SAPS July Newsletter
Përshëndetje të gjithëve,
Welcome back to our monthly SAPS newsletter! As the summer heat has picked up, so have our various programs and events. Here we will update you on the major initiatives our organization has been working on.
1. On July 7th, we hosted another Adaptive Leadership lecture with Mr. Faton Limani. The lecture focused on “Mobilizing the System”, leading to meaningful discussion around the different systems that can be utilized in leadership environments. This fourth lecture in the series was a meaningful, interactive session and we look forward to Mr. Limani closing off his remarkable series with two final sessions.
The next lecture will be held on Sunday, August 11th, followed up with a grand finale on Sunday, September 8th. See you there for more impactful lessons!
2. On July 15th, we hosted another Coffee with SAPS event. We welcomed members new and old to share initiative ideas, learn about each other more deeply and find ways to collaborate. The discussions were concluded with a Kahoot on Albanian history, culture and geography, which brought out everyone’s competitive spirit.
We look forward to hosting such get-togethers more frequently as we recognize their immense potential for community building. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities!
3. The latest on EaglePod: Our very own Lorena Culaj has continued branching out her EaglePod platform. This month she conducted three notable interviews:
I. The first of these featured Dr. Egzona Morina. The conversation focused on Dr. Morina’s inspirational career and the release of her new project, “Brain Book”, the proceeds from which will go to the Xheladin & Xhufe Morina Foundation, which supports the success of Kosova students in STEM fields. Dr. Morina, who spoke at an event hosted by SAPS in collaboration with ALSA UK in March of this year, went into depth about her inspirational journey and how she is using it to provide opportunities for future generations.
II. Lorena then spoke to Elio Zhilla, a 1L Law Student at Nova Southeastern University. Elio provided valuable insights on the legal issues Albania faces and personal advice gathered from his career. He also shares a bit about his story to the States and how his work ethic stands out in any aspect of his life.
III. Last but not least came Riqard Prlesi, a physician assistant at SBH Health System. Mr. Prlesi spoke about the importance of faith in his life and work, which also centers on the Albanian community and his passion for medicine.
As always, stay tuned with the EaglePod for new episodes featuring the stories and aspirations of bright Albanians!
4. We are beyond excited to announce that we are kickstarting a deeply important project: the SAPS High School Mentorship Initiative. Each high schooler who signs up through this link will be paired with a college student best fitting their background and interests, enabling them to cut through the barriers of the educational system and reach for their highest goals.
Check out a few of our mentors speaking on why the mentorship initiative is important to them — alongside our Dose of Albania and other special posts — on our Instagram page. Please reach out to us through email (shoqatasaps@gmail.com) if you are interested in participating as a mentor!
5. Reminders & what’s ahead:
I. Our next Adaptive Leadership Lecture with Faton Limani is set for August 11th at 12:00 pm EST. This one is on Ambitions & Aspirations!
II. Stay tuned for in-person endeavors to come VERY soon!
III. Fill out the SAPS Scholar Spotlight Form and get featured across our platforms! We invite you to fill out the SAPS Scholar Spotlight Form, highlighting your academic achievements or those of another Albanian scholar. It is important that we as a community recognize and encourage the work of our bright students — yourself included.
Check out our latest Scholar Spotlight, featuring Olgerta Mucollari, a recent graduate of Stony Brook University who excelled in basic and clinical research as an undergraduate. Congratulations to Olgerta — here is to many more accomplishments to come!
IV. Last but certainly not least, do not forget to join our SAPS Community GroupMe. Our members have used this platform to promote impactful new projects, share music and cultural influences, or to simply talk about what their Albanian identity means to them. Whatever your interests are, you will find a space and peers to support you here.
That is all from us this month. We look forward to sharing further updates of our projects and members’ accomplishments in the months to come. Until then!
Gjithë të mirat,
The SAPS Team
