Viešnagė Varėnoje - Visiting Varena

Varėna, Lietuva

Neseniai Regioninio saugumo pareigūnas Bill Embry ir Politikos/Ekonomikos skyriaus darbuotojas Sam Schmitt lankėsi Varėnoje. Ši išvyka yra ambasadorės McCarthy inicijuotos Lankymosi regionuose programos dalis.  Programos tikslas – supažindinti JAV diplomatus su visa šalimi, ne tik jos sostinę Vilniumi, dalintis informacija apie Jungtines Valstijas su vietos bendruomenėmis, nagrinėti potencialaus bendradarbiavimo galimybes.

Mes norėjome pamatyti Varėną, mums žinomą kaip Grybų šventės vietą. Taigi, gruodžio mėnesį teko proga susitikti su Varėnos meru Algiu Kašėta ir jo vadovaujamos savivaldybės komanda.  Susitikimo metu kalbėjomės svarbia tema –  apie pasirengimą ir paslaugų teikimą kritinėse situacijose.    Taip pat su meru, mero pavaduotoju, policijos viršininku, sienos apsaugos pareigūnais diskutavome apie kontrabandos keliamas problemas, imigraciją, nusikaltimų tendencijas ir vietos ekonomiką.

Regioninio saugumo pareigūnas Bill Embry susitinka su Varėnos savivaldybės darbuotojais

Priešgaisrinės gelbėjimo tarnybos vadovas  Andrius Kandratavičius pasiūlė apžiūrėti gaisrinę, kurioje keturi gaisrininkai ir keturios gaisrinės mašinos visuomet pasirengę kovai su ugnimi.

Regioninio saugumo pareigūnas Bill Embry  susitinka su Varėnos Priešgaisrinės gelbėjimo tarnybos vadovu  Andriumi Kandratavičiumi ir dalinasi savo gaisrininko-savanorio prisiminimais

Mes taip pat lankėmės Tautodailininkų mugėje, kurioje nusipirkome keletą dailės dirbinių. Tikimės, kad pavasarį vėl sugrįšime.  

Sam ir Bill Tautodailininkų mugėje

Sam už didžiulės raudonos gasrinės mašinos vairo

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Varena, Lithuania

Recently, Regional Security Officer Bill Embry and Pol/Econ Assistant Sam Schmitt visited Varena, as part of Ambassador McCarthy’s Regional Outreach Program, aimed at ensuring U.S. diplomats get to know far more about Lithuania than just its capital city, Vilnius; share information about the United States in the regions; and explore areas for potential cooperation. 

We wanted to see Varena, the community famous for its fall-time Mushroom Festival. So, in December, we got a chance to meet Varena Mayor Algis Kaseta and his municipal team to talk about an important topic - emergency services and preparedness.  We also discussed smuggling issues, immigration, crime trends, and the local economy with the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Police Chief, Border Guard, and Captain of the local National Guard.

RSO Embry meets the Varena Municipal Team

Fire Chief Andrius Kandratavicius offered us a tour of the local fire house, where teams of four firefighters staff the facility, and four fire trucks are at the ready to be deployed. 

RSO Embry meets Varena Fire Chief Kandrataviciusand and reminisces about his days as a volunteer EMS working with the fire department

 
We also visited the annual Folk Art Fair, where we relished local artisans’ wares. We hope to return in the spring. 

Sam and Bill enjoying the Folk Arts Fair

Sam behind the wheel of the large red fire truck

Los Andželo gitarų kvartetas pakerėjo Vilnių - Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Enchants Audiences in Vilnius

Kultūros reikalų asistentės Jūratės Kirvaitienės pasakojimas apie vieną iš JAV kultūros programų, vykusių Lietuvoje, kurias remia JAV ambasada. 

Vilniaus klasikinės gitaros muzikos gerbėjai galėjo pasidžiaugti reta dovana – neseniai įvykusiu „Grammy“ apdovanojimo laureatų bei JAV instrumentinės muzikos žvaigždžių - Los Andželo gitarų kvarteto, koncertu.  Ansamblio pirmąsias gastroles Lietuvoje organizavo Baltijos gitarų kvartetas, Vilniuje susikūrusi jaunų gitaros talentų grupė, įkvėpimo kūrybai besisemianti iš atvykusių svečių. Amerikiečių virtuozų vizitą Vilniuje rėmė JAV ambasada.

