Since the inception of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program in 1992, more than 17,000 high school students from Eurasia have come to the United States to participate in this academic year exchange. Once they return home, a network of active alumni associations exists and is ready and eager to welcome returning participants.

Organization of Alumni Networks

FLEX alumni are coordinated under the FLEX Administrative Components grant with American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. There are 20 FLEX bases of operation ("program hubs") throughout Eurasia, staffed by American Councils: six in Russia, four in Ukraine, and one in each of the other FLEX countries. The program hubs provide a focal point for the organization of alumni activities in the regions where they are located. At least 10 additional alumni groups have been organized by alumni themselves in remote regions where there is no American Councils office. A full-time alumni coordinator who oversees all alumni activities is located in Moscow.

A quarterly newsletter, The Bradley Herald, is sent to all FLEX alumni. Although it is compiled and published by the alumni coordinator, the newsletter mainly consists of contributions by alumni from varying program years. (Follow the link above to see current and past issues of the Bradley Herald.)

Alumni Assistants

American Councils hires a part-time Alumni Assistant (AA) for each program hub. These assistants are selected through a competitive process and earn a small monthly salary. They assist the American Councils FLEX staff person in coordinating alumni activities for that hub. Since the hubs are located in major cities, one important goal for the alumni assistants is to find ways to include more alumni from remote regions in activities. An Alumni Assistants Training Conference is held each fall to ensure that new AAs are properly trained and that all AAs are apprised of recent developments and innovations

Alumni Small Grants Program

Since 2001, FLEX alumni have been offered the opportunity to participate in the FLEX Alumni Grants Program. Individual grants up to $250 support activities such as attendance at conferences and community service projects. Group grants of up to $3,000 support activities such as professional development or teaching programs, community service programs, promotion of English language and American culture. The program has proven so effective that it will be repeated annually, permitting funding.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will again fund the FLEX Alumni Small Grants Program in 2009 and particularly encourages alumni who have not previously submitted proposals to do so. The deadline for submission of grant proposals is February 29, 2009. Contact the Alumni Coordinator in the office nearest you to learn about more about this program, obtain applications, participate in grant writing seminars, and receive individual consultations. Guidelines and grant application forms are also available on-line at the American Councils web site or from the FLEX Moscow Alumni Office at fsaalumni@actr.ru.

Global Village

Each year a small percentage of FLEX alumni win places in the Lehigh University Iacocca Institute's Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry. Each alumnus/a represent a different Eurasian country.

Types of Alumni Activities

Alumni activities are varied and are frequently chosen by the alumni themselves. They may include celebration of American holidays (e.g. Halloween, Thanksgiving, July 4th), resume-writing workshops, guest speakers, watching American films, pizza parties, debates (sometimes with another FLEX alumni association), and a variety of community service activities.

There must be a minimum of six scheduled activities during the year (held approximately bi-monthly), and the activities must adhere to the goals of the FLEX program. As an example, it is considered extremely important for FLEX participants to learn values such as citizen empowerment and volunteerism while they are in the U.S., and all students are encouraged to do some kind of community service work. This is one of the ideas that alumni tend to "take home" with them and is the reason why alumni associations include community service work in their activities.