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 By Stephen Reno In the wake of the November election, too often have I heard the call “to circle the wagons.” It’s a phrase deep in our American folklore and has come to represent a measure to be safe and secure. But the lessons of these past few weeks are that we need to do just the opposite; rather we need to engage in respectful conversation across difference but based in our common love for our country. Global Citizens Circle, now in its 50th year, has been doing just that, and so offers us all a model for how to do it and what it can lead to. And what it also offers — so desperately needed these days — is intergenerational conversation. As Pope Frances noted, “The elderly with their history are the roots and the young are the flowers and fruits.” Together we grow, recognizing difference, but also know our shared roots. Our country and our world so urgently need this approach. I am grateful for Global Citizens Circle and urge us all to ensure that its mission is an active verb. We hope you’ll register for our next Circle on Monday, December 2, from noon to 1pm. Historian and author Timothy Ryback, whose books and articles offer lessons for democracy, joins us for an important post-election circle event as we join in conversation to consider how to constructively move forward given the polarization of American citizenry. What lesson can we learn from others who’ve navigated similar polarization and found ways to work together for common good? You may register here. Stephen Reno is a retired professor of comparative religion, university administrator, and most recently, the former executive director of Leadership New Hampshire, a 30-year-old organization whose mission is “Building a community of informed and engaged leaders.” He lives in Hampton, New Hampshire, and serves on the advisory board of Global Citizens Circle. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. We need to engage in respectful conversation across difference but based in our common love for our country.
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Battles over Confederate flags and monuments persist and suggest that the issues fought over in the American Civil War and Civil Rights Movement are unresolved. How we confront symbols of statues, flags and anthems determine the extent of domestic tranquility we can achieve as a nation. How can public commemoration shape a collective narrative that builds, rather than strains the ties that bind us together?
In Feb. 2021, Global Citizens Circle (GCC) addressed this question in a stirring circle. Discussion leaders included American politician, lawyer and author Mitch Landrieu, whose book, “In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History,” speaks to his personal journey confronting the issue of race and institutional racism that still plagues America. Circle discussion leaders also included Imari Paris Jefferies, Ph.D., Tracyann Williams, and Dr. Craig Stutman. 
This important circle discussion is now part of GCC’s engaging Dialogue2Action series. The overview video can be viewed below. Review the discussion guide here. There’s never been a better time to participate in one of GCC’s Dialogue2Action discussions with your friends, colleagues, and community. There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it.  By Sonja Meijer Hannah Arendt, a German American historian and political thinker, made significant contributions to political theory and philosophy, which continue to be studied today. Arendt argues that thinking is a political activity. Engaging and thinking with others in the political sphere is central to a fulfilling life. Arendt has explored issues from totalitarianism in works like “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” an examination of “The Human Condition,” her views on evil when covering the trial of Adolf Eichmann, her distinction between the Public and Private spheres, and her advocacy for human rights, as she herself was a refugee. Arendt emphasizes the importance of engaging in political discourse with others. By entering the political realm, we leave our private life to appear in front of others, with the use of speech and action. By presenting ourselves, we can be recognized by others and therefore attain a sense of individual freedom. Arendt believes that if we appear in front of others, our existence is acknowledged, leading to the experience of human plurality and eventually reality. Arendt argues that good and meaningful conversations occur when two individuals are working together to understand each other. As we cannot know another person merely from observation, we have a responsibility to engage in dialogue. We need to actively seek answers to the questions we have about someone. Not only do we come to understand the other person through dialogue, but we also come to learn more about ourselves. Through this collaborative exploration, we shed light on who we are as individuals and how we fit into the larger world. Not only is it important to have dialogue with others, but one must also be able to have dialogue with themselves. Arendt states that “no man can keep his conscience intact who cannot actualize the dialogue with himself, that is, who lacks the solitude required for all forms of thinking.” Arendt believes that our inner dialogue, which she calls a “two-in-one” conversation, is necessary when examining our conscience. In this two-in-one, this thought process turns into a dialogue consisting of myself asking questions and my other self answering them. Arendt argues that “living together with others begins with living together with oneself.” For one to engage in inner dialogue, one must enter a world of solitude. Arendt’s notion of solitude is a space for self-discovery and introspection. A person cannot enter the public realm as a political being without first thinking in solitude. Solitude, as Arendt sees it, offers us a remedy to an increasingly lonely society. Rather than following a traditional way of solving loneliness – the view of engaging more with