Drury University's Convocation Series, 2007-2008

Director:

Michael D. Hill, Cultural Anthropologist and Assistant Professor of Global Studies

Description:

Is it too late to solve the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges? Aren’t humans just naturally competitive, greedy, and destructive? How will we ever see the end of poverty, or disease, or corruption? What can one person do anyway? Such questions are pervasive today and are symptoms of malaise, hopelessness, and inaction. Drury’s 2007-2008 Convocation theme, Hope and Action, seeks to put such questions to rest by showcasing, celebrating, and ultimately learning from global citizens and organizations which, even in the midst of human tragedy or environmental disaster, have resolutely believed in their abilities to create a better world and have purposefully directed their efforts towards doing so. While informed and effective agents of change must acknowledge and critically confront the realities of problems they are attempting to solve, they also must ultimately move beyond guilt, apathy, and cynicism in order to develop the wisdom and will to act with hope.

The Hope and Action Convocation Series seeks to bring such inspiring role models to Drury from diverse professions, from business as well as public sectors, and from civil society, so that the Drury community might be further catalyzed in its own efforts to prepare ethical leaders for a global community. The vision for the Hope and Action series is that through diverse accounts of inspired activism and meaningful change, we will deepen our understanding of the principles and practices that drive successful human and environmental development so that we may better implement those principles and practices within our own communities and spheres of influence.

The series also seeks to showcase members and organizations within the Drury community who are following the call for hope and action and effecting sustainable change efforts. Participatory workshops and other innovative presentation styles are especially welcomed.