Los Andželo gitarų kvarteto nariai William Kanengiser, Matthew Greif, John Dearman ir Scott Tennant klausosi jauno gitaristo iš Lietuvos - Tado Umbraso

Gruodžio 15 d. Lietuvos nacionalinės filharmonijos didžiojoje salėje gausiai susirinkę klausytojai ovacijomis įvertino Amerikos gitarų muzikos virtuozus. Subtiliai bei įkvepiančiai charizmatiškųjų muzikantų pristatyta koncerto programa, atskleidė plačią žanrinę plejadą bei neįtikėtinai aukštą gitaros meistrų muzikinį lygį.  Magiško garso istorijos viena po kitos liejosi it tobulai išbaigti vaizdiniai dailininko drobėje: nuo šiuolaikinių renesanso epochos muzikos interpretacijų, meditacinio skambesio Tilmano Hoppstocko „Transcendentinės siuitos“ iki vitališkos ispaniškos pjesės, kurios aranžuotę parengė pasaulinis gitaros muzikos meistras Pepė Romero. Koncerto metu nuskambėjo ne tik nepriekaištingai sugroti kūriniai, bet ir puiki lietuvių kalba svečių lūpose.

Los Andželo gitarų kvartetas Lietuvos nacionalinės filharmonijos didžiojoje salėje Vilniuje
 (Nuotrauka: Delfi) 

Tą pačią dieną mažojoje Filharmonijos salėje kvarteto nariai susitiko su jaunais Lietuvos atlikėjais ir gitaros muzikos studentais, mokytojais bei žurnalistais, rašančiais muzikos temomis. Chris Ruebens,  Baltijos gitarų kvarteto narys, moderavo pokalbį su svečiais iš Amerikos, kurie noriai ir atvirai pasidalino savo didžiule patirtimi, įgyta per daugiau nei tris dešimtmečius įvairiose koncertinėse salėse, kaip Čikagos Orkestro salėje, Tokijo Opera City salėje, Londono Wigmore Hall salėje bei Niujorko Lincoln Center ir Carnegie Hall salėse.

Ansamblio kūrybinio kelio vingiai ne vienam susitikimo dalyviui pasirodė įkvepiantys bei užburiantys, kaip ir jų kuriama muzika.

(Iš kairės į dešinę: John Dearman, Chris Ruebens iš Baltijos gitarų kvarteto, William Kanengiser ir Matthew Greif)

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Cultural Assistant Jurate Kirvaitiene explores one of the American cultural programs the U.S. Embassy recently supported with a small grant.

Recently, appreciative audiences in Vilnius enjoyed a rare musical gift – a chance to hear the exquisite sound of an American Grammy Award-winning, premier instrumental ensemble, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. The quartet made its first ever visit to Lithuania at the invitation and organization of the Baltic Guitar Quartet, an international group of guitar music talents, who drew inspiration from their American peers. The U.S. Embassy was happy to award a small grant to help bring the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet to Vilnius.

William Kanengiser, Matthew Greif, John Dearman and Scott Tennant of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet listen to Lithuanian guitar students, Tadas Umbrasas, perform

On December 15, the great hall of the National Philharmonic attracted a full house of 500 patrons, who delighted in the performance by the American guitar virtuosi, popularly known as “LAGQ.” The program presented by the charismatic and distinctive musicians transported music lovers on a magical journey through a myriad of genres and concert masterworks. It was a tapestry of the sublime: from a modern interpretation of the music of the Renaissance to the other-worldly sound of contemporary “Transcendental Suite” by Tilman Hoppstock to a buoyant rendition of a Spanish play arranged by the grand master Pepe Romero. The American guitarists also won the hearts of the audience with a perfect Lithuanian address.

LA Guitar Quartet at National Philharmonic in Vilnius (Photo: Delfi) 

Earlier that day, the Quartet also shared its mastery with Lithuanian guitar students, music teachers and journalists at the Philharmonic’s small hall. Chris Ruebens, a member of the Baltic Guitar Quartet, interviewed the four American guests – who have performed together for more than three decades in venues from Chicago’s Orchestra Hall to Tokyo’s Opera City and London’s Wigmore Hall to New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

The story of the group’s creative genesis proved to be as inspiring and enchanting as its music.

