Courage, Service, Humanity

I'll confess that today had a few tense and even frightening moments--when the plane seemed about to crash in Paris, when I missed my connecting flight, and when I momentarily couldn't find anyone at the airport (David & Chelom Leavitt were outside with their driver).

As our plane descended into the heavy cloud cover over Kyiv this evening, just after sunset, I marveled at how the pilots are able to land these big birds in the darkness and mist. Even with a full instrument panel, it takes a great deal of courage to fly a plane.

David & Chelom Leavitt's organization has had a motto of "Courage, Service, Humanity" for several years. I like that very much, and especially since it so well describes this couple. They are truly courageous people. In 2004 and 2005 they brought their entire family to live in Kyiv, during the Orange Revolution and its aftermath, no less. And this year they have again moved to Kyiv for several months to oversee the B.U.I.L.D. Initiative and to work with the mock trial teams in the spring. I saw several of the kids at their home this evening. They truly epitomize the qualities of "Courage, Service and Humanity."

Summer Social with the Leavitts

On July 11, 2009 my wife Julie and I joined many of the instructors, friends, benefactors and board members of The Leavitt Institute for the 2009 Summer Social, held at the home of David and Chelom Leavitt in Provo, Utah. Present were most of the judges and attorneys who will be teaching in Ukraine during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Having attended the summer social at the Leavitt's home in Nephi, Utah in earlier years, it was nice to see David and Chelom so nicely settled in their new place in Provo at the foot of the mountains. The Leavitts still presented their guests with a Juab County style hospitality, complete with barbeque dinner on a warm summer night, joyous conversation and a live band playing throughout the evening. There were even vegetables growing in the garden on the fringe of their huge back lawn where we ate dinner. David displayed for the first time memorabilia from the Orange Revolution of 2004, including this hand-lettered freedom banner which the Leavitt's retrieved and brought back to the United States.

Let me pause to comment on the unique talents and vision of David and Chelom Leavitt. Following his last term as the Juab County Attorney, David accepted a volunteer position with the American Bar Association strengthening rule of law institutions in Ukraine, and David and Chelom packed up their kids and moved for a year to Kyiv. Out of this experience the Leavitts

developed an almost mission-like zeal for assisting the blossoming of freedom and democratic institutions in Ukraine. One fruit of this was the creation of the Leavitt Institute dedicated to assisting in the implementation of a true jury system in Ukraine, as outlined in its constitution.

The Leavitts have developed a multi-phase long term plan for the Institute, which includes not only having American judges and legal professionals teach in major Ukrainian law schools, but also training young Ukrainian lawyers in the United States and then having them assist with the work of the Institute on the ground in Ukraine. It is an exciting and a visionary work--one which I am proud to assist with.

Over the past two years Chelom has taken a major role in directing the work of the Institute as David ran for the U.S. Congress and was diverted by other projects. In his remarks tonight, David noted that one of his Institute colleagues had quipped that David was like "The Hurricane" whereas Chelom was like "FEMA." In his self deprecating way, David is acknowledging that whereas he has a genius for long-range planning, Chelom is a genius at practical execution. They are a unique partnership, and it is a delight to know and be associated with this marvelous couple.

One of the announcements made this evening was that negotiations with the university in Lviv have been successful, and we will add this to the list of law schools for the academic year. There is still some ongoing discussion about the logistics of our travel and teaching schedules. The schedule calls for two American professionals to be on the ground in Ukraine at the same time, and the first draft of the schedule had each professional spending a week at institutions in eastern Ukraine as well as western Ukraine. One of the suggestions made tonight was that each teacher focus only upon select schools. This would simplify travel somewhat, but also provide the students more continuity.

During the evening both Chelom and David spoke, and we were delightfully entertained as Lori Nuffer and the concert mistress of The Orchestra on Temple Square played several piano and violin duets written by Ukrainian composers (and likely performed in the United States for the first time). Later in the evening David even sang "Mack the Knife" with the band to the delight of the crowd, which has become something of a Leavitt Institute tradition.

