World Services of La Crosse has served as a hosting organization for the Community Connections program since 2006.  Community Connections participants are selected by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in their respective countries for a three week professional exchange training program in the U.S.  Volunteer professionals and home stay hosts welcome Community Connections participants to
La Crosse.  Typically, World Services identifies complementary professional training volunteers in other Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa communities.

The Community Connections Program, managed by USAID’s Bureau of Economic Growth and Trade(EGAT)/Office of Education and administered by World Learning, is designed to promote public diplomacy through the exchange of cultural ideas and values among participants, U.S. families and local community host organizations. It seeks to establish and strengthen links between U.S. communities and communities in Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

The goals of the Community Connections program are to:

• provide participants with professional training and exposure to day-to-day functioning of a free market system;
• encourage public-private partnerships in Europe/Eurasia by including private sector and government participants on U.S. visits;
• create links between U.S. and Europe/Eurasia regions and communities.

World Services of La Crosse Community Connections Delegations:

For additional information about the international professional development exchanges designed by World Services, please contact us: info@wslax.us.