(L to R: John Dearman, Chris Ruebens of the Baltic Guitar Quartet, William Kanengiser and Matthew Greif)

Apsilankymas Alytuje: nuo kietųjų atliekų iki vyno - A Visit to Alytus: From solid waste to sparkling wine

Šiandien ambasados Politikos ir ekonomikos skyriaus darbuotojai dalinasi savo įspūdžiais apie išvyką į Alytų    

Alytaus rajonas

Lietuvos rajonai 

                 

Ambasadorės McCarthy inicijuota išvykų į rajonus programa leidžia JAV diplomatams,  dirbantiems Lietuvoje  susipažinti ne tik su Vilniumi, bet ir su kitomis Lietuvos vietovėmis.  Neseniai mes – politikos skyriaus diplomatė Jillian Schmitt kartu su to paties skyriaus darbuotoju Sam Schmitt ir stažuotoja  Indre Žebrauskaite lankėmės Alytuje, kur susitikome su miesto vadovais, aptarėme gamtosaugos klausimus, aplankėmė rajono atliekų tvarkymo ir Alita gėrimų gamyklas.

Meras Vytautas Grigaravičius ir Vicemeras Tamulevičius susitinka  su delegacija

Meras Vytautas Grigaravičius, Vicemeras Tautvydas Tamulevičius ir mero patarėja Vilija Ramanauskienė papasakojo mums apie Alytaus pramonės istoriją, atgaivintas  žaliąsias miesto zonas ir iššūkius, su kuriais susiduria miestas tvarkydamas nuo Sovietų užsilikusias pavojingas

aplinkai atliekas. 

Mes aplankėme Alytaus rajono atliekų tvarkymo centrą, kuris perdirba kietąsias atliekas laikantis ekologinės pusiausvyros.  Į šį centrą kietosios atliekos atkeliauja iš miesto, turinčio 57,000 gyventojų ir iš šešių aplinkinių rajonų, įskaitant Birštoną, Druskininkus ir Varėną. Modernūs įrenginiai biologiškai skaido organines medžiagas  pagamindami  pakankamai metano, kurio energijos užtenka visam procesui. Miestas taip pat skatina gyventojus rūšiuoti atliekas namuose, jas kompostuoti  ir perdirbti.

Pirmas atliekų tvarkymo etapas      

 

Atliekos, kurių neįmanoma atskirti, 

perdirbti ar biologiškai suskaidyti suspaudžiamos šiukšlių kubais

                 
 
























Mes taip pat pamatėme kaip pasinaudojus ES fondų parama Alytus išvalė ir sutvarkė Dailidės ežerus ir Baltųjų rožių parkus, kurie sovietiniais metais buvo paversti šiukšlių sąvartynais.  

Po vizito atliekų centre mūsų laukė skaniau kvepianti  Alita gėrimų gamykla, kurioje susipažinome su vidiniais  regiono  ekonomikos  funkcionavimo varikliais. Taip pat pamatėme fermentacijos, pilstymo į butelius ir importavimo  procesus.  Alitoje  daromas ir pilstomas platus alkoholinių gėrimų asortimentas  - nuo putojančio vyno iki naminės degtinės.  Gamykla taip pat importuoja brendį ir konjaką iš Prancūzijos.

  Alitos gidė aiškina brendžio ir konjako skirtumus

Ši kelionė mums suteikė unikalią  galimybę pamatyti kaip praktiškai įgyvendinama gamtos apsauga. Miesto valdžia ir ambasados atstovai viliasi dar kartą susitikti Alytuje pavasarį.

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Today, members of the Embassy’s Political and Economic Section write about a recent visit to Alytus

                                                      

Districts of Lithuania

                                         

   Alytus District

                    

Ambassador McCarthy’s Regional Outreach Program ensures U.S. diplomats serving in Lithuania get to know far more about Lithuania than just its capital city, Vilnius. Recently, we -- Political Officer Jillian Schmitt along with Political/Economic Section secretary Sam Schmitt and intern Indre Zebrauskaite -- traveled to Alytus to meet city officials, talk environmental policy and tour the regional waste management plant and the Alita brewing facilities.  

Mayor Vytautas Grigaravicius and Vice Mayor Tamulevicius Meet the Delegation

Mayor Vytautas Grigaravicius, Vice Mayor Tautvydas Tamulevicius, and Mayoral Advisor Vilija Ramanauskiene spoke with us about Alytus’ industrial history, its revitalized green spaces, and challenges, including environmental hazards left behind from Soviet occupation.  