My Return to Ukraine

A few days ago I was invited by the Leavitt Institute to return to Ukraine. This year I will not only lecture at law schools in Kyiv but also in the cities of Kharkiv and Chernivtsi. I look forward to this new adventure with great joy and anticipation!

In 2007 I lectured at five law schools in Kyiv: the Academy of Advocates (Академії адвокатури України), the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University (Київський нацiональний економiчний унiверситет), Kyiv International University (Київський міжнародний університет), the National Aviation University (Національний авіаційний Університет), and the Economics and Law University (Університет Економіка та Права "КРОК"). In 2009 there will be several changes in the participating schools. This year the Leavitt Institute has expanded its University relationships to include Kharkiv National University (Харківський національний університет) in eastern Ukraine, and one university in Chernivtsi (the Chernivtsi National University--Чернівецький національний університет) in western Ukraine. In Kyiv the Leavitt Institute will continue its prior relationships with the National Economic University and the National Aviation University, and has formed a new connection with the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Київський національний університет ім. Тараса Шевченка). In all, the Leavitt Institute instructors will be teaching in nine universities spread across three cities.

The current plan is for me to travel from November 7 through 21, according to the following schedule:

Saturday, November 7th: Leave Salt Lake City and fly to Kyiv.

Sunday, November 8th: Arrive in Kyiv in late morning, then catch another flight to Kharkiv later in the day.

Monday, November 9th: Teach one two-hour class in Kharkiv.

Tuesday, November 10th: Teach two two-hour classes in Kharkiv, then fly back to Kyiv at about 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11th: Arrive in Kyiv and teach one two-hour class.

Thursday, November 12th: Teach one two-hour class in Kyiv.

Friday, November 13th and Saturday, November 14th: Free days in Kyiv.

Sunday, November 15th: Catch a night train in Kyiv bound for Chernivtsi.

Monday, November 16th: Arrive in Chernivtsi at about 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, November 17th: Teach a two-hour class in Chernivtsi, then catch another night train bound for Kyiv.

Wednesday, November 18th: Arrive in Kyiv, and teach one two-hour class.

Thursday, November 19th: Teach one two-hour class in Kyiv.

Friday, November 20th: Free day in Kyiv.

Saturday, November 21st: Fly from Kyiv back to Salt Lake City.

And so, the next chapter in my adventures in Ukraine begins!

An "Avoska"--Just in Case

I learned a valuable lesson this week from the Leavitt Institute's Ukrainian "handler, confidant and guardian," Olga Kupriyevych. (Olga is pictured here with Ukrainian First Lady, Katerina Yushchenko). On Tuesday night we were walking past the myriad humble food vendors lining the sidewalks near the Byeresteyska Metro station, when Olga spied some very nice looking potatoes. "Oh," she said. "I need some potatoes." She then reached in her blue briefcase and pulled out a large, sturdy plastic sack. She purchased the potatoes and stowed them in the bag, and we were on our way.

She later explained that growing up in a small village north of Kyiv, her grandfather taught her that she should always carry an extra bag. He called this an "авоска," which means, "just in case." Thus, "just in case" you saw something along your way that you needed, you could immediately buy it and place it in your "avoska" without having to return home for something to carry it in.

There is great wisdom in carrying an "avoska" in our journeys. We ought never to be so smug to think that we know it all, or we have all that we can ever need. There will be rich stores of experience, knowledge, friendship and Wisdom along our paths. When we meet someone new, or attain some new insight--think thoughts we have never had before--we should pull out our "avoskas," and go on our way rejoicing. Thanks, Olga, for sharing your rich experience and perspective with me these past two weeks. I will carry them in my "avoska" forevermore.

Olga

The Leavitt Institute for International Development has a representative here in Kyiv. She is a Ukrainian, an educator of many years experience, who is indispensible to the work. I have heard three different people refer to her as a "gem," which is certainly the case. Olga Kupriyevych phoned me within an hour of my arrival to inquire after my well being. She then came by to bring me some homemade dinner, as well as a book and a DVD to lend to me. She also gave me much practical advice regarding travel, currency exchange, teaching, as well as noteworthy sites and events that I ought to see while here.