others – one should spend more time in solitude. Our society is dealing with an epidemic of loneliness. With the development of technology, specifically social media, we spend more time alone, not engaging in dialogue with ourselves or others. This time alone is often spent scrolling on Instagram, checking emails, or watching TV. We have become immersed in the screens that we deem as entertainment, and we now consider it our ‘alone’ time or ‘me’ time. But this is not what Arendt meant by spending time with ourselves. We are no longer taking time to speak with our other self in solitude, away from distractions. Our attention span is even shorter than previous years, and we become easily bored and exist in this world of loneliness. We are no longer experiencing the companionship of our other self within the two-in-one. As we are no longer engaging in the self-understanding that emerges from inner dialogue, we are ill-prepared for participating in the public sphere. We are losing what makes us distinct from others as we hide behind screens and appear less and less in front of others. Solitude is integral to the life of a human being, and without this space for introspection, we lose our ability for thought and therefore our freedom. Arendt talks about the dangers of totalitarianism. In the world of totalitarianism, one is taught what to think rather than how to think. Totalitarianism acts like a magnet, where individuals are pulled so close together that they lose their individuality and merge into one. Totalitarian regimes seek to eradicate all differences of thought by removing the political space that allows for new and transformative ideas to be produced. Without the ability to think one becomes lonely. In contrast to the lonely man, the solitary man is completely alone but, as Arendt sees it, he is “together with himself.” Thinking in solitude is a dialogue between “me and myself.” Arendt notes that the lonely person can save themselves from loneliness by engaging in solitary dialogue. By being in solitude, we can expand our minds and question our own views and perspectives. Arendt also highlights the repercussions of abstaining from meaningful reflection. Her essay “Thinking and Moral Considerations” grapples with the connection between thinking and evil. Arendt used the phrase “the banality of evil” to describe Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking Nazi official who was a significant figure in the Holocaust. Arendt did not see Eichmann as a “monstrous” figure but rather an ordinary bureaucrat who committed evil acts without deeply questioning or reflecting on the moral implications of his actions. These evil deeds were committed on a large scale, and Arendt viewed this as “not stupidity but a curious, quite authentic inability to think.” She argues that thinking, this two-in-one conversation, can deter individuals from evildoing. Arendt posits that when you are in solitude, you are engaged in thought which may “be the most solitary of all activities” but you are never “without a partner and without company.” Delving deep into conversation with yourself will always be sufficient companionship. In conclusion, Arendt’s thinking highlights the importance of solitude as a space to understand ourselves through engaging in a two-in-one dialogue. By critiquing totalitarianism, she highlights the dangers of depriving people of solitude. Losing this space for solitude means losing the freedom that comes with thinking. Solitude is a space to discover one’s identity through sustained reflection. The process of having dialogue with our self encourages us to question our own values while also opening ourselves to the other. This preparation better equips us for acting in the political sphere. By balancing solitude and our social interactions, we can have a fulfilling and meaningful life. Everyone can feel lonely at times, but Arendt encourages us to continuously cultivate our inner-thinking partner to find refuge in solitude. Finally, I would like to leave you with a poem I wrote about solitude: Arendt’s wise words she tells us that solitude is a place for us to reflect where a person can be in conversation with oneself, can be fulfilled by one’s own presence and that solitude cannot be mistaken for loneliness (but I am too often lonely and wonder how I can enter the world of solitude)  Sonja Meijer is a recent graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She is half American and half Dutch, and grew up in the Geneva, Switzerland area. Her interests are in social justice, poetry, theater, and sports. She has been involved with Global Citizen Circle for the past year and served as an intern for GCC in 2023. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. Power is actualized only where word and deed have not parted company, where words are not empty and deeds not brutal, where words are not used to veil intentions but to disclose realities, and where deeds are not used to violate and destroy but to establish relations and create new realities. In September 2023, Global Citizens Circle partnered with The Parents Circle-Families Forum and Narrative 4 – these three organizations share a similar and powerful mission to foster empathy through dialogue – to present a virtual Circle, Reclaiming Our Humanity: Conversations for Peace. Their shared objective formed the bedrock of the event, which aimed to shed light on the 75-year struggle between Palestinians and Israelis, a conflict often regarded as one of the world's most intractable. The event featured Colum McCann, distinguished author of the renowned work “Apeirogon” and president of Narrative 4, in a thought-provoking exchange with bereaved family members from The Parent Circle-Families Forum, Arab Aramin and Yigal Elhanan. This transformative conversation resonated deeply with its audience. Highlights of this Circle can be viewed below, and the full Circle may be viewed here. So much has happened since our 2023 Circle – and now, more than ever, we need respectful dialogue to foster empathy and find our way toward reconciliation and peace.
