a major investment toward this commitment The bureau currently has a staff of approximately 60 people and it plans to hire 50 more in the coming year using all available mechanisms from career development details For Civil Service and Foreign Service staff an assignment in the CDP bureau offers on-the-job training and hands-on experience working on issues that will shape U.S and global security and prosperity in the coming decades Serving in CDP also represents a chance to contribute to the modernization of the Department—leaving behind an impact that will pay off in the years and decades to come.  For more information on the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, visit its website or follow the bureau on Twitter. Department employees can also visit the CDP Bureau’s SharePoint site (internal link.) Wren Elhai is a senior advisor for strategic communications and change management in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy Secretary of State Antony Blinken has named Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., to serve on the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board which delivers independent policy and diplomacy advice to the department A State Department announcement said the board led by co-chairs Thomas Donilon and Cecilia Muñoz will focus on issues such as “emerging technologies global health and strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China.” Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S a position she was appointed to by then-President Barack Obama Davidson also served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans from 2009-12 and began her career as an Air Force officer and cargo pilot where she was the first woman to fly the Air Force’s tactical C-130 Davidson is also the interim chair of the Department of Defense Policy Board Joining Davidson on the Foreign Affairs Policy Board are members David Autor Receive the latest news from MSU Denver twice a month Astronaut and sculptor Ed Dwight knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity and achieving dreams Community mourns the loss of Norman Provizer longtime Political Science scholar devoted to civic engagement producer and activist joins campus community to celebrate the civil-rights leader’s legacy Award-winning stories and staff favorites from the past year The University’s most engaging stories delivered to your inbox Just months into President Donald Trump’s second term members of the Howard community are  grappling with the effects of his new policies Jordan has long been a prime location for Palestinian refugees straining their resources to near breaking point From canceled internship programs to navigating working on government projects in an uncertain political climate Howard students touch on the impact DEI rollbacks have.. President Donald Trump has signed 143 executive orders former athletes are using their platforms to share insights and personal stories Howard makes moves to remodel Wonder Plaza shutting down various popular campus restaurants such as Negril The New York Times recently released an article about Black men’s declining HBCU enrollment President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the goal to develop and advance HBCUs leaving some students in shock HUSA President Jay Jones reflected on the challenges and obstacles that shaped her as a leader some Black women are choosing to protect their peace and find community in the “92 percent” movement soon-to-be Howard graduates reflect on leaving the university amid an unpredictable political and economic climate Men’s golf continued their victory record at the NEC Championship where they secured another first place title Howard University community members debate the recent expansion of the AFRO cluster course requirement some arguing that the variety may impact the requirement’s original.. Bison,  It has been the honor of my academic career to work at The Hilltop.  As I type this out Copyright © 2021 The Hilltop: The Student Voice of Howard University “[T]o have a genuinely inclusive workplace equitable workplace—that doesn’t happen without accessibility,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to the Department of State’s Access Center in July Blinken’s statement highlights the importance of creating an accessible Department Accessibility is important not only because it’s the law but also because it is necessary for inclusion Globally, more than one billion people millions of Americans with disabilities are vital members of the nation’s society sharing their talents and reminding the world that persons with disabilities contribute to global progress National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” recognizes the vital role people with disabilities play in making the nation’s workforce more diverse and inclusive “we do not limit our recognition to October or NDEAM,” said Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley.  The talents and contributions of employees with disabilities should be valued every day This cannot happen without accessibility in all areas of the workplace Imagine not having access to information on a website or not having a way to enter a building because the designers of each did not consider accessibility every Department employee—with or without a disability—is entitled to equal access to information and opportunities and the tools needed to perform the essential functions of their job The Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) in the Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM) is committed to helping create an accessible Department and resources to foster inclusivity and support Department employees by promoting equal access to physical and digital environments implementing reasonable accommodation solutions and supporting equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities An accessible and inclusive Department enables all employees and job applicants to have equal access to information “Whether you’re posting to social media or planning a large event accessibility is vital to ensuring all our colleagues have equal access,” said OAA Director Jameela Raja Akbari “And OAA works to reduce and remove barriers at the Department.” Helping to create a more accessible and inclusive workplace for all Department colleagues is everyone’s responsibility Accessibility should be at the forefront of planning and employees should build accessibility into everyday processes Accessible design includes the needs of individuals with disabilities during the design process so everyone can participate in the workforce independently accessibility is considered from the start of and throughout planning processes having a plan to ensure the event or resources are accessible to all can make or break the final product At the inaugural Sign@State Symposium in April accessibility was at the forefront of the planning process With one panel discussion conducted entirely in American Sign Language (ASL) the planning team considered accommodations and accessibility for both the panelists and audience members everyone has an equal footing in diplomacy,” said Roberta Mather senior advisor for employee communications in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs and moderator of one of the Sign@State Symposium panels foreign policy becomes more robust because it now has access to every thought and every talent possible.” Equal access is vital across all spaces—both physical and digital the digital environment is crucial to the way the Department does business and web applications and sites—are accessible is a necessary step in ensuring that all employees will have equal access to the same information OAA’s Section 508 Program team provides assistance in ensuring all electronic documents and information technology at the Department are as widely accessible as possible.  “Accessibility makes the digital experience inclusive regardless of a person’s ability,” said Rajiv Shah a blind assistive technology specialist in OAA “If a MyData form [an online platform used for various human resources transactions] is accessibly designed it ensures that I can efficiently submit my leave requests and transact my benefit changes just like any other Department employee.”  Many digital platforms include videos as part of their multimedia communications OAA’s Video Captioning team provides captioning on all recorded videos developed ensuring content and information is accessible to everyone.  “State Magazine has built the services of the video captioning team into our process whenever we are producing video media or require transcription,” said Multimedia Editor Amanda McCarthy they understand technical aspects of producing and rendering video media and they have become a crucial partner in ensuring that our content is ultimately accessible.”  The Video Captioning team also provides live captioning for virtual and hybrid events for the Department. Captioning videos not only creates a more inclusive Department, it also is required by law.  Live captioning is one component of accessibility and ensuring an inclusive virtual or hybrid event Other aspects of accessibility to include at the forefront of the event planning are ASL interpreting services accessible invitations and other documents and physical access of the building and event space Building accessibility goes beyond in-person and hybrid events and reflects the Department’s commitment to an inclusive environment OAA often works with the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) to help achieve facility accessibility overseas.  embassy projects embodies the American values of respect which parallels and underscores the Department’s goals of openness and democracy,” said Ron Tomasso the Barrier-Free Accessibility Program manager for OBO diplomatic facilities barrier-free accessible While OAA’s mission is to reduce and remove barriers for Department employees with disabilities their team also works to increase the number of employees with disabilities at the Department This means recruiting persons with disabilities providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities and ensuring employees have the tools and support they need.  Department employees and job applicants with disabilities can also visit OAA’s Access Center a facility that provides assistive technology tools and support to employees with disabilities Employees with disabilities can try out different technologies; supervisors can gain a broader understanding of the resources available to their teams; and employees without disabilities have a safe space to ask their questions and learn more about accessibility.  “The Access Center has helped our students learn how to support colleagues with disabilities at post,” said Sam Aluko information technology specialist-instructor and distance learning program manager at the Foreign Service Institute’s School of Applied Information Technology “The in-person visit to the Access Center has added the missing layer—students are able to interact with some of the assistive technology equipment and have a clearer and better understanding of their roles at post when they support colleagues with disabilities.” While accessibility benefits persons with disabilities its impact extends well beyond one component of the Department’s community while captions on videos help people who are deaf or hard of hearing including English language learners and people viewing a video in places where audio might not be optimal Studies have also shown that captions increase the retention and overall learning experience for all viewers Examples of accessibility benefitting a range of individuals are everywhere and include ramps These features—designed for persons with disabilities to gain access to information or physical spaces—have become ubiquitous in the United States and are used by persons with and without disabilities Designing with accessibility in mind creates solutions that benefit everyone Integrating accessible design into everyday processes is vital to creating a truly inclusive environment Every small step toward greater accessibility makes a difference.  Heidi Howland is a public affairs specialist in the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations ExpandSterling City Council candidates (from left) Jim Wise Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha participate in a forum Wednesday STERLING – Candidates for the Sterling City Council alderman at large race that will be decided April 1 met Wednesday for a forum to share their views on city issues Jon Mandrell, Sauk Valley Community College vice president of Academics and Student Services moderated the 2025 candidate forum at Sterling City Hall Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha answered questions some of which were submitted by the public who currently serves on the council alongside Wise was asked the same seven questions and had two minutes to respond Wise has served on the City Council for several years and is seeking reelection “I hope the voters will see to it that I can be a member of the City Council for a few more years,” Wise said “We’ve done great things in the city over the last several years and I look forward to the opportunity to be able to do more with your support.” Nares is a local business owner who takes inspiration from his grandfather “I see this role as a way to be a voice for the community “As a former correctional officer and sergeant I learned to listen and find common ground and also skills I bring as a business owner of The Mercantile I’m proud to be backed by the Northwestern Illinois building trades a testament to my commitment to supporting the local workforce I’m also partnering with the WACC (Whiteside Area Career Center) CEO class to inspire youth to dream big and feel pride in our area.” Przysucha is a member of Sterling’s Planning Commission a board member of the United Way of Whiteside County and is an Area IV Governor for Rotary District 6420 in addition to several other community clubs and committees “I don’t think there’s anything more important than giving back to the community,” Przyscucha said “Rotary has a motto: ”Service Above Self." I strongly believe in that Strongly believe in giving back to community I think it’s important to be able to do that and this is just another avenue for me to give back and help be a voice for those that don’t have a voice Wise said he has extensive experience in city government having spent nearly 30 years in various positions as either an elected or appointed official including nearly eight years on the City Council we initiated a stormwater management program we initiated the effort to redevelop our riverfront and we’ve learned a great deal from that experience over these years and that helps put me in a position to be a candidate for reelection,” Wise said Nares said his range of work experiences and his willingness to openly communicate with anyone “I’m confident that I can deescalate situations find common ground and be a voice for the people,” Nares said It’s hard for these city officials to read people’s minds and represent people without hearing their voice Przysucha said his heavy involvement in various city organizations and clubs sets him apart from Wise and Nares “One big thing I’m proud of is through the Sterling Township,” Przysucha said “I’m part of the youth committee that helped form the Elevate Youth Center I’d love to see a partnership between the city the township and the school district that just goes to help the youth.” Nares said although fixing these issues falls outside his expertise such as the decline of the Sterling Fire Department’s vehicles and investments into the city’s sewer systems were in good hands with city officials like City Manager Scott Schumard “The city’s in good hands with him,” Nares said “I would rely heavily on people