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6 CHILDART GLOBAL CREATIVE LEADERS JAN-MAR 2021 7

The life of Dr. Ron D’Vari, CEO of NewOak Capital difference—he’s a champion of the environment support, and champion the cause of individuals
in New York City, provides a great example of the (pages 34-37). He avers that four changes are who are working to promote peace and justice, and
creative journey of a math-obsessed kid in Tehran, essential. “First, people should change their attitudes eliminate material and spiritual poverty throughout
Iran. After earning a PhD in engineering at UCLA and conception about material wealth. We should the world (pages 42-43). Each year the foundation
and becoming an innovation scholar, he reenrolled at know that enough is enough, and the pursuit of more presents the Right Livelihood Award to four Laureates
UCLA for an MBA to become a financial engineer who and more is wrong. Second, we must pursue spiritual from around the world. These Laureates have
is helping ignite challenging growth-oriented ventures development to limit our desire for materials. Third, employed empathy, courage, and creativity to find
to accelerate reality of global ESG enterprises that all of our children should develop empathy. Lastly, solutions to the most challenging problems we face
focus on environment protection, social benefits, and education must include environmental knowledge. today. Ole believes that young people have the moral
good governance (pages 26-27). A forever optimist, How much carbon dioxide is emitted every year? compass to identify changes that need to be made
Ron looks at the bright side, even of the COVID-19 What’s the population growth each year? We should and offers the encouragement to “Raise your voice
pandemic, recognizing that as a result, “kids will have let our children know about the fertilizers, antibiotics, and make your first experience as an activist.”
the ability to look at the virtual world that is coming, and pesticides, along with their impact on health and
but now in a much faster way.” Hence, COVID-19 may even genetic development.” The leaders we present to you come from across
have prepared you for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Dr. Paul Niehaus is not just a well-known economics the globe. We find common threads woven through
the tapestry of their life experiences. These include
driven by artificial intelligence and robotics.
professor at the University of California San Diego, using creativity and empathy to reach for the
Mohsin Hamid’s books have been translated into he is also cofounder of GiveDirectly, a platform for seemingly unreachable, to make connections, to
forty languages, appear on bestseller lists, and have direct cash transfers via smartphones to extremely value individuals, and to foster optimism. When this is
been made into cinematic works of art (pages 28- poor families in East Africa (pages 38-39). He believes achieved, true leaders emerge. The International Child
29). He connects art with public policy to address that creativity involves making novel and unique Art Foundation is pleased to present these leaders
complicated social issues of the day. In developing connections. “You can give your brain opportunities to you as we work toward positive social change
the characters he writes about, he explores various to make those connections. That means filling your based on the belief that creativity and empathy are
viewpoints. “Empathy is the beautiful capacity that brain with all sorts of interesting information so that requisite for a more just, prosperous, and nonviolent
humans have to imaginatively leap across barriers. you can be thoughtful about what you’re reading and world. ICAF’s aim is that children become “creative-
We can make these leaps. Empathy is the superpower who you talk to and where you go. Don’t worry if you empaths” who can work together for sustainable
of humans. Will you use it to be a villain or a hero? read a book and don’t immediately have a great idea, prosperity and lasting peace. The innate creativity
This question requires each of us to develop our own or you meet someone and don’t know where to take and intrinsic empathy of today’s children are certainly
moral compass.” that relationship. It’s data. You’re putting it into your the hallmarks of tomorrow’s leaders.
brain and letting it percolate. Give your brain time to
If you need a story about the American Dream, look look at things and come up with connections. Come
no further than Dr. Carmen Rojas, president and back to it every once in a while. Get enough sleep.
CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation with nearly Your brain is better when you’re rested, and your brain
$800 million in assets (page 30-33). She has achieved does a lot of its work while you’re asleep. That’s the
what was unimaginable for a daughter of immigrants process. Trust the process.”
from Venezuela and Nicaragua. “I just really refused
to be the last generation of people in this country For Dr. Serene Jones, president of Union Theological
that got to benefit from a robust social safety net, Seminary, creativity and spirituality go hand in hand
a moment in time when our political leaders were (pages 40-41). She believes that being creative-
willing to regulate corporations and services for the empaths comes naturally to children and recommends
public good.” Working for inclusivity is what brings nourishing the natural spirituality by allowing children
her the joy to sing while she works. “What we’re to think “wild” things about the universe. The joy of
seeing in our work day-to-day is that young people being a child is found in pushing the boundaries
are not only engaging more, but they are framing of what is known and stretching into that creative
the conversations that we are having as a nation space where new ideas emerge. For her, empathy is
right now. I think it’s a critical moment for all of us to essential as well. “A very important part of empathy is
sit back and listen. There’s a real appetite for young helping students learn to put themselves in the shoes
people to shape the future, which is theirs now. I am of someone very different from themselves, and to
committed to a generational shift.” understand what the world may mean to someone
whose beliefs are very different from their own.”
Zhang Yue founded a company that rose to become
a global corporation that mirrors China’s historic Finally, Ole von Uexküll, Executive Director of The
growth over the past three decades, but with a major
Right Livelihood Foundation, works to recognize,

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