We visited the Alytus Regional Waste Management Center (ARWMC), which is where the rubber meets the road with respect to sustainable solid waste processing.  ARWMC receives and processes solid waste from the city of 57,000 residents and six surrounding  districts, including Birstonas, Druskininkai and Varena.  These facilities are so advanced they biodegrade organic material to produce enough methane to power the entire operation. The city is also encouraging residents to sort their garbage at home, compost and recycle. 

                   

  

First Step in Processing Waste at the Plant

 Waste that cannot be separated, recycled,

or biodegraded is compressed by the

 Garbage “Cuber”

We also learned how Alytus - with the help of EU funding - was able to clean and restore the Dailide lakes and White Rose parks, which had been hazardous waste dumps during Soviet times.  

The day also included a sweeter-smelling visit to the Alita Brewing Company where we saw some of the inner workings of an economic engine for the region and learned about the company’s fermentation, importing and bottling processes. Alita brews and bottles a wide range of alcoholic drinks from sparkling wine to moonshine.  The company also imports brandy and cognac from France.  

Alita Tour Guide Explains the Difference between Brandy and Cognac

This trip provided a unique opportunity to observe environmental protection in practice. The Mayor’s Office and Embassy delegation hope for a follow-up visit in the spring.  

Bibliotekėles atidarymas Raseiniuose - Little Free Library opens in Raseiniai

Šiandien mūsų kultūros atašė Sarah Talalay rašo apie kelionę į Raseinius.

Siekdamas pasidalinti su kitais savo meile knygoms ir bendruomeniškumo jausmu, Raseinių liberalus jaunimas neseniai džiaugsmingai atidengė pirmąją miesto Bibliotekėlę arba Mažąją nemokamą biblioteką („Little Free Library“) Dominikonų gatvėje esančiame parke. Idėja „Pasiimk vieną knygą ir palik kitą“ atsirado Viskonsino valstijoje JAV 2009 m., kai Todd Bol savo kieme pastatė ant kojelės miniatiūrinį nameliuką – mokyklėlę ir užpildė jį knygomis. Taip gimė socialinė iniciatyva. 

Šiandien pasaulyje yra daugiau nei 32000 Bibliotekėlių, ir keletas jų jau veikia Lietuvoje.

Prieš atidarydami Bibliotekėlę savo mieste, Raseinių liberalaus jaunimo atstovai pakvietė JAV ambasadą sudalyvauti atidarymo šventėje. Prašymas buvo perduotas man, kultūros atašė, ir man ši idėja pasirodė įdomi. Bibliotekėlei padovanojau dvi knygas – žymaus JAV virtuvės šefo Art Smith receptų knygą ir rašytojos – iliustratorės  Mairos Kalman knygą „Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything" – tinkamą pasirinkimą šia proga, nes Prezidentas Jeffersonas itin mėgo knygas. Dienai baigiantis spėjau aplankyti ir anksčiau šiais metais Kaune atidarytą Bibliotekėlę, įkvėpusią Raseinių gyventojus.

Jūsų dėmesiui abiejų Bibliotekėlių nuotraukos. 


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Today, our cultural attache Sarah Talalay writes about a trip to Raseiniai.

Seeking to share a love of books and a sense of community, the Raseiniai Liberalus Jaunimas (Raseiniai Liberal Youth) recently unveiled with fanfare, the town's first "Bibliotekele" or "Little Free Library" in a park off Domininku gatve. The "take a book, leave a book" concept was launched in Wisconsin in 2009 when Todd Bol built a model of a one-room school house, filled it with books and put in on a post in his front yard. A social enterprise was born.

Now, there are more than 32,000 Little Free Libraries across the globe, including several in Lithuania.

Before opening their Bibliotekele, the Raseiniai Liberal Youth sent an email to the Embassy asking if someone would attend the opening. It seemed like a good idea for the Cultural Attache. I donated two books - a cookbook by US celebrity chef Art Smith and writer-illustrator Maira Kalman's book, "Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything," which seemed appropriate since President Jefferson loved books. Before the day was over, I took advantage of an opportunity to see the inspiration for Raseiniai's Bibliotekele - one that opened earlier this year in Kaunas.

Check out photos of both.

Raseiniuose - in Raseiniai

Kaune - in Kaunas

Grybų šventė Varėnoje - Mushroom Festival in Varena!

Šiandien mes atnaujiname Vilnius Diaries tinklaraštį pasidalindami naujojo ambasadorės pavaduotojo Howard Solomon įspūdžiais iš Grybų šventės Varėnoje. Sekite mus skaitydami ambasados darbuotojų, draugų ir lankytojų atsiliepimus.

