Hometown Diplomat Justin Friedman participated in events in San Rafael, California, and his hometown of Biddeford, Maine with an emphasis on policy outreach and recruiting for the Department of State. He spoke on a variety of topics including de-mining in Croatia to a group of Rotarians, Foreign Service life to local high school seniors, and U.S. policy in Croatia to faculty and graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Friedman's visit to Maine yielded meetings with Maine Governor John Baldacci, the Senate Democratic Caucus, and Senator Lloyd LaFountain. Among the discussions Mr. Friedman had with Maine government officials were the possible establishment of a sister city program between Maine and Croatia, the U.S. policy in the Balkans, and an interest in travel to the region. Of his experience, Mr. Friedman remarked, "I am very happy about how my events worked out and positive about the results achieved on policy outreach."
