FLINT, Michigan — Flint’s own Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, has been selected as one of 23 leaders nationwide to spearhead an effort to create a more civil society and more civil discourse.
Oliver is a part of the inaugural class of the Civil Society Fellowship, a partnership between the Aspen Institute and the Anti-Defamation League. As one of the selected fellows, he also because a member of the prestigious Aspen Global Leadership Network.
“At a time when our country seems to be more divided than ever and we are continuously presented with more and more complex challenges, it’s vital that we bring together the next generation of diverse leaders — individuals across the political and ideological spectrum — in an effort to develop innovative strategies and solutions to those problems,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
Oliver said that he was honored to be selected and plans to use the experience to become a better leader for the community. He joins a diverse group of fellows that includes journalists, entrepreneurs, government officials, lawyers, educators and designers.
They will spend five weeks in retreats over the next two and a half years — traveling to Europe, the Middle East and various U.S. destinations to explore issues of freedom, security, liberty and diversity in different contexts.
All fellows also are charged with launching their own leadership venture to tackle a societal problem of their choice and to make a positive impact on their community, the country and the world.
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