Prabėgus vos kelioms savaitėms po mano atvykimo į Lietuvą, turėjau galimybę lankytis Varėnoje, kasmetinėje grybų šventėje. Tai buvo nuostabi galimybė pakeliauti už Vilniaus ribų ir daugiau sužinoti apie turtingą vietos bei Dzūkijos regiono kultūrą. Tokios kelionės į regionus tapo neatsiejama mūsų diplomatijos dalimi, leidžianti ne tik daugiau sužinoti apie šalį, kurioje laikinai gyvename ir dirbame, bet ir pagilinti bei sustiprinti ryšius tarp amerikiečių ir lietuvių. Ambados atstovai kasmet lankosi grybų šventėje ir tai visuomet jiems suteikia daug džiaugsmo.

Taip pat turėjau garbės susitikti su Varėnos miesto meru bei kitais savivaldybės atstovais. Buvau itin sužavėtas turtinga regiono kultūra ir kulinarijos paveldu. Vietos žmonės iki šių dienų yra išsaugoję nuostabias tradicijas, muziką ir liaudies menus. Be to, šventės metu pavyko užfiksuoti keletą įdomesnių kadrų. Keliaujant po pasaulį fotografija tapo mano aistra ir manau, kad čia atrasiu pakankamai medžiagos fotografavimui tiek gražiajame Vilniuje, tiek ir keliaujant po tokias vietas kaip Varėna. Žemiau įkėliau keletą nuotraukų, kurias pavyko padaryti festivalio metu.

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Today, we re-launch our Vilnius Diaries blog with a post from our new Deputy Chief of Mission Howard Solomon about his trip to Grybu svente in Varena. Follow us for future postings from Embassy officials, friends and visitors. 

Recently, after only two weeks in Lithuania, I had the opportunity to travel to Varena to participate in the opening of its annual mushroom festival.  This was a fantastic opportunity to travel outside Vilnius and learn more about the rich local and regional culture of Dzukija.  Such travel to the regions has become an integral part of our diplomacy, allowing us to not only learn more about the country where we are posted, but deepen and strengthen ties between Americans and Lithuanians.  Representatives from our Embassy have traveled to the mushroom festival each year and enjoyed it greatly.

I was honored to have the opportunity to meet the mayor of Varena and a number of other local officials.  I was especially impressed with the rich culture and cuisine of the region, where locals have preserved wonderful traditions, music, and folk arts to the present day.  As I experienced the festival, I also was able to capture some of the sights on my camera.  Photography has become a passion of mine as I travel around the world, and it seems I will have plenty of subjects to photograph here in beautiful Vilnius and on trips such as the one to Varena.  Below are some of the pictures I captured at the festival.

Empowering Lithuania’s Youth Around the World

Regular guest blogger, Aiste Zalepuga, attended this year's World Lithuanian Youth Summit that took place in Prienai July 10-13. She shares her story of the event.  

Young Lithuanians from across the globe converged on the Prienai region last month to get back to their roots, and encourage and strengthen ties between Lithuania and members of its youth community, no matter where they live.

The second World Lithuanian Youth Summit (PLJS2014) attracted thousands of young Lithuanians to Harmony Park July 10-13.

“I believe the best part about the PLJS summit for everyone was the feeling of unity during all the days of the event,” said Darius Tamauskas, a PLJS board member who currently works in the United Kingdom.“Reuniting with old friends and making new ones is what made this event special.”

Lithuanian youth participated in discussions and lectures, sharing their own experiences and learning from representatives of business, education, politics, culture and innovation.

“Lithuania has a rich talent pool, which does not end at its borders. There are accomplished and driven Lithuanians all around the world, and bringing them together at an event such as this, or other similar events, is essential to Lithuania’s ongoing growth,” said Stasys, a former PLJS Chairman who currently lives in Canada. “Events like these allow Lithuanians all around the world the opportunity to feed off of one another’s passion, and to collectively do good for Lithuania.”

The World Lithuanian Youth Association (Pasaulio Lietuviu Jaunimo Sajunga, PLJS) was founded in 1972. Members focused on the organization’s approach to resisting the Soviet occupation and unifying Lithuanians across the world. Since then, PLJS has grown to include more than 40 chapters and maintains relations with governmental institutions and youth organizations.

Rima Gungor, an American Lithuanian from Illinois, filmed moments from the PLJS Summit for a documentary about Lithuania’s non-violent revolution. Gungor said she sees PLJS as a bridge between Lithuania’s past and future.