calling him to bring those to our attention because some things have fallen through the cracks but I don’t believe that’s happened with him Przysucha said he believes the city’s biggest concern is supporting its fire and police departments, and credited the city for its recent approval to purchase a new $2 million fire truck with an aerial ladder. “That’s a huge step, huge win for the fire department, but there still needs to be updating,” Przysucha said. “we need to be able to protect our citizens, and by doing that, the fire department, the firefighters, need to have the equipment that they need. They need to have the apparatuses to be able to get to those emergency situations. Same goes with the police department.” Wise agreed with both Nares and Przysucha but said the city’s lack of housing is one of its more pressing issues. “We have a depleted inventory, and that is causing the rental and purchase prices to be sky high,” Wise said. “Now, there are other economic patches, but we lack inventory here. We need to continue to work at bringing in opportunities for developers and builders to alleviate that problem.” Przysucha said that no single issue should be prioritized over the other as all issues are important. “It’s probably more of a need situation,” Przysucha said. “Housing is important. It’s all important. I just don’t think you can emphasize one particular thing to say, ‘Let’s get this done' and move on. You’ve got to be able to work with every situation that you’re given and adapt and overcome, and be able to multitask and get as many things done as possible.” Wise said he agrees that all the issues are important, but highlighted public infrastructure and tax relief as key priorities. Nares said not everyone will agree on which issues should be prioritized, but conversation and transparency can go a long way in helping people understand why some decisions are made. Wise said he would continue utilizing existing economic development organizations, such as the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Sterling Main Street. “Main Street is a big driver of attracting businesses into the downtown, with their incubators,” Wise said. “And while we’re sustaining existing businesses, we continue to work to find ways to reduce their costs of doing business, such as property tax levies and permitting fees can be waived periodically. So, that can help grow existing businesses.” Nares agreed and said he knows firsthand the “fantastic job” Sterling Main Street does at supporting local businesses. He also supports the city’s investment into Sterling’s riverfront. Przysucha said the community does a great job of supporting new businesses and also feels the riverfront development is good for the city. “It’s thrilling to see all the redevelopment, not just along the river, but over on the east end with Marshalls and Old Navy,” Przysucha said. “You’re starting to see a lot of influx of not only the bigger businesses, but the smaller businesses as well, like The Mercantile. I think you do have that sense of wanting to support the business, and by seeing that support and excitement, I believe that’s going to give other entrepreneurs the want and the drive to open a business here.” Nares said he does not pretend to know everything and would consult with city administration and fellow council members if elected. Przysucha agreed with Nares, saying city officials do a wonderful job of managing these matters and that while more transparency is always beneficial, many people’s questions can be answered by simply reaching out to their alderman or city administration. “They will sit down and give you the time to explain why something was done or why something was paid for, or where it came from,” Przysucha said. “I think the city is doing a great job as far as funding different things. The roads are a big topic. It’s no secret we need to work on our roads. The unfortunate thing is, materials and labor for the roads keep going up, and there’s only so much money going around. I want to reassure people, roads are getting fixed.” Wise also credited Schumard and city administration for its handling of city finances, and agreed a little more transparency is a good thing. He said the city’s financial savvy is the reason it was able to purchase its new $1.9 million firetruck. “They’ve been able to manipulate our budget for the last several years and still give us everything that we need and find money to save,” Wise said. “We have reserves that we can tap into and fund things that we absolutely need.” Przysucha said that before Monday, he felt there were problems with the city’s new residential rental housing code and inspection program. Although he does not agree with everything in the ordinance, such as imposing fees for inspections, he credited city administration for making some concessions in its final version of the ordinance after receiving input from outside interest groups. “Did everybody win, no,” Przysucha said. “But did everybody lose? No. There does have to be some accountability. I think there’s a lot more good landlords than bad landlords. Having rented myself, I know outside of paying my rent, I maybe saw my landlord once. You’d like to think that these landlords know what’s going on in their units. Some of them really don’t, but if they don’t get called, there’s really no need for them to go in.” Wise voted to approve the ordinance on Monday, and continued to support the program, saying it would also provide Sterling’s Code Enforcement department the ability to hold private property owners accountable. He said he would also like to see the ordinance modified to eliminate inspection fees. “We don’t charge fees to walk through properties for fire inspections, and police don’t charge fees to search somebody’s garage for an intruder,” Wise said. “Nonetheless, there are other ways to accomplish this without charging for it. I support the ordinance, but I do believe that we can modify this over the next several months to ensure that all the principles involved are satisfied and willing to work together to make it work for the benefit of the community.” Nares said while he supports the ordinance, as a business owner and a renter, he can see both sides of the argument. Wise said he would continue to maximize social media and the internet to keep people informed and credited the city’s website for providing open access to city council agendas, materials and for providing Zoom links to meetings. “Something that we should try a little harder to do is something along the issue of ward meetings or having town halls periodically to bring that information to the public, rather than asking that they step into this room,” Wise said. Nares said that while there is always room for the city to improve, transparency is a “two-way street.” “We need more people to be involved,” Nares said. “It’s hard for somebody to read people’s minds when our voter turnout is as small as it is. The amount of voices we’re hearing, you’re representing a minority. It makes things harder. For transparency, I plan to and have been posting on social media and utilizing that. I want to recap council meetings, give those in little spark-note versions on social media.” Przysucha agreed with Nares and said it was important for people to reach out to their ward’s alderman. He also suggested broadcasting City Council meetings over Facebook Live to make them more accessible. “It’s easy to have a problem on your street, or you have a problem with an ordinance and you sit there and stew over it, and you get mad, and you start bad mouthing the city,” Przysucha said. “That’s going to happen, but we’re here to listen to you, and if you do have a problem, bring it up to one of your aldermen. We can’t fix the problem if we don’t know about the problem.” I received my Associate's in Communication (Media) from Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, IL. I'm currently finishing my Bachelor of Journalism at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. I enjoy engaging the community in thoughtful discussion on current events and look forward to hearing what you have to say. Stay curious. Stay informed. Protocol office launches Diplomatic Culinary Partnership and the American Culinary Corps food serves as a universal bridge between people and cultures despite their many differences A person’s most tangible memories of a place or interaction often involve a meal whether enjoyed alone or shared with others is a beautiful marriage with the culinary arts the goal of diplomacy is not only to convey priorities through meetings but also to share the best parts of one’s culture in the pursuit of connection and dialogue.  