Reaching Toward Belonging: with David Hsu, Lynda Kahn, Jack Pearpoint, and Jo Krippenstapel

David T. Hsu is author of “Untethered: A Primer on Social Isolation” [ www.readuntethered.com ] and Head of Business Innovation at the Hollywood-based social impact agency Propper Daley. Trained as a political scientist, he leverages expertise in culture change and systems change to advise leaders across philanthropy, business, and entertainment. David previously worked in strategy and communications at NationBuilder, the software company that powers grassroots campaigns. Prior to that, he was visiting lecturer in international political economy at the University of Pennsylvania and supported antitrust investigations at the U.S. Department of Justice. David is an advisor for Encore.org’s Generation to Generation campaign and created the citywide “anti-gala” Shared Plates for L.A. Kitchen. He holds a B.A. from Duke and Ph.D. from Princeton.

Jack Pearpoint [ www.inclusion.com ] is an independent Canadian Publisher, management consultant and catalyst for Inclusion, Diversity, Teamwork and CHANGE! Jointly with his wife and partner, Lynda Kahn, Jack does organizational strategic planning, organizational and operational consultation, evaluation, jointly designed learning and practice events, all in support of people with disabilities and their families, to engage in positive change that honors the gifts and contributions of all. Earlier, Jack, his late wife Marsha Forest and John O'Brien, collaborated to create several person-centered planning approaches such as PATH, MAPS and Circles of Friends. These planning approaches are utilized in organizational strategic planning as well as more individual planning. The collaboration continues now with John and Lynda. Jack's forty years of organization experience include seven years in Africa implementing post-war reconstruction; sixteen years as President of Canada's oldest literacy organization, Frontier College; and nearly two decades as a full-time publisher and presenter.

Lynda Kahn [ www.inclusion.com ] is a co-leader with Inclusion Press International, Toronto, working with individuals, families, organizations and governments interested in positive change. Her 40 years experience has taken her from institution to community settings, involving values-based person-centered planning as a means to facilitate individual and organizational change. She is passionate about leadership, change and personal engagement to realize a more just world where everyone's voice and gifts are welcome. Lynda, together with her partner and husband, Jack Pearpoint, works with individuals, families, organizations and governments interested in positive change through facilitating conversations, planning sessions and offering training workshops. She is a member of the board of the Marsha Forest Center on Inclusion, Family and Community. She served as the state of Rhode Island's Executive Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities from 1996 to 2005, serving in the public sector for 24 years. Her work included assisting in the closure of the state's institution, The Ladd Center in 1993, collaborating on an individualized funding and budgeting approach for persons served by Rhode Island's Division of Developmental Disabilities, and serving as President of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS 2001-03), and on the Association's Board for 8 years.

Jo Krippenstapel offers facilitation, consultation, and training focused on enhancing quality lives for individuals, more responsive organizations, and richer community life. She has worked as an independent consultant for over 25 years. She facilitates conversations among people served by human services, families, and staff in order to support teams of people to learn and take action together. She helps organizations engage in planning that strengthens capacity to identify and act on the vision and mission. Her life path has been strongly influenced by the experience of growing up as one of seven children, the oldest of whom has significant disabilities. The commitment of her parents to create a full life of participation and belonging for her brother continue to inspire her to this day. Jo has lived and worked in five states – offering her the opportunity to learn from and work many leaders in disability services. She now lives in Bellevue, Kentucky, near Cincinnati, Ohio where she works and is involved as a citizen in several community building efforts. Jo can be reached at [email protected].

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