Danville, VA
- Danville Regional Foundation announced today its Speaker Series for 2010-2011.
Bestselling author Dan Heath will kick off the series during a 7:30 a.m.
breakfast October 26 with “Switch it On! Positive Change is Possible.”
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer John E. Forté will speak during
a 6 p.m. dinner, January 18, on “Personal and Community Change Is Possible.”
Dr. Vaughn Grisham, Director of the McLean Institute for Community Development and Professor of Sociology at the University of Mississippi, will wrap up the series at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast, March 8 with “Extraordinary Results in Ordinary Places.”
“Our region is a “mill town without a mill” and is largely defined by its past, rather than its future,” said Karl Stauber, CEO and President of DRF. “DRF is focused on transforming and changing the regional economy and culture in ways where all benefit. When we know where we are headed, change is easier. When we feel passionate about something, we are more likely to change. If enough of us work together to do this, it, like other behaviors, becomes contagious. The possibilities of what our region can be are limitless and the future is full of opportunities. We’re bringing in three different speakers to appeal to different age groups and diverse populations. We want as many people as possible to join us in learning, in the words of the Heath brothers, how we can ‘shape the path.’”
As part of its effort to transform the regional economy and create a prosperous culture to benefit all Dan River citizens, DRF began its Speaker Series last year by bringing some of America’s top thinkers to Danville.
“Our region is experiencing a major economic transformation, yet it is easy to become overwhelmed with the constant and tremendous changes that are required to be competitive in today’s global economy,” said Laurie Moran, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce president. “The DRF Speakers’ Series will enable our community to better see the possibilities while providing the direction and motivation to succeed.”
Dan Heath, a columnist for Fast Company Magazine and Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE Center, is the co-author of two New York Times bestsellers, Made to Stick and Switch. As a speaker, Heath is known for blending practical information with a funny and motivational style. One client said of Heath: “He combines a very relaxed style with a very intense message. That’s a brilliant mix.”
Few understand second chances better than John E. Forté. On November 24, 2008, President George W. Bush granted the petition for commutation submitted by 33-year-old Forté, a classically-trained violinist from Brooklyn, New York. Famous for his work with the multi-platinum group "The Fugees," Forté was a rising star before landing himself in a federal penitentiary. He was one of 11 commutations granted by President Bush during his eight years in office. . In July 2009, he released StyleFREE the EP, his first collection of new music in eight years and is ready to release his full-length album, Water Light Sound.
Vaughn Grisham, a professor of 40 years, producer of two films and author of four books, has just completed the manuscript for ‘Extraordinary Results in Ordinary Places’ and is writing George McLean’s biography. Grisham, who earned his Ph.D. from University of North Carolina, is the Director of the McLean Institute for Community Development, as well as a sociology professor at the University of Mississippi.
The Speaker Series’ events will be held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), 150 Slayton Drive, Danville. There is no cost to attend, but reservations are required and will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. IALR can accommodate up to 550 people. Reservations will be accepted by the Danville Regional Foundation’s Speaker Series’ co-sponsor, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce at 434-836-6990 or by emailing chamber@dpchamber.org.
Danville Regional Foundation
The Danville Regional Foundation (DRF) focuses on transforming the regional economy and creating a prosperous culture to benefit all Dan River citizens. It does this by making long-term investments to improve education, economic vitality, community wellness, financial stability and civic capacity for citizens throughout the City of Danville, Virginia; Pittsylvania County, Virginia; and Caswell County, North Carolina. Since its establishment in 2005, DRF has invested more than $40 million through over 40 grants. www.danvilleregionalfoundation.org
Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce
The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce is a business organization with more than 700 members in the Danville/Pittsylvania County region. The Chamber works to energize the region by creating exceptional business growth and profitability in a vibrant, customer-centered culture. www.dpchamber.org
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Source: Danville Regional Foundation
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