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Woven into the gathering of international leaders is the vital energy and insight of the young emerging leaders paired with their senior partners; and young student scholars from the University of San Diego and Virginia Tech. The concept paper developed by Elisa and Jennifer, suggests in many respects, a co-counsel, co-council relationship in which young leaders and leader scholars are engaged as full partners in the Global Gathering, not just as observers, but as engaged leaders who share in creating a vision of global reform.
Shown are Veronica Arroyave, MPH (left) from Colombia and Kim Baker, MSW (right), both doctoral students at Virginia Tech assisting a gathering last year of community foundation leaders from the US, England, Scotland, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The gathering was co-sponsored by the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance and the Community Foundation of the New River Valley.
Vero and Kim exemplify the type of students who will engage in the Via International Scholars program. Veronica is in Planning, Globalization and Governance, at the School of Public and International Affairs. Kim is a Resource Development Specialist in the Office of the Senior Fellow for Resource Development; and is enrolled as a docotoral student in the Center for Public Administration and Policy.
The Global Gathering and Virginia Tech
In September, I met with Max Stephenson, Director Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance; (below) and Wolfgang Natter (above), Professor, Political Science; and, Director of Virginia Tech's Alliance of Social, Political, Ethical, Cultural Thought (ASPECT) about the Global Gathering. It was the first time Wolfgang had heard about the idea of bringing together a cohort of transformational leaders, international social entrepreneurs. He and Max expressed interest in sponsoring the event at Virginia Tech. "There are thirty faculty who would be very interested in this," said Wolfgang.
"So, what's next?" asked Max. I said I would send them a narrative description of the Gathering; and, that I would talk with Elisa Sabatini about our conversation. Since then the conversation has expanded. The written narrative is ready to be shared. Elisa is in process confirming invitations to the list of international leaders. A date has been set: October 5-9, 2009. A tentative date has been suggested for the second Gathering at Virginia Tech, April 5-9, 2010.
Wolfgang invited me to speak to the ASPECT group in October, I think I will talk about the Global Gathering, who some of our invitees are, what their stories are, what they share in common and the nature of their creative, ethical leadership.
As the year ends, there's a surge of energy now for the Global Gathering. The four of us who will work this blog now are pictured here in different moments and places: Jennifer Case in Canyon de Chelly, Chinle, AZ (top); Elisa Sabatini at the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge, England (second from top); Kabir Kadre at Harmony Hill, Washington (bottom), and I in Blacksburg, VA (second from bottom). This will be a new experience for us all, creating the Gathering and journaling about the process in our blog. I'm grateful for our partnership in this incredible undertaking.
Elisa, Kabir and Jennifer daily cross borders and span boundaries as expression of who they are. From their example, I draw inspiration. The Global Gathering is an expression of who these people are.