To these ends, the Office of the Chief of Protocol relaunched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation a New York City-based national non-profit culinary arts organization With Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosting the reception members of the new American Culinary Corps Partnership were honored for their outstanding achievements and called upon to serve as culinary diplomats for the United States Among the 83 members of the Corps are chefs and food activists representing a diverse cross-section of the United States and an impressive range of career progression the corps represents an amazing opportunity for the Department of State to share stories of varied and unique American cuisine The stories are what make this group of culinary artisans and advocates a powerful force for diplomacy Eating together represents an opportunity to form and craft new bonds and ties while advancing American values Blinken echoed this importance of community as being so foundational to the nature of diplomacy when he said we learn something about each other in ways that transcend divisions of geography or language.”  Members of the corps represent the diversity of American cuisine the 88 year-old “Queen of Texas BBQ,” is a pitmaster in Lexington on Saturdays and works as a high school janitor the rest of the week the first Pacific Islander woman to earn a James Beard Award also advocates for working mothers in the hospitality industry dedicated his career to advancing the power of food is renowned for her Southeast Asian fusion cuisine Tanya Holland has a passion for soul food and inclusion and equity in the hospitality industry as big as her iconic smile and deep the “Sioux Chef,” is revitalizing and reidentifying indigenous foods with such enthusiasm and passion that he was recently selected as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People And Mariya Russell has a culinary imagination and determined management that led her to become the first Black woman to earn a prestigious Michelin Star.  are manifesting their love of Eastern European cuisine from a cooking together at home concept to a thriving business in New York City Kevin Tien is a rising star with national acclaim who founded Chefs Stopping AAPI (Asian-American and Pacific Islander) Hate to raise awareness about and combat anti-AAPI violence and racism are inspired by her immigrant journey from Algeria to America Anthony Myint shifted from his successful career as a chef to bring national and worldwide attention to sustainable agriculture and climate change Debby Portillo and Fernando Gonzalez immigrated to the United States from El Salvador and established a now top-rated BBQ restaurant just outside of Washington Their resilience was reflected in the guest they brought to Blinken’s reception—their immigration attorney.  and passions of these individuals are as widely diverse as the elite group they joined.  “Food has been an integral part of the American story and what we cherish,” said Blinken at the reception launching the partnership.  four student chefs from the American Culinary Federation worked alongside Department chefs to prepare and serve cuisine for the reception that attracted members of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Cirius Brown who serves as a Commissaryman; Barbara Casey; Alxs Galit; and Isaiah Gerrard saying they represent the next generation of the culinary profession and sheer talent that you bring show us that it’s a bright future indeed—and a delicious one,” Blinken added The next step is to  put the American Culinary Corps into action for a variety of public diplomacy engagements including cultural events and sending them abroad to support the Department’s foreign missions.  we will seek to find innovative ways of embracing food and community as diplomatic tools to engage world leaders and strengthen our bilateral relationships all the while having a little bit of fun and creating a little bit of joy,” said Ambassador Rufus Gifford In a fitting testament to engaged action, the renowned celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés, another culinary diplomat, sent a video from southeastern Türkiye where he and his World Central Kitchen non-profit were feeding survivors of the earthquake that struck the border with Syria.  Two members of the corps were tapped for the recent State visit of President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) hosted by President Joe Biden a Korean-American chef specializing in food from the American South Jill Biden to cook for the state dinner and honor 70 years of U.S.-ROK diplomatic relations a Black American chef whose love of Korean food and culture was fostered when his parents were stationed in ROK with the U.S was invited by Vice President Kamala Harris and Blinken to cook for the state luncheon at the Harry S Truman Building These members of the American Culinary Corps served as culinary diplomats helping to create opportunities for relationships to deepen over plates of food.  be that spirit of connection and pursuit of dialogue that will guide the efforts of this program going forward chief executive officer of the James Beard Foundation quoted the organization’s namesake at the launch reception describing food as humanity’s common ground.  “Together we recognize the power of food in cultivating human connection and as a compelling expression of heritage and culture,” she said Savoy is a senior protocol officer in the Office of the Chief of Protocol.  ExpandDixon City Councilman Chris Bishop (left) and Councilman Dennis Considine (right) are running for reelection in the April 2025 election The incumbents are the only candidates running for the two open seats DIXON – On the ballot for the April 2025 election will be two incumbents running for two open seats on the Dixon City Council along with two incumbents and two newcomers running for two open seats on the Sterling City Council according to the Dixon and Sterling City Clerk’s offices The two open seats on Dixon’s council come as the terms of council member Chris Bishop and council member Dennis Considine end in April 2025 two alderman at large positions are up for election as the terms of Alderman Jim Wise and Alderwoman Kaitlyn Ekquist end in April 2025 The only two candidates in the running are the incumbents seeking to serve another four-year term on the council according to Dixon City Clerk Keesha Kunde Dixon City Councilman Chris Bishop (left) and Councilman Dennis Considine (right) are running for reelection in the April 2025 election Bishop was first elected to serve on the council in 2015 for a two-year term He ran for election again in 2021 and was elected to his current four-year term he ran as a Republican in the Illinois State Senate District 37 primary but lost to former Dixon Mayor Li Arellano the end of his term will mark 14 years of his involvement in Dixon’s government He was first elected before the city transitioned to the city manager form of government in 2015 and has continued to run for reelection since then [ Two Dixon City Council members will run for reelection in April ] voters will get a chance to hear from the candidates during a