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Alumni Doing Outreach

Dear Fulbright Alum,

WELCOME BACK! Now that you've returned to the United States, we here at the Program hope you might be interested in helping us promote the Fulbright Teacher Exchange to your teacher friends and colleagues. Below are six ways in which alumni can help us promote the program.

Speaking about Fulbright and your exchange:
If you enjoy talking about Fulbright and your exchange experience, this is a great way to get information out to people. You could speak to people in your local schools, Rotary Clubs, etc. If you prefer schools, we can provide you with a list of schools/districts in your area that have participated in a Fulbright exchange in the past five years. You would then start with other districts/schools that have NOT had exchanges in the past and meet with superintendents, principals, and/or teachers to make them aware of the program and its benefits. If you are successful in arranging a meeting, please let us know. We can provide you with Fulbright packets, publicity materials, and a speaking outline. Also, we'd like to put the engagements up on the web-site, so let us know when they are. You could arrange one-on-one meetings with administrators or group info sessions with teachers. It's really up to you...any way to get out the information would be great!

Putting up posters/flyers and getting other publicity:
Putting up posters and flyers is a very easy way to get out information. One way to do it is to put up posters in your local public and school libraries, as well as in your school district. Another idea is to visit your local teacher supply store and ask it to put up a poster or flyer in its front window, bulletin board and/or put flyers in bags with purchases.

You can also contact your local newspaper and ask it to run a story about your exchange or about a foreign teacher who is currently on exchange in your area. Get your school/district, union, or teacher organization to put an article in its newsletter and a link on its web-site.

Supporting international Fulbright teachers:
Another way to help out is by supporting foreign teachers in your area. Our international teachers need help adjusting to their new lives (you remember). You could act as a friend or mentor to the teachers who will live in your area. Take them out to dinner, invite them to a movie, or just connect with them by phone or E-mail. If you are interested in helping, we can provide you with a list of the international Fulbright teachers in your area and/or those of a particular country.

Manning a booth at a local/national conference:
Are there any local conferences or workshops that you usually attend and Fulbright doesn't? Are you willing to organize and man a booth at one of those conferences? If so, let us know. We might have funds available throughout the year to pay the cost of a booth and related expenses. (See Alumni Doing Outreach Honor Roll). We can also provide outreach materials. Please contact us to see how we can help you help us at conferences.

Starting an alumni group:
Fulbright is interested in starting alumni networks in different regions of the country. Some areas have very strong alumni groups already in place and others have none at all. We'd like to assist our alumni in organizing and participating in various events in their area, for example, having a potluck or sponsoring a community event. Fulbright has set aside special grant money to help you do this. If you are interested in starting or joining such a group in your area, please let us know.

If you are interested in any of the above ideas or have any other ideas on how to promote the program, please let us know. Thanks in advance for your help in getting the word out about the Fulbright experience!

Please contact Ann Koepke, Outreach Specialist, at ann_koepke@grad.usda.gov or 202.314.3537. For starting an alumni group, please contact: Carla Barresi, Alumni Coordinator, at carla_barresi@grad.usda.gov or 202.314.3519.

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