Save the Date: GEL 3- PATCHWORK

​Hello Friends,
 
Now in its fifth year, Altamont’s Global Initiative continues to grow and improve—awarding grants to students and faculty for projects and travel, enhancing curriculum, and exposing our students to global experiences and issues.  We are thrilled with the success of the program and excited about its future trajectory. 
 
A key component of the Global Initiative, the GEL Series returns on January 31st, 2018.  Global in scope and loosely based on various contemporary lecture/multimedia series (TED, Radiolab, ArcLight, et. al.), GEL welcomes all Altamont constituents (from current students and faculty to parents and alums) to apply to deliver a 15 minute presentation to the school and Birmingham communities.  There is no one acceptable format.  One can present a traditional lecture, a short film, a TED-style talk, a dramatic monologue (original or published), a dialogue (original or published), a digital mash-up, etc.  The presentation opportunities are limited only by one's creativity.
 
The annual global theme is the guiding principle for each presentation.  For example, this year, health and human rights will be the unifying concept.  We hope to attract a variety of subjects and presentation styles.  Some topics might include

• A personal story
• A cross-cultural exploration of values and rights
• What the arts and humanities can teach us
• What we can learn from diversity
• Social justice/advocacy
• Balancing state sovereignty and a universal pronouncement
• Reconciling tradition/culture with human rights
• Future cities, built with access and rights in mind
• Invisible populations
• Health as a right or a commodity
• Syndemics
• Economics and human rights
• What we do well; where we need to improve
• The international charter: should there be updates?
• The effect of science on human rights
• -and anything else you can imagine!

 We want dynamic lectures as well as dynamic multimedia experiences.  We want expert information and personal, revelatory anecdotes.  Expertise isn't a requirement; an idea worth sharing is. 
 
The Altamont community encompasses diverse cultures and skillsets, but we rest on treasures that often remain latent and undiscovered.  GEL can help excavate that wisdom and weave it into the Altamont experience.  Such sharing, within the school community and without, promises to be a generative experience.  It will promote dialogue and potentially catalyze new ideas and programs beneficial to our school and city.  Finally, we envision the GEL Series positioning Altamont as an idea hub and a center for healthy, constructive dialogue. 
 
Now, our invitation to you: we are welcoming proposals for “GEL 3: Patchwork”, to be held in the CKC on Wednesday, 1/31/18, from 6:30—8 pm. If you are interested in submitting, please submit online using the following form.  We will evaluate all proposals, contact you with questions, and notify you of our selections by TBD.  Upon acceptance, we will work with you to craft your message into a vibrant presentation. Remember, expertise is welcome but not a prerequisite. Something to share is.
 
Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions.
 
Niko Tsivourakis

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Submit a Proposal!