question-and-answer forum hosted by Discover Dixon a venue and date for the forum has not yet been decided according to Discover Dixon Events Director Jennifer Lang alderman-at-large positions on Sterling’s City Council are incumbents Wise and Ekquist as well as two newcomers Alderwoman Kaitlyn Ekquist (left) and Alderman Jim Wise are both running for reelection to the Sterling City Council in April 2025 Also in the running for the two open alderman-at-large seats are two newcomers [ Two incumbents will seek reelection to Sterling City Council ] As for the newcomers, Nares is a business owner who in October opened the Mercantile Ballroom & Cocktail Lounge, at 117 W. Third St. in Sterling, with his wife and co-owner Ashley Nares. The couple also own Nares Event Co. and ‘Til Death Photo and Film Przysucha currently serves on the Sterling planning commission and as a youth committee member for Sterling Township. He is also a board member at United Way of Whiteside County and is a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club, according to his candidate Facebook page executive director at Sterling Main Street said that the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce typically holds a candidate forum for City Council elections but as of Monday no plans had yet been made There will be no primary election in either Whiteside County or Lee County there will also be other elected officials Certified sample ballots will become available Jan Lee County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Petersen said early voting is held in the election department on the first floor of the Old Lee County Courthouse In Whiteside County it is held at the courthouse in Morrison at 200 E Payton FelixPayton Felix reports on local news in the Sauk Valley for the Shaw Local News Network. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May of 2023. Leading Department engagement with local officials in the United States and abroad and other local officials in the United States and around the world are on the frontlines of some of the biggest global challenges—from tackling extreme weather and pandemics to creating opportunities for economic development Local governments are a critical part of the response and solution to these concerns To advance the goals of President Joe Biden’s Foreign Policy for the Middle Class and to make foreign policy work for all Americans Blinken appointed Ambassador Nina Hachigian as the first special representative for city and state diplomacy and established the Subnational Diplomacy Unit within the Office of Global Partnerships within the Office of the Under Secretary of Economic Growth local leaders must be part of the conversation The special representative and her team engage with mayors and other local leaders to better understand their foreign policy priorities and work with them to ensure that the Department of State incorporates these priorities and insights into the Administration’s agenda with the aim of bringing tangible benefits of foreign policy to their communities The team focuses on local leaders’ interests including finding solutions to global challenges that impact their residents creating new jobs by engaging with the world and finding international opportunities for their young people The team is partnering with the Department of Commerce to make the process of identifying trade and investment opportunities more transparent they are raising awareness about exciting opportunities for young people through the Department’s international educational and cultural exchange programs They are also connecting mayors and governors with international counterparts and with global city and state networks for exchanges of ideas that can contribute solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems city and state diplomacy benefits local residents they can help the Department in three major ways: tackling transnational threats directly especially climate change (their decisions on energy sources and more have a direct effect on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and building resilience to climate change impacts); sharing their experiences with the Department and their foreign counterparts on common challenges; and carrying the U.S flag on their trade missions and at global gatherings of subnational leaders the Subnational Diplomacy team has succeeded in raising the profile of city and regional diplomacy and spurred considerable new activity within and outside the Department Local officials and city networks have expressed deep gratitude for the creation of the team and now regularly seek advice and collaboration The team has fielded hundreds of inquiries often connecting local leaders with experts across the Department the team wants to enable increased participation of U.S As Blinken noted at the Cities Summit of the Americas subnational engagement is becoming “an increasingly critical part of what we’re doing” at the Department In January 2023, Blinken addressed the U.S becoming the first secretary of state ever to do so He emphasized that mayors’ “leadership is vital and it’s going to be even more so in the years ahead.”   Conference of Mayors highlighted the critical importance of the Subnational Diplomacy Unit as the front door to the Department for mayors are where democracy is closest to its people,” said Blinken at the Cities Summit of the Americas “And when cities are responsive to the needs of residents they demonstrate democracy’s greatest strength: its ability to improve on itself to empower citizens to hold their leaders accountable and to allow the best ideas to rise to the top.”  During the second Summit for Democracy in March the Subnational Diplomacy Unit worked with USAID to co-sponsor a virtual event on the Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy which has more than 200 signatures from global mayors The summit showcased the challenges they face and solutions they are forging to maintain democratic practices The summit brought together more than 2,500 subnational leaders to participate in over 100 sessions and events “Deeper connections between cities and national governments can make a profound difference in the lives and livelihoods of our people,” said Blinken.  Hosted by the Department and the city of Denver the Cities Summit of the Americas convened state and youth representatives to support progress on city challenges and help national governments learn more about the perspectives of cities and communities More than 250 mayors from 35 countries across Latin America gathered to discuss local priorities implementation of commitments from last year’s Ninth Summit of the Americas and strengthening of city-to-city ties throughout the hemisphere Mayors had vibrant discussions on pragmatic approaches to clean energy solutions and environmental sustainability equitable social inclusion across the hemisphere Hachigian led a fireside chat with Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko on the role cities are playing in upholding democratic institutions She also participated in Blinken’s roundtable with women mayors from Tucson Dominican Republic; on what efforts are required to build equitable cities a landmark commitment signed by more than 50 mayors attending the summit to advance mutual priorities across their local communities “The Denver Declaration is the perfect way to cap a week of dialogue and new partnerships,” said Hancock “It highlights the transformational work that began this week and will continue to benefit local communities throughout the hemisphere.”  The answers to many shared global challenges begin at the local level Local leaders are working on many of the same issues as the Department By connecting local leaders with international partners the Department helps foster solutions that can make a tangible difference to local communities As subnational diplomacy and global engagement at the city and state level become increasingly more significant around the world the Subnational Diplomacy Unit at the Department will continue to serve as a direct line to local leaders.  