Goi Peace Foundation Forum 2011
"Building Communities of Hope"
All of us have the potential to realize our dream and create a fulfilling life for ourselves. If each of us can demonstrate our creativity and actively contribute to our societies, we can bring about remarkable changes in the world.
The Goi Peace Foundation Forum 2011 was held at the Ginza Blossom Hall in Tokyo on November 19, 2011, under the theme “Building Communities of Hope.”
Learning from the success stories of the 2011 Goi Peace Award laureate Bill Strickland and other social innovators, participants explored how all individuals can unleash their innate talents and build vibrant and innovative communities for a better future.
PROGRAM
PART 1
2011 Goi Peace Award Ceremony and Commemorative Address "Making the Impossible Possible" / Bill Strickland
The 2011 Goi Peace Award was presented to Bill Strickland, social innovator and the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation. In his commemorative address, Mr. Strickland narrated the slides showing his world-class institute and its educational model, and delivered an optimistic message that every person has the potential for remarkable achievement if given the right environment and treated with respect. He emphasized that we can change the world for the better and we can do it right now.
Bill Strickland
Born in 1947, Bill Strickland grew up in an inner-city neighborhood of Pittsburgh in the United States. His life changed when he was introduced to pottery throwing by his high school art teacher, who became his mentor. Building on his personal experience, he founded a community arts program and later an extraordinary jobs training center, through which he has empowered thousands of disadvantaged youth and adults to restore hope and dignity and become creative contributors to their communities. His success has attracted nationwide attention, and his model for social change has been replicated in many cities.
Mr. Strickland has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the MacArthur "genius award." He is also the author of Making the Impossible Possible,
and the founder of the Grammy-winning MCG Jazz. He has served on the board of the National Endowment of the Arts, and as a lecturer at Harvard Business School and other institutions. He is currently a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions appointed by President Obama.
What kind of future do we wish to create? How do we want to change the world? Leading social innovators invited the participants to think about these essential questions, and discussed how we can put our ideas into action and realize our vision. The conversation naturally addressed the challenges and hopes of rebuilding communities in Tohoku, Japan, highlighting many positive and innovative projects being launched after the disaster.
Participants: Bill Strickland, Kazuhiro Fujihara, Hideyuki Inoue, Bob Stilger, Masami Saionji
Coordinator: Hiroo Saionji
Kazuhiro Fujihara
Visiting Professor at Tokyo Gakugei University; Advisor to the Kids Earth Fund; former principal of Wada Junior High School in Suginami ward. After his successful business career at Recruit Co. Ltd., he became the first individual from the private sector to serve as a principal in the Tokyo public school system, where he initiated innovative school programs, winning him numerous awards.
Hideyuki Inoue
Guest Associate Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance. He founded the Social Venture Center and started the annual "Style" prize, Japan's first social venture business plan competition for the young generation. He also founded Social Venture Partners Tokyo, a venture philanthropy fund to nurture social entrepreneurship.
Bob Stilger, Ph.D.
Former co-president of the Berkana Institute. As a conversation host, teacher, speaker, consultant, facilitator and coach, he has worked with people and organizations around the world, building healthy, resilient communities for almost 40 years. Having worked in southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South America, among other places, he is currently actively involved in projects to revive communities in post-disaster Japan.
Masami Saionji
Chairperson of the Goi Peace Foundation and the World Peace Prayer Society (headquartered in New York). As an international lecturer, author and activist, she promotes peace awareness and spiritual development of individuals. She was awarded the Philosopher Saint Shree Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize of India along with her husband in 2008.
Hiroo Saionji
President of the Goi Peace Foundation and the World Peace Prayer Society. He is responsible for building the organizations' international network for promoting dialogues and initiatives for peace. He launched the "Creating a New Civilization Initiative" with 13 partner organizations in 2005. He serves as a member of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO.
Finale: Opening Smiling Umbrellas
Merry Project umbrellas printed with smiling faces of children from disaster areas around the world were opened one by one in expression of our wishes for peace and hope for a bright future.
