Cross Cultural International Institute has its roots in a first visit to the Former Soviet Union during June, 1990 . At that time, Maryanne Olsen was invited to Russia and the Republic of Georgia as part of a Family Therapy Training Group, by Carl Whitaker, M.D. Dr. Whitaker had been asked to bring his work to psychologists whose training under the Soviet system of education did not include psychotherapy or humanistic methods in treatment. During that visit, requests were made to Maryanne to bring other healthcare workers the following year, in the effort to continue these professional exchanges.

In 1991 , conferences and professional exchanges took place in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novosibirsk (Siberia). Cross Cultural Consultants was established that same year, as Russian colleagues wished to continue the work now begun.

In 1992 , The conference was focused on business development and human relations in the workplace, that is, the focus was on organizational development and organizational psychology. Will Shutz, Ph.D., whose work in human relations in organizations developed out his early participation in the human potential movement, held a three day workshop with governors of 23 regions of Russia. A second model for teams was presented by a Colorado consulting group.

In 1993 The Exploration of Creativity Conference came into being when Peter Jampel, a music therapist and educator at New York University contacted Maryanne with the idea of bringing the Creative Arts Therapies into Russia. At that same time, our Russian hosts wrote that teachers and faculty members of the University requested that educators present their work at the conference, as well. That year, a small group consisting of two teachers, two professors from NYU, five therapists, and an artist, presented their work to approximately sixty Russian teachers and psychologists. Creative and expressive approaches have remained the central theme of the conference ever since. The response was so great that the focus of the conference changed to include creativity and arts as innovative modalities in education, as well as in healthcare, and has continued with this focus ever since. What began as nine workshops in St. Petersburg, has grown into an annual international conference offering an average of 50 multi-discipline, multi-cultural presentations hosted in three countries, and will continue throughout Eastern Europe and other developing countries, worldwide.

In 1994 participants included creative arts therapists educators, nurses, doctors, and human relations consultants from the U.S., Western Europe, the Middle East, and Canada, as well as from several now independent republics of the Former Soviet Union. The request now came to bring our work to Lithuania.

In 1995 , The first Exploration of Creativity conference was held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It was attended by professionals from the fields of mental and physical health, and education. The conference site was at the University of Vilnius. American teachers were invited to visit and present their work at a nearby school where they stayed for a full day working side by side with a staff of approximately twenty-five Lithuanian teachers. Vilnius has remained in our program each year since.

In 1996 , we were invited to meet with professors of the Czech Medical School at the University of Prague to discuss the applications of the arts in healthcare. We were invited to return in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Conferences in Prague were hosted by Beate Albrich, Director of Fokus Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, along with Margarita and Jan Slemin, and Jan Slavic who, together, established the Czech Art Therapy Association.

In 1998 it soon became clear that funding would be necessary to continue this work. Cross Cultural International Institute was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to the development, training, and certification programs in alternative, holistic, and expressive and arts methods in healthcare, education, and wellness. The Exploration of Creativity Conferences would continue as a training component for caregivers and professionals who worked with children in developing countries, introducing the arts and expressive therapies, with the added goal to form and expand a network among professionals for collaboration with allied organizations, worldwide.

This same year, a pilot project involving college level students in the conference was initiated. Students received 3 elective credits from their college for completion of an approved curriculum, and their presence added a new dimension to the program. Our hosts in Eastern Europe have since requested that this program continue, allowing East European students to hold learning exchanges with their Western Counterparts. Faculty or staff members of Institutions of higher learning wishing to participate in a student exchange program are invited to let us know of your interest by e-mail: CCIIKids@optonline.net

1999 saw several new developments. The International Expressive Therapies Training School opened, offering post graduate certification in the arts and expressive therapies to graduates of the Accredited International School for Psychotherapy, and Group Leadership at Harmony Institute in St. Petersburg. Faculty and coursework included Clair Manson, AT Great Britain who presented art therapy in a therapeutic community; Sally Brucker, Expressive Arts Therapy; and Fay Prendergast, Drama Therapy. One hundred twenty Russian psychologists, educators, and medical arts specialists attended this four day intensive training.

This same year, the Ukraine Orphanages Project in collaboration with UAC Ukraine became a focus of our work. Clara Pascal, director of UAC (Universal Aid for Children of Ukraine) sponsored a CCII team to help with training in arts and expressive therapies in the orphanage schools, as well as with staff support and program development for orphanage teachers, psychologists, and directors. To achieve this, a team of artists, psychologists, teachers, and consultants went to Odessa for an unforgettable introduction into the orphanages. We left with ideas for future work, several projects, and full hearts. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to work directly with these children aged birth to seventeen, many with disabilities. They are beautiful, and warm. And they need so much. Funding to support aid and relief projects in the orphanages became a major objective of CCII.

2000 : CCII's "New Hope for Children" projects were established to meet the needs of children from undeveloped countries, worldwide. In Odessa, Ukraine, New Hope for Children, in collaboration with UAC Ukraine, welcomes physicians, dentists, and specialists in facial surgeries to volunteer their services for these children, many who still show effects of the Chernobyl accident.

Contributions of clothing, medical supplies, technology, and equipment, for use by educators and healthcare providers who work with the orphanage children are always welcome. Financial contributions, which are tax deductible, can serve to purchase equipment so desperately needed to feed, clothe, educate, and provide basic necessities such as food and medicine, so sorely lacking, for these children. The New Hope for Children Project will also work to provide assistance with obtaining information for those interested in adoption.

CCII's New Hope for Children Art Exchange Project , in cooperation with Spolechne-"Together," an organization for children with disabilities in Brno, Czech Republic, co-sponsored an art exhibition in Prague Castle throughout March, 2000. Four organizations who work with American children with disabilities and or life difficulties each contributed artworks which were displayed at the exhibit. These are James Cancer & Research Institute of Ohio State University, National Artists for Mental Health, Lombardi Cancer Center of Georgetown University, and School for Arts in Learning, charter school of Very Special Arts Washington, DC. We look forward to a second event when Czech Children with disabilities will submit their work for exhibition in the United States.

Blankets of Love Project sent more than 600 blankets to Odessa during the winter of 2000-2001. Often left without heat, it was learned that children were living without even a blanket. This led to sickness and even death among the children. More blankets are on the way for the coming winter, following additional contributions and a wonderful fundraiser concert sponsored by Tania Gerich and Stream Ohrstrom to raise money for this purpose. A song, Blankets of Love, was written, sung, and given complete with rights to CCII by Ted.

E-mail:  CCIIkids@optonline.net