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 About David Gershon
David Gershon, founder and CEO of Empowerment Institute, is one of the world’s leading authorities on behavior change and large-scale transformation. He applies his expertise to various issues requiring community, organizational, or societal transformation. His clients range from large cities and organizations to social entrepreneurs and transformational small businesses. He has addressed issues ranging from environmental behavior change to emergency preparedness; from organizational talent development to low-income neighborhood revitalization. Longitudinal research studies indicate that adopted behavior changes are sustained over time.
He conceived and organized, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund and ABC Television, one of the planet’s first major global initiatives, the First Earth Run. At the height of the Cold War, using the mythic power of relaying fire around the world, millions of people, in partnership with the world’s political leaders and media, participated in creating a profound sense of our connectedness.
David is the author of nine books including the bestselling Empowerment: The Art of Creating Your Life As You Want It, co-written with Gail Straub, which has become a classic on the subject. He is currently writing Changing the Game: A New Social Change Formula. Considered a master personal development trainer, he co-directs the Empowerment Institute Certification Program, a school for transformative change. He has lectured at Harvard, MIT, and Duke and served as an advisor to the Clinton White House and United Nations on behavior change and sustainability issues. His work has received considerable media attention and many honors.
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 About Gail Straub
Considered a foremost pioneer in the field of empowerment, Gail Straub co-founded Empowerment Training Programs in 1981. Since then she has offered training to thousands of people throughout America, Europe, Russia, China, and East Asia. She co-directs the Empowerment Institute Certification Program, a school for transformative leadership. With her husband David Gershon, she co-authored the best seller, Empowerment: The Art of Creating Your Life As You Want It. The book has been translated into five languages and is used worldwide as the basis for empowerment life coaching and support groups.
A seasoned social activist and citizen diplomat, Gail has trained Russian activists in the empowerment methodology helping them build a visionary leadership model for social change. She has done similar work in China where the empowerment model was adopted by the Chinese Women’s Federation, the largest women’s organization in the world. Gail served as the International Director for the historic First Earth Run, a global initiative co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and ABC Television. In 1986 during the height of the cold war, a torch of peace was passed around the world mobilizing the participation of 25 million people, 62 countries and 45 heads of state. The event raised several million dollars for UNICEF which was distributed to the neediest children in the world.
In 1992 Gail created Grace: A Spiritual Growth Training Program designed to integrate spiritual development with social and ecological responsibility. Hundreds of students throughout North America, Europe, and Russia have participated in this program of engaged spirituality. Based on its success she wrote the critically acclaimed, The Rhythm of Compassion: Caring for Self, Connecting with Society and Circle of Compassion: Meditations for Caring for the Self and the World.
Gail received her B.A. with honors in political science from Skidmore College. She has served in the Peace Corps in West Africa and on the Board of Directors of the Omega Institute and the Russian American Humanitarian Initiative. She is a faculty member at The Edge International School for Leadership and Spirituality in the Netherlands.
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