GCC will co-host Holding Onto Humanity with the Ford Hall Forum, in partnership with the Parents Circle-Family Forum, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 750 bereaved families on September 23, from 6-7 pm. Parents Circle-Families Forum have chosen a path of reconciliation. Often raw and emotional, out of these interactions comes change. Not the kind of change that makes headlines, but a more profound shift in perspective. Join us for an evening of conversation with bereaved Israeli mother Robi Damelin and bereaved Palestinian mother Laila Alsheikh, who both lost their sons to the conflict. They will tell their personal stories of loss and explain their choice to engage in dialogue and reconciliation. The evening’s moderator is Charles M. Sennott,founder and editor of The GroundTruth Project and an award-winning correspondent, author, and editor with 30 years of experience in international, national, and local journalism. Previously, Sennott worked for many years as a reporter at the Boston Globe, where he became Bureau Chief for the Middle East and Europe and a leader of the paper's international coverage. We invite you to join us at Suffolk University’s Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street in Boston on September 23. Registration information may be found here. This program will be livestreamed by the Ford Hall Forum, and you must sign up here to receive the livestream link.
At a Boston Circle in May 2019, Jada Hebra led a panel discussion, “Building Movements for Change: Stories of Challenge and Success,” featuring activists Dolores Huerta, Lauren Hogg, and Ramla Sahid. Conversation that evening spoke to societal challenges, division and how each of us can make a difference to create, foster, and impact change.
Hebra, a senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Southern New Hampshire University, is adept in her navigation of complex discussion and scenarios, drawing upon the tools of her work and experience to find the humanity in everyone. Yet, in 2016, she too stumbled in the political crevasse that so many found themselves in – but for Hebra, this time it became deeply personal. In her compelling 2023 TEDx Talk, Hebra shares how a work conversation allowed her to open her eyes and find her way forward across a seemingly insurmountable divide – and how we can as well. And in the spirit of Global Citizens Circle, why it matters that we do. If you care about the people in your life who hold a different world view, if you care about this country, then I invite you to the climb – to lay down a ladder and make your way across the crevasse, to dare to try to reach that seemingly unreachable summit ... to have hope. Trust me when I tell you, we can save this relationship. We are so much better together.
Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle.