“The final part of the documentary is about present day Lithuania and how far it has come. PLJS represents that important phenomenon of a global Lithuania. I wanted those moments ideally to show the vitality of Lithuania and its investment into its own future and the energy of the younger generations to keep moving Lithuania forward,” she said.

President Dalia Grybauskaite was the summit’s Honorary Patron opened the event. She also led an exclusive discussion about politics and economics with PLJS delegates living abroad.

 President Dalia Grybauskaite answers questions after the opening ceremony. 

“It was a very straightforward meeting where the President explained her position and views of both domestic and foreign policy without ‘political correctness.’ Even those not interested in politics must have enjoyed the meeting and understood the position of the President and what she is facing on a daily basis,” Tamauskas said. “She was so open about what she wanted to share with us that at one point of the meeting she asked a current member of parliament to leave, so that only PLJS delegates would be present in the room.”

Archbishop and former PLJS Chairman Gintaras Grusas also welcomed attendees. Grusas, who grew up in California and now lives in Lithuania, related to many of the audience members through his experiences as an American-Lithuanian and as an active member of the organization during his youth.

Although times have changed significantly since he was active in PLJS, Grusas said it continues to provide many of the same benefits today that it did in earlier times.    

“PLJS fostered a strong sense of the international community of young Lithuanians throughout the world and created a network of friends around the world,” he said. “It deepened our experience of our Lithuanian identity through both cultural and political projects, all the while strengthening our ties with Lithuania itself.”

He encouraged young people to “strive to help Lithuania maintain its proper place in the world community.…The personal benefits are enormous, but as in many other areas of life, what you get out of it depends on what you are willing to put in.  Putting in the time and effort not only leaves one with a stronger Lithuanian identity and benefits the Lithuanian community, but also provides valuable experiences and friendships that last a lifetime.”

During the opening ceremonies, Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius recognized Ray Bartkus, a  New York-based Lithuanian artist. Bartkus designed the 50 Lita note and has done illustrations for numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. For this year’s summit, Bartkus created a life-size airplane landing strip from lights on the park’s main hill that lit up in the evening.

Keynote speaker, former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, who encouraged the audience to take initiative through strong leadership, in his speech, “Responsibility to make our own history.” 

Hastert explained what he calls the “four P's”: purpose, passion, persistence and patience. Citing his own experience in taking up to 12 years to pass legislation, Hastert said a combination of the “four P's” is needed to achieve your beliefs and to be present for the final victory. 

 Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, delivered an inspiring keynote and encouraged audience members to create their own history through effective leadership.

Another keynote speaker was Andy Khawaja, CEO of the e-commerce giant Allied Wallet, whose speech was titled, “The sky is the limit.” J. Michael Waller, a scholar-practitioner in public diplomacy, political warfare, psychological operations and information operations spoke of “The role of the individual citizen in global security.”

“My favorite part was looking into the audience and seeing such a large mass of young people who cared, who were interested and interesting, and who chose to be there,” said Rima Garsys, an American-Lithuanian from Florida. “I was so impressed with the relentless spirit around me that I wasn’t bogged down by the cold or rain. I was proud to be involved and happy I made the choice to participate.”

During the course of the summit, more than  150 notable lecturers and professionals took part in discussions. Kuliavas was impressed with Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, Zygimantas Pavilionis’  speech about youth becoming involved Lithuania’s political future.

Additionally, global Lithuanians presented various projects and shared ideas for future endeavors. Participants engaged in sporting tournaments, artistic creations, theater performances and Lithuanian films.

Lithuanian music legend, Algirdas Kauspeda, and colleagues discuss the formation of Lithuania's cultural future. Over 150 notable lecturers and professionals took part in discussions that covered education, politics, business, culture and innovation.

“I thought it was a well-rounded program in every aspect of what young people should be concerned about, ranging from a [cultural and political] zombie apocalypse to linty pop lessons," Garsys said. "I walked away a better person than when I arrived."

In the evenings, popular Lithuanian music groups performed, including Leon Somov & Jazzu, Liudni Slibinai and Jurga Seidukyte.

Seidukyte said she was impressed with the strong audience engagement and looks forward to the next summit.

“I believe that Lithuanians are a unique nation and we have to look out for one another,” she said. “It is always important to feel that you a part of something – a part of a community, a part of the world. I think that every Lithuanian felt this way at the PLJS Summit.”