[Mn-at-large] Hosting opportunities for blind international students

[David Andrews]

>
>The following comes via Anya Fuller, a 
>federation member, ELL instructor at BLIND Inc., 
>and former participant in this program.
>
>Greenheart International, a nonprofit agency, 
>works in the field of high school foreign 
>exchange and helps to administer the exceptional 
>US State Department sponsored FLEX (Future 
>Leaders Exchange) scholarship for exchange 
>students from the former Soviet Union, as well 
>as a few newer country additions to the 
>scholarship as well.  The scholarship brings 
>students to the US to live with a volunteer host 
>family, and attend a local public school for an 
>academic school year.  The scholarship actively 
>invites people with disabilities to apply for 
>this life-changing experience, including 
>students who are seeing impaired.  The goals of 
>the program are to improve diplomatic relations 
>between these countries and the US, promote 
>leadership capabilities, and encourage the 
>spirit of volunteerism.  As a Local Coordinator 
>in the Twin Cities area, I actively introduce 
>people to the program, educate folks about the 
>opportunity to host these exceptional students, 
>and provide monitoring support to the students 
>while on program.  Each spring we receive 
>applications from students with disabilities and 
>those without disabilities.  We are currently 
>working to identify families who might be 
>interested in hosting one of our students, and 
>would like to encourage folks to reach out to me 
>to get further information.  I would like to 
>encourage families with or without disabilities 
>to consider applying to be a volunteer host 
>family.  We have also received applications in 
>the past from students who utilize a wheelchair, 
>so if there are families who might have a 
>handicapped accessible home, I would especially 
>be interested in talking with you.  Most 
>students do not have need for a handicapped 
>accessible home, but sometimes this 
>occurs.  Volunteer host families provide a room 
>(may be shared), meals, and a caring environment 
>for their student.  The student attends the 
>local public high school, performs volunteer 
>service while on program, and receives a stipend 
>to cover their personal expenses.  There are 
>some additional funds available to assist the 
>students with disabilities for things such as 
>assistive technology, or large print text books 
>for example.  For more information, please 
>contact Mary Armstrong at 952-657-3406 / email: 
><mailto:armstrong.mary at mac.com>armstrong.mary at mac.com 
>/ website: <http://www.greenheart.org>www.greenheart.org
>
>We always have a nice group of students in the 
>greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and we get 
>together for group orientations and enhancement 
>activities.  I have been working with these 
>students almost 20 years both in the capacity of 
>a Local Coordinator as well as a volunteer host 
>family.  I’d love an opportunity to introduce 
>you to some of our successful current students as well as alumni in the area!
>
>I’d love a chance to come up again to visit 
>and present the program to folks who might not 
>know about it.  I’m often in Minneapolis as my 
>son, who is seeing impaired, resides there.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Mary Armstrong
>Local Coordinator
>Greenheart International
>5158 167th Street W
>Lakeville, MN 55044
>TEL 952-657-3406
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