Suzie Budak in Chicago
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Suzie (Wagner) Budak
served as a PCV (TEFL Group 13) from 1998-2001. During her 2.5 years in Ladyzhin, Vinnystka region, Suzie and her Ukrainian colleagues developed an English Language Resource Center for the district and organized quarterly seminars that continue today. Suzanne's school (No. 4) began a partnership with Kenmore High School in Akron, Ohio, which included a conference call involving students from both schools, the mayors and the local media. One of Suzie's most enjoyable projects was the "Small-town Girls" Summer Camp (see bio) and the resulting "Teens Against Drugs" civic project. Upon returning from Ukraine, Suzanne married her childhood penpal, Hasan Efe Budak and in 2003 they had their very own "Big Fat -Turkish-- Wedding". At the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS Chicago), Suzie assisted Russian-speaking refugees and immigrants to become American citizens, while advocating for immigrants on both state and national issues. You can read more about this program on the agency's website at
www.jfcschicago.org/hias . Now, as a busy new mother, Suzie has agreed to continue on the Friends of Ukraine Board of Directors through 2009, folliowng having served in 2004-2006 as FoU's President.
