Media, Law & Policy

Visionary leaders to gather Nov. 28-30 to foster sustainable future

Tuesday, November 27, 2012, By Kelly Homan Rodoski

Nearly 50 visionary leaders, representing diverse ideologies and disciplines, will gather at 黑料不打烊 Nov. 28-30 to engage in a dialogue, tell the stories of our civilization and search for a shared narrative to promote sustainability and move beyond conflict.

Participants in 鈥淩e-Enchanting Humanity, Stories for a Sustainable Future鈥 will share and listen, transcending individual positions to develop a new narrative for the future of humanity and the planet. Dialogue will be organized around four topic areas: environment, economy, democracy and being. Artists will also join the participants to create stories to foster a more compassionate, inclusive and civil society.

The event is presented by the Wisdom Thinkers Network, Hendricks Chapel, the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Le Moyne College.

The public is invited to participate in the following two events:

Thursday, Nov. 29鈥An Evening of Stories and Music for Sustainability, 7-8:30 p.m. in Maxwell Auditorium (open reception will be held in the Maxwell foyer at 6 p.m.). This event will be a panel discussion and cultural program to share emerging narratives. It will include remarks by Wisdom Thinkers Chair Ralph Singh and Maxwell Professor Marjorie DeVault on the role of narrative in social change; panel discussion with Rabbi Brad Hirschfeld, co-president of CLAL; Naresh Singh, fomer UN advisor for poverty and sustainable livelihoods; and Nick Stuart, president and CEO of Odyssey Networks; stories with Francis Parks, founder of the Sojourner Story Festival; and music by jazz clarinetist David Rothenberg, with world-renowned sound designer Doug Quin, associate professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Friday, Nov. 30鈥Building for a Sustainable Future, 10:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Global Collaboratory, 060 Eggers Hall. This will be a discussion of emerging narratives assisted by visual facilitator Julie Stuart. Audience members are welcome to contribute as the group identifies opportunities for change and begins to frame a call to action.

For more information on 鈥淩e-Enchanting Humanity,鈥 visit www.wisdomthinkers.org/. or Twitter at #wtn2012.