Public Affairs Istanbul designed a May 1-6 program with U.S. Speaker Alan Kumamoto, Partner of Kumamoto Associates and board member of NCIV Los Angeles. Kumamoto reached a wide variety of grassroots organizations and civic society groups through a series of workshops and lectures, giving examples from the U.S. on operations, networking and strategic planning. The workshops organized at the U.S. Consulate were particularly important in bringing together representatives from many NGOs and providing an opportunity for networking and experience sharing, resulting in several joint project ideas. In addition to the NGO programs, the Beyoglu and Bursa municipalities organized lectures on "Neighborhood Associations and Community Outreach" looking at the U.S. examples of public, private and NGO partnerships. NGOs as well as the representatives of other municipalities in the provinces of Istanbul and Bursa also attended the events.