Iraqi delegation at 911 Media Arts Center, June 1st 2011

A delegation of  Iraqi journalists and media professionals visited 911 Media Arts Center’s offices yesterday morning as part of an ongoing program through the World Affairs Council and the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).  During the meeting 911 Media director Steven Vroom presented the workings of the organization to the group and fielded questions via two Arabic translators.

The discussion primarily centered around the financial and practical workings of the organization, particularly the non-profit model in general and the income sources for a charitable new media center in an environment with little to no government funding for the arts.  The concept of a community-driven media arts organization, and the idea of empowering individual voices through access and education, in the context of media independent from commercial or political interests was also discussed.

Seattle resident Musab Masmari, a Libyan/US citizen, was also in attendance to act as a cultural ambassador on behalf of 911 Media Arts Center for the Arabic speaking visitors.

911 Media Arts Center has participated in several of these visits via the World Affairs Council over the last three years presenting a working overview of new media not-for-profit funding and administration to individual delegations of international visitors.

List of Participants
(last names removed per request of the participants)

Ms. Naza Mohammed Abdullah
Senior reporter, Al-Sumariya TV

Mr. Majid Abdulhameed Abdulsattar
Senior reporter (Media Coordinator), Al-Rasheed TV

Mr. Ssamer Yousef Abeed
Reporter, Al-Arabiya TV (Pan Arab)

Mr. Hamzah Hussein Shallal
Senior reporter, Al-Iraqiya TV

Mr. Moamel Majeed Hameed
Senior Political Presenter (Programmer), Al-Iraqiya TV

Mr. Minas Jabbar Majeed
Reporter, Al Baghdadia TV

Mr. Wisam Fadhil
Professor of Journalism and Deputy Dean of Media Studies at Baghdad University

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/ivlp.html

International Visitors are current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other key fields. Over 4,000 International Visitors come to the United States from all over the world each year. In Seattle, the World Affairs Council coordinates the programs for more than 1,000 of these visitors each year. Since its inception, thousands of distinguished individuals have participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program, including more than 290 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, thousands of cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors. While in the U.S., International Visitors typically visit Washington, DC and three additional towns or cities that highlight the tremendous diversity of the U.S. They attend professional appointments with their American counterparts, learn about the U.S. system of government at the national, state and local levels, visit American schools, and experience American culture and social life.

The World Affairs Council of Seattle, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, is the leading foreign affairs forum in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1951, the Council’s purpose has been to promote greater understanding of global affairs in the Puget Sound community through a balance of public events, educational activities and the international visitor program. www.world-affairs.org