Be A Global Citizen!

George Koichi Wong is a Peace Research Fellow at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, with expertise in regional security in Eastern Europe and Northeast Asia and international human rights law. He holds an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science/International Relations from UC San Diego. His experience includes human rights advocacy related to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, contributing a briefing on Ukraine’s maritime security for the U.S. Department of Justice’s ICITAP program, and facilitating dialogue on migration and political discourse at the University of Malta. Fluent in Japanese, George brings a cross-cultural perspective to interests spanning educational equity and nuclear disarmament. Enjoy our conversation about the connections between nuclear disarmament and global citizenship. 

Adam W. Sadberry is an accomplished flutist and educator recognized by The Washington Post as one of its “23 for ’23.” He has performed at prestigious venues, including the Hollywood Bowl and Eastman School of Music, and collaborated with renowned artists such as Renée Fleming, Chaka Khan, and Earth, Wind & Fire. His work also includes contributing to the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King (2019). As an educator, Adam has led residencies at prominent institutions, emphasizing justice, joy, and compassion in music education. He is the founder of Mission Blackbird LLC and has presented at the League of American Orchestras conference. Adam holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music and is a Judith Leibowitz Scholar in the Alexander Technique. Enjoy what Adam has to say about global citizenship! 

Lizzy Guthery is an Architectural designer, with specialties in sustainability, energy modelling and natural materials. She works with Design and Make Architects. She was recently featured on Grand Designs NZ showcasing her own home construction from start to finish. In our conversation, Lizzy shares about her journey to take action on sustainability as a global citizen. Enjoy her perspectives on building from sustainable materials, preserving through obstacles and constraints, and cultivating more understanding about the world around us.

Jesus Flores is an educator, author, and researcher dedicated to empowering underserved communities. He currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Diamond Ranch High School and is pursuing his Ed.D. at UCLA. Blending academic rigor with cultural relevance, Jesus is the co-founder of Foosgoneeducated and co-author of the book This Foo: 7 Lessons for Burros & Bag Chasers, where he works to bridge the gap between traditional education and community culture. Enjoy this conversation about his educator journey and what it means for him to be a global citizen!

Lucas Welter is a global strategy and organization development executive with more than 20 years of experience leading transformation, talent development, and network alignment across complex international organizations. He served as Chief Organization Development & Strategy Officer at AFS Intercultural Programs, where he led global strategy, organizational development, leadership development, and change initiatives across a network of 60 organizations worldwide. Lucas teaches doctoral students at New York University and at the University of Pennsylvania in organizational change, innovation, and nonprofit leadership. Enjoy our conversation about his early experience of studying abroad and what it means to be a global citizen. 

Sharon Counts is an Assistant Professor of Business and Design Strategies at Parsons School of Design, The New School. Her research-led creative practice explores the efficacy of social impact and community engagement programs in the arts and business. She investigates how design innovations influence emerging trends in business, leadership and community engagement. Sharon has worked broadly as an artistic producer and designer of artistic experiences and programs that prioritize equitable access to culture. She works at the intersection of the arts and innovation, applying strategic design principles to the development of organizational culture and ethical leadership. Check out her thoughts on global citizenship! 

Dr. Tonikiaa Orange serves as the Director for the Educational Leadership Program at UCLA Ed&IS and Director for the Culture and Equity Project (CEP) at UCLA Center X. Her commitment to education spans over 20 years, and she is an expert in culturally responsive pedagogy and is the co-developer of the Reciprocal Learning Partnerships for Equity Coaching Framework. Her work focuses on preparing the next generation of social justice leaders to transform and create equitable and culturally responsive educational spaces for all students. In our dialogue, we talk about cultivating spaces where everyone can feel supported and empowered to build community. Check out what Tonikiaa has to say about being a global citizen! 

Vivi Wei is Brand Manager and Business Development Director at Brain Co. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is a recent graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Education Policy and Analysis. Her learning journey has taken her from Hubei, China, to Edinburgh, Scotland, to Boston, USA. She shares about her struggles to fit into and work with the Chinese educational system. Her perspective greatly expanded through literature and travel. Vivi has been led by her many interests in international affairs, educational policy, and technology. Her work at Brain Co pulls together her interests in making a change in the world through curriculum related to robotics and coding. Check out what Vivi has to say about being a global citizen! 

Cathleen Kong is a computer science educator and former software engineer at Microsoft with experience teaching, designing technology-enhanced learning experiences, and building software. She is passionate about helping students develop technical skills through engaging, real-world projects in computer science and AI. In our conversation, she shares her interdisciplinary journey of becoming a software engineer and the connecting thread of wanting to build things that help other people. Her work as a teacher comes from a place of hope that new generations of leaders will be equipped with not only the right skills, but also a solid sense of moral values to inform their decisions. Enjoy what Cathleen has to say about being a global citizen. 

Dr. Sarah Ann Wider is emerita professor of English and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Colgate University. A distinguished scholar of American literature, Wider spent nearly four decades teaching at Colgate University, where she developed a wide-ranging curriculum centered on Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Transcendentalist movement, feminist autobiographical writing, and Native American literature. As former president of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Society, she has made enduring contributions to the study of Emerson and the broader American Renaissance. In our dialogue, Sarah shares about the role of storytelling in healing past traumas, building greater community, and envisioning a more hopefilled world. She is a life long learner who exudes a passion for good conversation.