Nina Hachigian is the special representative for city and state diplomacy Daniel Ricchetti is the deputy special representative for city and state diplomacy and Irina Karmanova is communications director in the Subnational Diplomacy Unit.   MED rolls out vaccination clinic in Washington frontline workers in the fields of healthcare and food service have faced the very real risk of exposure to COVID-19 these workers continued to show up and serve their communities The Department of State’s Bureau of Medical Services (MED) marked its one-year anniversary of response to the novel coronavirus MED staff based in Washington worked around the clock to protect the lives and well-being of the Department’s employees and eligible family members This included quickly organizing a 24-hour emergency operations center to manage COVID-19 inquiries as well as conducting and providing workplace guidance MED offices overseas have been instrumental in protecting employees and family members at embassies and consulates worldwide.  MED’s larger mission is to ensure the health and productivity of the Department’s employees While still maintaining all of MED’s programs in the complex pandemic environment the bureau developed creative solutions to manage the added responsibilities of COVID-19 testing MED was faced with another exciting and historical development when vaccine deployment became a reality MED needed to plan how to proficiently administer a brand-new vaccine to many employees despite its limited staff capacity.  “We did not have any idea of how much [of the] vaccine we could get and initially had no established plans to distribute it quickly within the D.C We thought it would go overseas because we’re the State Department,” said Dr deputy medical director for Clinical Services recalling the incredible amount of teamwork required to assess and answer the call to administer the vaccine effectively “The entire MED team really came together to stand up a full-service mass vaccine clinic and has spent hours upon hours working on that we have administered over 8,000 vaccines.” The COVID-19 vaccine campaign required an organized approach Though the immunization effort became a central focus for the bureau MED needed to continue its usual work as well The Medical Clearances office continued to process hundreds of medical clearances The Medical Specialists Staff Office continued recruitment efforts and support services for overseas health units The Foreign Programs office managed the usual medevacs in addition to the highly complex travel and treatment required for patients who tested positive for coronavirus the MED family came together to lead an unprecedented COVID-19 vaccine campaign successfully MED adjusted to their patients’ needs with consistency and professionalism providing private and federal organizations with a strategic blueprint to follow and they’re doing beyond what they would normally do to make this happen “We became a D.C.-based mass vaccine clinic throughout the evolution of the pandemic.”  director of occupational health and wellness was one of the physicians leading MED’s vaccination rollout He recalled moments interacting with a patient that reiterates the weight that so many have carried throughout the pandemic she asked if she could take the vaccine home to her mother “Though I cannot send the vaccine home with you you become a safer family member when you interact with your mother Receiving this vaccine now is an act of love for your mother.” and vaccinators shared their personal pandemic experiences throughout the vaccination process Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel can appear closer than it seems During the first few weeks of the vaccination clinic opening its waiting room quickly became a place of reunions—talking and laughing—and the warm welcome of old friends and colleagues.  “We had to remind these colleagues to visit in a socially distant and safe way,” said Calhoun “But it was a great joy to see glimpses of people being able to connect The occasion for these folks visiting in the waiting room this little dose of hope reminds me that this is a historical moment Williams is a program coordinator in the Bureau of Medical Services.  Secretary of State Michael Pompeo met with the newly selected 2019 White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP) Fellows during their visit to the Department The WHLDP focuses on building the next generation of career senior executives with a whole-of-government perspective these senior federal leaders are placed on a one-year rotation to either the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or the General Services Administration (GSA) to support and lead the President’s Management Agenda Fellows work to solve cross government organizational challenges such as IT modernization workforce development and data accountability and transparency Pompeo discussed the importance of service to the nation the need for accountability to American citizens and mentoring the next generation of federal leaders about public service The Secretary and the Fellows conferred about the positive impact civil servants can achieve by working together with a common mission in service to the nation The Fellows also met with Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale who discussed how to promote and leverage a diverse workforce and also with Deputy Assistant Secretary Philippe Lussier who spoke about the challenges with government-wide problem solving.  The 2019 WHLDP Fellows are comprised of 18 high-performing GS-15 civil servants from the following 12 federal agencies: State Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention NASA and the Department of Veterans Affairs three were selected from the State Department: Kim Tuminaro is managed by the Bureau of Human Resources’ Office of Civil Service Human Resources Management email rotations@state.gov or visit the Performance Improvement Council or Performance.gov Yaropolk Kulchyckyj is a WHLDP Fellow in the Bureau of Budget and Planning Kim Tuminaro is a senior trade officer in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Robert Hankinson is a branch chief in the Bureau of Information Resource Management.  This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the General Services Administration’s deputy assistant commissioner in the Integrated Technology Services office in the Federal Acquisition Service Two longtime federal senior executives are calling it a career the chief financial officer for the Veterans Health Administration also announced her plans to retire as of Dec the former Energy Department chief technology officer is joining Deep Water Point consulting as a principal He will lead a new venture to bring in leading edge or cutting edge companies to the federal acquisition process         Find out what steps agencies should take to better protect OT systems in our latest Executive Briefing Deep Water Point announced Tseronis’ hire on Nov Tseronis, who left government in September after 24 years will lead Deep Water Point’s effort to help its clients vet future investments provide go-to-market advice for existing investments and assist with connections between key technologies and agency missions Pete maintains a unique capability to keep pace with evolving technology advancements risks and threats,” said John Przysucha a Deep Water Point partner and a former DOE executive “As an innovation advocate for the technology transfer and commercialization of intellectual property Pete is an effective and credible collaborator across the national laboratory And as a strong advocate for technological innovation he created the advocacy and technology exchange forum to promote entrepreneurship and innovation while streamlining information sharing across public and private