From June 20 – July 13, 18 emerging European leaders traveled throughout the United States for 24 days with the Marshall Memorial Fellowship program (MMF). Participants came from 15 countries, from Portugal to Bulgaria, and included the Head of the Delegation of Montenegro to the European Union; a Professor of Political Science at the University of Granada, Spain; a Chief Editor of the Athens News Agency; and an Expert on Foreign Relations from the Office of the Prime Minister of Poland, among other young pioneers in European society.

The Fellows spent six days in Washington where they discussed the global financial crisis with experts at the IMF; explored the complex world of environmental groups in the United States with Tim Male, President of Conservation Policy at the Defenders of Wildlife; and spoke with Paula Schreifer, Director of Advocacy at Freedom House. After their time in the nation’s capital, Fellows were divided into smaller groups and visited either Anchorage, Alaska; Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; or Portland, Oregon. They then stayed with host families in either Billings, Montana; Rapid City, South Dakota; or Wilmington, North Carolina before visiting either Chicago, Dallas, South Florida or Seattle. After these visits all over the United States, the large group reunited in New York City. 

The summer program included activities such as a meeting with Former Congressman Michael E. McMahon; a visit to Yellowstone National Park; a Native American tribal ceremony in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation of Montana; a tour of the Port of Miami; and an in-depth roundtable discussion on the financial crisis with Joseph Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist for Bank of America and GMF Non-Resident Transatlantic Fellow.  In each city stop, individual appointments were arranged for Fellows according to their professional interests to facilitate the sharing of best practices across the Atlantic. In addition, the European Fellows connected with American alumni of the program to foster relationships and strengthen the network of young transatlantic leaders created by the program.

The Marshall Memorial Fellowship is a group program that delves into the inner workings of American society through briefings, site visits, and experiential learning opportunities. Over the course of the 24-day program, Fellows meet with government officials, policymakers, academics, think tank leaders, business representatives, and civil society advocates to gain a better understanding of transatlantic and domestic issues through local, regional, and national perspectives. Subjects covered typically include politics, education, volunteerism, arts and culture, business, crime and justice, economic development, and religion.

GMF thanks its American city coordinators whose knowledge and dedication greatly contribute to the continued success of the MMF program.