I will next see Olga on Monday morning, when I teach my first class. More about her later.

Packing Light--Bling Bling

Based on advice received from seasoned travelers, I'm packing light. All of my clothes are in a small hanger-bag, and I have a few items in my briefcase. I am not taking a laptop, but I do have my Windows Mobile handheld device, although I will disable the phone. The Institute has two cell phones and a laptop for me in Ukraine in the apartment.

Two of my packing mentors are my parents, who spent three years living in Sao Paulo Brazil and who traveled virtually every weekend to various cities in South America. They had it down to a science. Dad would put a clean shirt and a pair of clean unmentionables in his briefcase, with essential toiletries. Mom would do the same in a large purse. In 2004 my wife and I traveled with my parents to Nauvoo, Illinois for several days. Whereas my wife and I had multiple suitcases, my Dad had his briefcase and my Mom had her big purse.

Although I am packing light as far as personal items go, I will check one large bag for my flight. Inside I have "American Gear" to give as incentive gifts to my students and others. This includes 135 commemorative pins, 100 presentation pens, 60 pencils, 9 book bags, 55 T shirts, 5 baseball caps, 3 beanies, and 30 very cool law enforcement patches. The nicest stuff is the "Utah Gang Coppers" Gear from the law enforcement Metro Gang Unit, including very nice caps, beanies and long-sleeved T Shirts with the distinctive cross-like logo. Donors for all of this "bling" include the Cities of Holladay and Cottonwood Heights, Utah, the Salt Lake District Attorney, the "Heart of Holladay" race coordinator, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. My goal is to use the "bling" to draw out my students and loosen them up a bit.

My plan is this--once I unload all of the "bling bling," I will use the empty suitcase to pack Russian books, Pysanky, religious icons, shapkas, and other "touristy" stuff that I plan on buying while in Kyiv.

Also, my son-in-law tells me, he wants an accordian!? I'll do my best, bud.

A Newspaper Article Which Changed My Life

In the Fall of 2007 I read an article in Salt Lake City's Deseret Morning News which changed my life. The article, "From Nephi to Ukraine--Trek for Justice Reform," describes how two Utah lawyers, David and Chelom Leavitt, husband and wife, spent a year living with their children in Kyiv, Ukraine volunteering for the American Bar Association, and helping Ukrainian lawyers and judges set up a more democratic justice system. Within days of their arrival in Ukraine, the Leavitts witnessed firsthand the so-called "Orange Revolution," when millions of protestors descended peacefully upon downtown Kiev to show their disapproval of the fraudulent Presidential election of 2004.

The Leavitts returned to their hometown of Nephi, Utah in 2005 and set up a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing knowledge of the jury trial as a critical mechanism to ensure democratic freedom. During the 2006-2007 school year their organization, The Leavitt Institute for International Development, taught a year-long jury trial course in three Kyiv law schools. The course was taught by American judges and attorneys, primarily from the Leavitt's home state of Utah, and culminated in a mock jury trial competition held in Kyiv this past spring.

For some reason, this article moved me in a profound way. It spoke to something deep within me, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It kindled a desire within me to do something similar in my own life. This desire was not born out of any dissatisfaction with my life. At the time I had been a criminal trial judge for six years, and was very happy and fulfilled with my work on the bench. I felt as if my work as a judge was making a profound difference in my community, and I approached each day of work with relish and excitement. But I had long harbored deep longings to work with the people of eastern Europe. So deep was this desire, that as a young man I had studied Russian for two years while attending the University of Utah. Later, my wife and children and I sponsored six Russian and Armenian immigrants to the United States through the Tolstoy Foundation Refugee Resettlement Agency.

After pondering the matter for a few weeks, I contacted David Leavitt in December of 2006 to ask if he needed any assistance with his organization's Jury Trial Initiative. And now, eleven months later, I am embarking on one of the great adventures of my life--teaching about the jury trial in five law schools in Kyiv, Ukraine.