 By Theo Spanos Dunfey We live in turbulent times. Extreme polarization, animosity across divides, and violence erupting in places we’ve grown too accustomed to seeing it and in places we never expected it. Exacerbated by a 24/7 media landscape that proves difficult to pull away from, we find ourselves irritated, agitated and feeling small and alone in the face of the enormity of the problems we face in these turbulent times. Surely there must be an escape! Rather than an escape, however, I would posit that what we need is to do something, as people at the recent Democratic National Convention have reminded us. Recalling their mothers’ admonitions to do something instead of complaining, do something instead of sitting on the couch waiting for someone else to fix things, and do something even if it’s hard, the speakers reminded me of one of the origin stories of Global Citizens Circle. As I wrote in my previous blog post, I was fortunate to become part of the Dunfey family, the Circle founders. While I never met Catherine Dunfey, the family matriarch, I’ve heard the stories of the example she set for her large and sometimes unwieldy group of a dozen offspring. Her youngest daughter, Eleanor Dunfey-Freiburger, wrote in her memoir “Counter Culture: Clams, Convents and a Circle of Global Citizens” – My mother’s example…showed us what “social justice” looks like. She would never have heard that term in those days. She lived it though…my mother walked the talk of social justice in her everyday life. Catherine’s example had a profound and lasting impact on her family, and it is reflected in the story of Global Citizens Circle. Fifty years ago, it was another turbulent time. In the wake of national trauma over the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, the end of the Vietnam War, the resignation of a disgraced president, and the upheaval in Boston over school desegregation and bussing, the pervasive feelings of helplessness and hopelessness spurred the Dunfey family to “do something!” As hoteliers, the family decided to use their experience in the hospitality industry to take action and bring people of different backgrounds, races and beliefs together, usually over a meal, to talk with one another in an open and respectful manner about the hard issues that everyone was grappling with in the early 1970s. A firm belief that diverse, civil conversations on critical issues of the day would help begin to break down barriers when coupled with a friendly, warm and welcoming environment – and that is how the Circle became the family’s act of doing something. And beyond opening up their hotels to welcome people into the conversation, they set an example of working behind the scenes for peace in Northern Ireland, South Africa and the Middle East among other conflict areas in the world. As Monica McWilliams, the only woman signatory to Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement, said to us, “They (the Dunfey family) were influencers, but influencers without ego, influencers who worked under the radar, influencers who were humble people…” In this, the 50th anniversary year of Global Citizens Circle, I value and hold dear the legacy that the organization has of bringing people together across differences, welcoming everyone to the conversation, and honoring everyone’s lived experience as we discuss the way towards lasting peace and justice. When we truly listen with open minds, and we learn to hold differing opinions with respect for the humanity of those who express them, I believe we can all lead the way to solving even the most intractable problems we face. Just do something! Theo Spanos Dunfey is president and executive director of Global Citizens Circle. She has over 30 years of global experience in non-profits, higher education, and international affairs. Dunfey is a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, concentrating on American diplomatic history, international communication, and international development. It was during her studies at the Fletcher School that she first began volunteering with Global Citizens Circle’s Boston programs. She also earned a bachelor’s in international relations and French at Brown University. With a primary focus on global issues, Dunfey taught international development at the University of New England, led student groups on global citizenship service-learning trips abroad, directed the World Affairs Council of Maine, and produced numerous global editorial conferences for The WorldPaper before taking the helm at Global Citizens Circle. When we truly listen with open minds, and we learn to hold differing opinions with respect for the humanity of those who express them, I believe we can all lead the way to solving even the most intractable problems we face. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle.
