1. To Whom It May Concern:
Letter of Recommendation for Elena Mezisko
I have worked with Elena in collaboration with an Eastside Domestic Violence
Program model program related to the Russian speaking community. She did an
excellent job andthe program was highly successful.
Elena truly enjoys helping others succeed in what they are doing. She has helped
promote a number of projects for individuals and corporations, as well as non-
profits. She enjoys creating bridges for people both by putting them in contact
with people who can help them succeed, as well as suggesting to them possible
courses of action that they might follow to fulfill their goals.
In the case of EDVP,for example, Elena was ableto helpthe Community Engagement
Project succeed, because of existing contacts with a widenetwork key leaders and
persons with connections to key leaders in the targeted Russian/Ukrainian speaking
population. Because of her previous contacts/assistance to many of these Individuals,
they were willing to help.
Elena is ableto create a project plan.She enjoys figuring out andcreating the steps
that move a plan from the initial planning stage, through a timely execution that is
within budget, to the final conclusion of a project. In her work with EDVP, she was
presented with only a general sketch of an idea-to go into the community and ask a
setof five questions of community leaders in an effort to create a self-sustainable
group to combat domestic violence within the Russian/Ukrainian speaking
population. As a member of this community, Elena recognized the resistance we
would facefrom members of this group to any form of community building, given
their experience in Russia where the state enforced community building. Given her
background, Elena was ableto suggest language and strategies for community
building that would draw upon the interests and cultural sensitivity that exist within
Russian/Ukrainian speaking population.
The strategy Elena developed:
• Drew upon network of her contacts within the community to gainaccesses
to religious key leaders.
• Set up interviews with a largenumber of religious key leaders and
social services providers within targeted group of population.
• Organized a Networking Meeting among the leaders Elena Interviewed in
response to expressed requests by the majority of the leaders for such
meeting.
• Collected contact information from these leaders, at their request, for the
publication of a "Directory of Religious and Social Services within the
Russian/Ukrainian speaking population".
• Established with two other active members of the Russian/Ukrainian speaking
population the framework for continuing Networking Meetings.
Elena has natural sensitivity to a cultural and religious diversity. One of the strengths
Elena brings to the table as someone who lived under a communist state is anacute
awareness of the sensitivities that existbetween members of different cultures and
religious affiliations. In her contract work for the Community Engagement Project for
EDVP, Elena was conscious that for the project to succeed we would have to find a way

2. to engage key religious leaders in adialogue with each other to overcome the long
standing suspicions andcritical attitudes the communities they represented held
toward each other. Elena succeeded in creating this dialogue by first showing
appreciation for their individual concerns, and assuring them that our goalwas to
protect the integrity of their programs. Second, Elena enlisted the help of an interfaith
specialist who recommended the services of the Facilitator. The engagement of this
Facilitator was akey element in the success of creating asustainable networking strategy
between the leaders within the Russian/Ukrainian speaking population.
Elena has great communication skills.Elena enjoys working with people and isa
compassionate listener. People feel comfortable and safetalking with her about their
successes,challenges, and concerns. In addition to paying attention to details, Elena
remembers key parts of conversations, sothat she able to follow up on conversations, making
people feel that they are stillconnected. The success of the Community Engagement Project
could not have happened without agreat deal of follow up with her original contacts. By
paying attention to people’s concerns Elena was able to create an environment where they
were willing to share with others.
Elena has the gift to create anenvironment where participants feel welcome and comfortable
to share. Elena is well organized and has agreat follow through. Despite the obstacles and
disappointments that Elena has faced in life, sheremains consistently optimistic. Her genuine
care for others creates an environment where people feel better about themselves and what
they are doing. As aresult, people are better able to work together with others for the
benefits ofeveryone involved.
Barbara Langdon
Executive Director
Eastside Domestic Violence Program