sectors.” Day and Turco could follow Tseronis into the private sector The rumor mill surrounding Day’s decision to retire has grown stronger over the last few months Day denied any immediate plans to retire back in August but over the last few months he decided it was time Day joined government in 1997 as the deputy CIO for IT and the director of the Office of Technology Operations and Planning at the Environmental Protection Agency He also served as the chief technology officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development where he focused on the re-compete of HUD’s primary IT support contract Day came to GSA in November 2011 where he served as director of the Office of Strategic Programs and then as deputy assistant commissioner         Sign up for our daily newsletter so you never miss a beat on all things federal In his final role at GSA, Day led the effort to develop contracts to help agencies buy cloud services and more efficiently buy IT services Turco’s departure comes after almost 28 years in government, including 13 at the IRS and the last 2 1/2 at VHA Turco told Federal News Radio in an email that it was “time to move on and forward — I officially will retire from the federal government I am looking forward to being in the private sector and making a difference for federal employees from the other side.” FCW first reported Turco’s decision to retire Jason Miller is executive editor of Federal News Network and directs news coverage on the people policy and programs of the federal government Follow @jmillerWFED our world is facing profound tests: The development of new technologies like artificial intelligence The mounting effects of the climate crisis and the demands of the clean energy transition The emergence of new powers and an escalating strategic competition The persistence of deadly conflicts that fuel dire humanitarian crises and threaten regional The only way to solve problems today—and seize opportunities for tomorrow—is to work closely with our allies and collaborate with leaders from civil societies and the private sector That’s why we’ve revitalized the power and purpose of American diplomacy boosting our competitiveness at home and investing in our global network of partners the effectiveness of our diplomacy also comes from the strength of our Foreign Service Foreign Service has helped solve global problems and shape a more open and prosperous world for Americans and for people in other countries You’ve represented our nation with courage You have done this work in dangerous places; so many of you have served thousands of miles away from your loved ones and engaging in innovative ways with more audiences you’ve shown time and again that the Foreign Service doesn’t back down I know how it feels to miss important moments with them because you’re trying to make life a little better for their generation I also know just how many people are counting on our Foreign Service You’re helping small business owners reach new global markets providing scholarships for college kids to study in another country and protecting Americans by disrupting the supply chains that bring fentanyl into our communities You’re resettling refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan supporting conservationists who are protecting the environment and leading critical negotiations to end conflicts it’s been a top priority for me to invest in our Foreign Service We need to continue to build a diplomatic corps that looks like the country it represents gives everyone the chance to learn and grow and empowers our people to share their ideas and contribute their full talents and potential You play an essential role in these efforts you’ve worked to build a better Foreign Service It’s just one more way that you’re following in the footsteps of those who came before you—and helping make the future a little brighter and I’m grateful for all you do to deliver for people across our country and around the world When sharing or linking to FSJ articles online, which we welcome and encourage, please be sure to cite the magazine (The Foreign Service Journal) and the month and year of publication. Please check the permissions page for further details Contact Us © 2023 by American Foreign Service Association. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/benjamin-netanyahu-replaced-as-israeli-prime-minister-after-12-years-in-office\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=YDZga4e6mxJjEIPbBfasoPonUX10HHHY8yVP53gK7cc-1746483373-1.0.1.1-5VELaLRMBuL1NK66jic5jLvB1MBMjCPx6hPd9YzGpmA" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); Print When U.S he didn’t go there just to talk about oil and natural gas Before the U.S. national team’s World Cup opener in Qatar, Blinken joined representatives of the American squad and dozens of young Qatari boys and girls for a soccer clinic, where he talked about one of the most useful implements in his diplomatic tool box: sports. Soccer For the first time, the FIFA World Cup is heading to the Middle East for a fall showcase. Here is The Times’ complete coverage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “We use sports as a way of connecting people, connecting people to our country. Whenever I go around the world — whatever, again, our differences may be — sports brings us together, unites us, connects us,” he said. Toward that end the State Department’s sports diplomacy program has sent surfers to Papua New Guinea, taken ambassadors such as Shaquille O’Neal to Cuba and organized sports camps in which Israelis and Palestinians both have taken part. It also brought hundreds of leaders from grassroots sports organizations from around the world to the U.S. as part of a mentoring program designed to encourage and empower leaders while expanding athletic opportunities for young athletes back home. And it does all that on an annual budget of about $6 million — so small that even in the hyper-partisan political climate in Washington, sports diplomacy has remained beneath the fray, finding fans on the blue and red teams. “Sports diplomacy,” said Ashleigh Huffman, director of the sports diplomacy division for the last 15 months, “is the best-kept secret in the State Department.” And the U.S. isn’t the only country that believes in the power of sports. Australia, Spain and England all have government ministers or civil-service actors who are doing that work while the European Union has an entire strategy devoted to sports diplomacy. “Sport is that universal language, right? No matter where you go, you can roll out a ball and it just transcends differences,” said Huffman, 39, who was among the featured speakers at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai in November. “The programs, the exchanges, connect us through sport, tap into this shared universal language.” But sports exchanges aren’t always used benignly. Sometimes they hide far more nefarious aims. Gio Reyna has continued to act immature in the weeks following the World Cup. U.S. Soccer should not reward him. Huffman, who played college basketball at Eastern Kentucky, said she has engaged with virtually every sport, including skateboarding, breakdancing, mountain climbing and baseball, although basketball and soccer are the most-requested ones and U.S. national team star Megan Rapinoe is the most-requested athlete. “One industry where the United States is still seen as a superpower is the sports sphere,” she said. “When we talk about American values and we’re talking about freedom and justice and equality, if that’s really what we stand for, how can we look at places that are less free, less equal and say we don’t have some kind of responsibility to share what we’ve been given? That we don’t have some kind of responsibility to equip and empower locals to change their communities if they need to? “Where there’s privilege there is responsibility. And we have a tremendous amount of privilege in the United States.” The