 By Dr. Shanita M. Williams Growing up, just about every child had “circle time” during the school day. It was a point in the day where we’d move from our individual plainly colored desks to the center of the room, often sitting on a vibrantly colored rug that gave you a jolt of energy the moment you stepped onto it. We’d all scramble to that carpet for circle time, trying to find the perfect spot within the circle. I remember looking around to make sure no one was left outside of the circle and would encourage other kids to scoot over to make room if someone did. As I reflect on the many faces in the circle, I cannot help to feel blessed to have grown up with people from all walks of life in race, gender, socio-economic status and ability. I didn’t realize it at the time, but circle time would become one of my earliest memories on the value of diversity and the importance of inclusion. As a kid, the time in the circle was incredibly exciting…it was a moment of the day where we were closest to the teacher (literally sitting just a few inches away from their feet). It was an opportunity to put our pens down (or crayons for that matter) and engage in learning in a completely different way. No books, no overhead projector (I am dating myself), no worksheets, no flashcards, just me, myself and I. It was a signal that I was enough and that I had everything I needed for the circle. Looking back, it was really empowering. Circle time was also inspiring because it was not only an opportunity to listen to each other, but it was also an opportunity to see each other in a completely different way. The structure of the circle made the time special. We were right beside one another – not across the table from one another – and something about that felt good. We weren’t required to cite literature or recite the details of something; it was our opportunity to listen to each other, to see one another, share our perspective, and be inspired by one another. It was almost as if the words shared during “circle time” resonated more deeply than any other point in the day, leaving me feeling more knowledgeable, more connected to my peers, and seen as an individual. Now that you know how much I valued circle time as a kid, I am sure it’s no surprise to you that I was drawn to Global Citizens Circle (GCC). Through the use of global circles, Global Citizens Circle discussion leaders join in a moderated interactive conversation with participants from around the world, having courageous constructive conversations about some of the world’s most pressing topics. The experience and outcomes are similar to those I felt in a circle as a kid: people from all walks of life sharing stories, inspiring hope, deepening understanding, and motivating change.  In June 2022, I had the honor of moderating a GCC circle, “In the Footsteps of Giants: Grounding and Growing the Dream.” It was an inspiring discussion centered around intergenerational dialogue with Yolanda King, then 14-year-old activist and sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King as well as Khandace Wilkerson, a 2022 graduate of the Boston Latin Academy, who is involved in many community-based organizations in Boston. Together, they represent a generation of new voices that were born out of dreams of those who have come before them. It was a real treat for me to sit alongside the two of these young women and hear their thoughts on topics that the youth were most concerned about. We talked about voting rights, gun violence, activism, and tips for youth who want to make a difference. One of our discussion topics was around voting. As we enter the 2024 presidential election the youth vote (ages 18-34) has the potential to influence on the outcome in many states. As Yolanda King noted, “We need to make sure we (youth) are voting so that we elect politicians who will listen to the youth.” Her point was well taken. Many people have traditionally felt that our youth are “to be seen and not heard.” Khandace Wilkerson said, “They (youth) have power in their voice even, if they don’t use it; their thoughts matter, their ideas matter and they can change the world if they want to.” I have always believed in our youth, but after listening to these young women, it reinforced that if we only see them and not hear them, we are missing out on an incredible opportunity to positively shape the future of our country and, inevitably, the world. I remember hearing that one voice can cause an avalanche. These two young women, alongside the Global Citizens Circle, have started a volcanic eruption. What an honor it was to be a part of this circle and watch them pave their own way as they follow in the footsteps of giants. As I go back to my childhood circle time on the vibrantly colored carpet, I am reminded that it was not the adults in the room that inspired me most, it was my peers…the youth that did so. I am inspired by our youth: Khandance Wilkerson and Yolanda King will lead the next generation of leaders and become the giants so many will follow. That’s the power of a circle. Dr. Shanita Williams has focused on the employee experience for the last 15 years. She currently serves as the vice president of people experience and inclusion within Human Resources at Southern New Hampshire University. In her role, she collaborates with leaders and employees across the university to ensure that diversity and inclusion are embedded in all of our talent strategies, initiatives and programs that help recruit, retain and empower world class talent to deliver on the mission. Her areas of focus include employee engagement surveys, recognition and appreciation, employee networks, university-wide onboarding, bias response programs, coaching and helping people build a feedback mentality. Williams earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, where her research centered on the lived experiences of African-American working mothers as students. Williams is the author of "The Feedback Mentality: The key to unlocking and unleashing your full potential" and a two-times TEDx speaker. Through the use of global circles, Global Citizens Circle discussion leaders join in a moderated interactive conversation with participants from around the world, having courageous constructive conversations about some of the world’s most pressing topics. - Dr. Shanita Williams Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle.
Tito Jackson, the chairman emeritus of Global Citizens Circle's Board, speaks to what GCC has meant to him over the years, why it remains vital in his life, and how we all benefit from GCC and its mission. |
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