On Diversity, Leadership, and Social Change
About the Global Inclusion Dialogue
We hear that this world is small—and growing smaller, due to the phenomena of climate change, mass migration, and the closing digital divide. But when injustices occur within and across borders, what criteria are necessary to create a global community that nourishes, stimulates, and inspires? And once such a community exists, what are its goals? What are its challenges and opportunities? What are its plan for sustainability, and its unforeseen risks?
At the crux of the matter, what are the roles—of the group and of the individuals—who form this interdisciplinary, intercultural, interracial, ‘inter-everything-else’ global community?
The Global Inclusion Dialogue (GID) is an attempt to respond to these questions. It is a collection of mediators, facilitators, practitioners, advocates, students, teachers, writers, philosophers, and otherwise thinkers dispersed across the world, who meet annually in a secluded setting and in a previously unvisited country. At each annual meeting, or dialogue, participants consider the above questions and all their related topics, and as they are influenced by context of each host country.
Ultimately, the GID aims to explore the workings, boundaries, effects, and potential of diversity, leadership, and change, and how they impact communities on a global scale. There is no hidden or specific agenda beyond increasing tolerance, understanding, and peace.
Origin
In April 2005, Jeremy Solomons, as founding father, and Kelli McLoud-Schingen and Natasha Aruliah as founding mothers met with a small group of other committed global citizens in Houston, Texas to form the framework of what has now morphed into the Global Inclusion Dialogue.
Originally, the Global Inclusion Dialogue was named the ‘Global Community Dialogue’, and even before that the 'Global Diversity Dialogue'. However, after its first five meetings between the United States and Europe, dialogue participants at the time decided that ‘Diversity’ did not do justice to the full range of everyone’s experiences, endeavors, and interests.
After much conversation, they settled on renaming this forum the Global Community Dialogue on Diversity, Leadership, and Social Change. This name has since more effectively reflected our aspirations for dialogue that fosters a global community. It also constantly reminds us to become better leaders in our respective fields and societies, and across the many borders and transitions that we encounter.
With core organizers moving on to other places and other ventures, the GCD has morphed into a new form and name with the Dialogue as a Heartbeat into Global Inclusion Dialogue.
Very much connected to the format of Dialogue in Open Space and meeting in an professional and yet intimate setting.