most recent class of 15, which arrived last fall, included delegates from Kosovo, Croatia, India, Zanzibar and Egypt. “They’re the experts in their community. We can’t copy and paste what we might think will work there because we don’t know the context. Our role is to come alongside them and help them and support them,” said Carolyn Spellings, the chief of evaluation, research and accountability at the Center for Sport and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Spellings, like Huffman, is convinced sports can also be effective in more typical diplomatic situations such as conflict resolution because it breaks down barriers, making negotiation and compromise easier. “It humanizes the other person,” she said. “It kind of strips down those labels that you might have for the other.” Sports also reinforces the importance of rules, which can aid diplomacy. “There are rules in a society that you have to follow. Sport has the opportunity to reach those things,” said Spellings, who grew up playing basketball and soccer. “As the competition gets heavier the consequences can be more severe than a 7-year-old playing soccer. But sports is unique in that way. “Sport is not the magic solution to everything. But it can be helpful to start to solve these problems.” Brandon Vázquez scores goals for FC Cincinnati and the USMNT like he eats hotcakes a uniquely American piece of legislation that prohibited sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that received funding from the federal government Although the language of the law was not limited to sports that’s where its effect has been most widely felt opening opportunities to tens of millions of female athletes The sports diplomacy program has tried to use that as an example of how small change can have a big effect “We’re taking these lessons from Title IX and applying it in Uganda and Brazil and the Philippines and it’s making a real difference,” Huffman said It really changes the life of people and then that person can change the life of others Basketball helped pay for her education and since getting her doctorate she’s gone to three dozen countries to coach young girls teaching lessons that go well beyond the triangle offense and the half-court press “If we can come together on the field and athlete [or] teammate can be our first identity then all of these other identities can kind of become secondary and you can actually have a conversation,” said Huffman who wrote her masters thesis on sport in the Israeli-Palestinian context Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, five Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog. High School Sports Sports Kings Dodgers Clippers Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The expected tariff cost is significantly lower than the $4 billion to $5 billion crosstown rival General Motors estimates which Ford attributes to its higher mix of U.S.-built vehicles Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Saturday after Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold talks to resolve their border disputes The visit takes place against the backdrop of more than a year of war between the Hebrew state and the Lebanese Shiite terrorist group Washington has urged the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah to ensure calm along the border Ortagus also discussed with Aoun the escalation of Israeli attacks against targets of the terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas which have also reached the outskirts of Beirut in recent days The Lebanese presidency said in a statement that the meeting between Ortagus and Aoun “was constructive” and that the delegations led by the two discussed “the situation in southern Lebanon and financial and economic reforms to combat corruption” in the Mediterranean country.The statement did not provide further details although it indicated that the meeting was preceded by a "private" meeting between the Lebanese head of state and the US official Ortagus met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and is expected to meet with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri who is also the lead negotiator in the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.His visit comes amid an increase in attacks by the Israel Defense Forces which in the last week launched two airstrikes against terrorist targets on the outskirts of Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire went into effect four months ago and yesterday targeted a Hamas leader in the southern city of Sidon.In the early hours of the morning just 12 hours before the US representative's arrival an Israeli precision strike on an apartment in that city killed Hassan Farhat a commander of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Lebanon the main mediator of the cessation of hostilities has urged Lebanon to accelerate the disarmament of non-state groups and begin negotiations to demarcate its border with the Jewish state currently divided only by a withdrawal line drawn by the UN.Agencies contributed to this Aurora article email and website in this browser for the next time you comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Aurora Israel News in Spanish Minute by minute on all the events in Israel © Copyright 2024 Aurora Israel. All Rights Reserved. | Site Developed by Codetribe Israel | Contact Us "\/johnson-must-not-condone-orbans-state-sponsored-antisemitism\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=EWqd8iQ0Wdq5.8to7HeyD1cgWHJRvK8_4weD2DfuhDw-1746483406-1.0.1.1-l_i4__hQrHfgZTcG2kVR4EowwrVo7k4VZTjsZcyAK7s" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null NEW YORK – Serbia and Kosovo should avoid provocations that hinder the normalisation process This statement came after the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in New York Pompeo explained that both sides should engage with the spirit of compromise and flexibility necessary to secure an agreement and unlock both countries’ potential “Secretary Pompeo encouraged Serbia to focus on this strategic goal by accelerating domestic reforms and resuming negotiations with Kosovo on a comprehensive normalization agreement centred on mutual recognition,” reads the statement The Secretary and President Vučić also discussed the shared bilateral vision of a stable support for Serbia’s goal of integration into the European Union European Western Balkans is a web portal that focuses on the WB countries and reports on development of the EU’s enlargement policy The portal is launched in 2014 by the Centre for Contemporary Politics Leaders from eight Arab countries are meeting in Riyadh on Friday to prepare a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip in response to US President Donald Trump's plan Saudi media reported the arrival in the Saudi capital of heads of state from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) after receiving an invitation from the Saudi Crown Prince who will preside over this “meeting of informal fraternity” A final communiqué on this meeting is expected this afternoon which will serve to prepare the summit of heads of state of the Arab League (22 countries) on March 4 in Cairo where Middle East leaders are expected to jointly respond to Trump's project and present an alternative to rebuilding Gaza Trump has said he intends for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and turn it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East' Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuli has said that the Gaza Strip can be rebuilt in three years a period he considered “more than sufficient” on a technical level if there is collaboration between Egyptian construction companies and those from other Middle Eastern countries According to estimates published this week by the United Nations the World Bank and the European Union (EU) the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip could cost around 53.000 billion dollars