The team of five young professionals and one facilitator arrived in Cincinnati March 17, 2017 and spent a week meeting with social service agencies that work with the homeless and seek solutions to childhood poverty.

The CKSP Committee headed by Susan Neaman along with Mike Burns, Frank Clark, Bob Derge, Jr. and Gail Bason put together a program that connected the Kharkivites with representatives from local agencies to share best practices as well as an opportunity to serve a hot meal at the Christ Church Cathedral Soup Kitchen.

The delegates visited the Interfaith Hospitality Network, Valley Interfaith, Lighthouse Youth Services, United Way, Cincinnati COOKS, Anna Louise Inn, Cincinnati Works, City Gospel Mission, the Lord’s Gym, Catholic Charities, Center for Respite Care, Strategies to End Homelessness and Meals on Wheels.

Open World is a program sponsored by the United States Congress that brings young professionals from eastern Europe and central Asia to study best practices in cities across the United States. CKSCP has worked with Open World since 2003.