NALI - Evaluations on Inaugural Program 2005


	North American Leadership Institute

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Evaluations of Inaugural Program, July 2005

The North American Leadership Institute (NALI) helped me immensely in becoming a better advocate for Human rights. I was actually so inspired over the summer that I have decided to continue to work for the upholding and protection of human rights internationally as my life's duty. I was very impressed by all the opportunities that NALI gave me, and all of the professors were amazing.

I think that making the subject of human rights applicable in real professions was amazing, and showed us how we could uphold and protect human rights through our careers.

First Year, Thomas Aquinas College, California

From the comfortable boundaries of my existence, I was transported to another dimension by NALI. A dimension where I encountered history in a close-up and personal way by walking up ancient pyramid steps and inspecting early art, tools, architecture, clothing, and reading manuscripts and codices which formed foundations of international law. A dimension where historical impact is a deja-vu of injustice relived in modern struggles for human dignity and daily existence for the indigenous people of Mexico.

You can read about it in books, and you can watch it on video, but nothing compares to experiencing the actual taste of blue corn fresh off the stalk, locally ground, mixed by hand, rolled, flattened and plucked directly off a wood burning stove located in a brick lean-to, high up the side of a mountain in a close-knit Mazahua community in rural Mexico.

NALI is worth every challenge overcome to participate it, because through these challenges in language, culture, cuisine, education and transportation comes an internal transformation to a new level of personal growth. Those who've participated in NALI never stop saying, "thanks for the memories."

Doctoral Student, University of Kentucky

As a participant in NALI, I felt that I learned from a multitude of perspectives how human rights pervade our lives. This experience has deepened my understanding of realities that are not so evident at first glance. Upon reflection of my own participation, I can say with certitude that the people you meet and the things you learn will surely become etched in your memory for years to come, while the wisdom you gain will act as a compass for future endeavors.

Senior, University of New Brunswick, Canada

I am so sorry that I have not written to you in two months: to tell you the truth I have been letting my experience in NALI 'rest' in my mind, my heart and my soul... and now I feel ready to answer the question you've sent me: Did NALI make me a better leader on behalf of human dignity? I needed this time because after all if NALI really did help me improve that would show after time has passed, after I've had the time to see what has remained after such a beautiful experience.

Well, I can say that yes, NALI did help me become a better leader on behalf of human dignity... Why? Well, first of all I had the opportunity to learn a lot about the situation of indigenous peoples in Canada and the USA - and although it is sad to see that in other countries indigenous people are often treated not according to their human dignity, it is better to know that it's happening than to ignore it, as I sure did.

Also, the tremendous value of having the opportunity to meet all the participants has imprinted in me a deeper notion of human dignity. Through knowing each and everyone of them I learned a bit more about this elusive human dignity, which we talk about, but will probably never be able to totally define nor conceptualize. The personal experience of each one of my classmates, the Mazahuas, etc. as well as the diversity of the group were basically the most valuable learning experience for me.

Thank you for doing this, Ted, this has been one of the most important experiences of my life.

Graduate student, Instituto Superior de Estudios Para La Familia, Guadalajara

NALI gave me both a foundation of knowledge and a good network of people who I can continue to learn from. I feel like I can talk about the importance of preserving indigenous culture with at least a little bit of authority, and when I do I can say, "When I was in a Mazahua village in Mexico in the summer of 2005, I talked with some of the residents and they said this." Abstract ideas do not get one nearly so far.

I learned a lot from the professors at the institute, but I learned as much (if not more) from my fellow students. Most of those students came from very different religious backgrounds than me, but I probably learned more from them than from some others. I would venture to guess that everyone learned at least some small thing from everyone else, no matter what religious views they held.

Thanks for everything. I think I'm a much better person because of this trip. I think of it daily.

Sophomore, University of Georgia

You did an amazing job with the first of, I hope, many NALIs. I hope that you are able to fulfill your goals with the future programs. Please keep my name among your list of contact people. I will do what I can to encourage more Indigenous people to attend future NALIs.

I want to again thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime! I have made some lasting friendships, and that I think, was the most important aspect of the gathering. The classes, the museums, the community visits were all HUGELY important, but I know that as a leader, what was most beneficial to me were the friendships and connections that I made while in Mexico City. Not only with the participants of the program, but the professors of the program, and also with my host mother, her family and even her friends. This, I feel, has made me a much more effective, outgoing, and promising leader.

Chi-Meegwetch! (Many thanks!)

President, Aboriginal Students' Association at York
York University, Canada

Did NALI make me a better leader on behalf of human dignity? Yes. Why? Because I learned a lot about philosophy, history and from the people I met in the course. Thanks to all, and congratulations, Ted.

Senior, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City

Did NALI make me a better leader on behalf of human dignity? I believe that it did because it presented a topic I had never dealt with much before but am now more aware of, and awareness is the first step to any assent to leadership.

I am very grateful for having the opportunity to participate in this program and thank you for giving me the opportunity…. Anyway, I must reiterate how much I enjoyed and benefited from this program. Beyond the classes and visits to "Mazahua-land", just working with and befriending people in the diverse group that constituted the NALI participants really contributed to my growth.

I also think that the cultural excursions were such a great idea. Whenever I visit a new place, I always want to find out about its history and visit important historical locations, and the excursions were a great means to do this. Without them, it probably wouldn't have been possible!

Senior, Indiana University

Ted,

Now that I have had some time to speak with my daughter and son about the Institute and to reflect upon their experiences I would like to send you this message of congratulations.

I was most pleased to see them working with their teams, putting in some serious hours of study and, above all, hearing their commentary about what they were learning. For example, "Dad, I learned things that will be of use to me for the rest of my life... things like how to get along with all different kinds of people, new languages, new ways of thinking and making commitments, more sensitivity towards the poor, how to use my Mac better, more about my own Mexican culture. We have learned so much from this course that the nice diploma hardly captures it all."

After hearing these words from my daughter and my son, I am now convinced that what you are doing is very, very important. I am so grateful to you that my son and daughter were invited to participate in the first North American Leadership Institute. Believe me, this is something that will never be forgotten by our family since it has contributed so much to their personal formation.

May God bless and enlighten you in your noble efforts.

Professor of Business Administration, Universidad Panamericana

Dear Ted,

I can't thank you enough for the wonderful hospitality you gave Galen and me. As you know, I did not think that anyone (not even a superman) could put together an acceptable academic/experiential program abroad on a very short time line. I was wrong!

I am extremely impressed with the excellent program you have designed and delivered. The academic content that I experienced was top flight, the cultural exposure that you provided is deep and meaningful, the students you gathered into your program are remarkable, and the opportunities for spiritual insight and reflection are genuine and impressive. I had no idea that you would have planned such a full, rich schedule of activities, meetings, and experiences for us.

Congratulations to your remarkable success to date.

Sincere regards,
Karen

Dr. Karen Doyle Walton
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034-9568

It sounds like a great opportunity for students from North American to be exposed to the social teachings of the Church while 'living' said teachings in a dynamic contemporary context. … Your packet of readings is incredibly interesting and wide-ranging -- a concrete example of 'inter-disciplinary' learning which we speak of often in university culture today.

Robert A. Ventresca, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of History
King's University College
at The University of Western Ontario

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