Rebecca Juras, a seasoned educator who has called Lithuania home for 28 years – though her journey to this corner of the world began long before that, with a seventh-grade assignment that sparked a lifelong fascination! Back in the '80s, her visionary teacher tasked the class with following a current event for a whole year. For Rebecca, that meant becoming quite the expert on the rising influence of Lech WaÅ‚Ä™sa.
That initial spark led to an exchange student adventure in Soviet Moscow, an experience that blossomed into a host of Glasnost-era activities. Looking back, Rebecca says these experiences not only predicted much of the region's current dynamics – from the upsurge of racism and homophobia to nationalistic ideologies – but also provided her with invaluable firsthand insights into the complex interplay of cultural shifts and societal attitudes. This deep understanding has been a cornerstone of her work in fostering cultural proficiency ever since.
Rebecca is married to a Lithuanian, and together they embarked on a journey working for USAID in Moldova, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan during the early days of Soviet Independence. They eventually settled in Lithuania, where they raised their family and became active observers and participants of three decades of change, challenge, and achievement in institution building and evolving social perspectives.
For twenty-one years, Rebecca has been a driving force at Vilnius International School, serving as its director for more than a decade. It's a place that champions cultural proficiency, navigating the unique context of a newish democracy that is currently experiencing both conflict from the East and a pushback on progressive mindsets that mirrors other countries in the region whose traditional lifestyles feel threatened.
Rebecca's extensive firsthand experience navigating cultural shifts and fostering understanding sets her up to guide this workshop. Get ready to explore practical tools to measure and support the implementation of strategies that promote perspective-taking and culturally inclusive attitudes.