WILL YOU STEAL A CAR ON NEW YEAR'S DAY OR WILL YOURS BE STOLEN?
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Speaker: Eric Motley, Ph.D
Volunteer Checker Inner:
Susan Gomes. Thanks to Susan for stepping up while Lorraine frolics elsewhere.
Guests:
James Connolly son and guest of Michael Connolly
Jacob Barrow son and guest of Justin Barrow
Kevin Van Splunder brother-in-law and guest of Justin Barrow
ABOUT TODAY'S PRESENTATION
Eric Motley is EVP & Corporate Secretary of the Aspen Institute. He spoke about his book Madison Park: A Place of Hope. Dr. Motley will be signing copies of his book at Explore at 5 PM TODAY. Based on his presentation, this book appears to be a must read.
Eric L. Motley, Ph.D., is an executive vice president at the Aspen Institute, responsible for Institutional Advancement and governance. He previously served as Vice President and Executive Director of National Programs and prior to that he served as Vice President and Managing Director of the Henry Crown Fellows Program from January 2007 until April 2014. In addition to managing the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, he served as the Executive Director of the Aspen-Rockefeller Foundation’s Commission to Reform the Federal Appointments Process, an independent, nonpartisan effort to evaluate the Federal government’s vetting and clearance procedures. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, he served as the Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors within the bureau of Public Diplomacy. In 2003, he became Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Presidential Personnel, where he managed the appointment process in the White House for over 1,200 presidentially-appointed advisory board and commission positions. He joined the White House staff as Deputy Associate Director, Office of Presidential Personnel in 2001.
Dr. Motley delivered spell binding comments about his life experiences. He shared remembrances from his forebears’ achievements following emancipation, focusing on a group of former slaves’ creation of Madison Park, the first community in Alabama founded by former slaves. He also explained the values and opportunities that his adoptive grandparents and their community created for the future Dr. Motley. Then he shared some of the high points of the opportunities that presented themselves to him throughout his life, as well as some of the people and organizations who assisted him.
Dr. Motley concluded by emphasizing the importance and power of community as illustrated by the story, expressed in his book Madison Park: A Place of Hope, of a small group of former slaves who created a community that spawned opportunity for its members while celebrating the responsibility of community members to each other.
Dr. Motley’s parting message: So many books have been written about what is wrong with America. I wanted to write one about what is right with America.
