Mindful Metropolis October 2009 : Page 16
did you hear? Shift Happens Emanuel Kuntzelman, president of the Center for Cultural Interchange and Greenheart, believes a shift is on the horizon By shannan Bunting our times,” he explains. “i realized that my spir- itual search had to include a viable philosophy for the fair distribution of resources and the conservation of our environment.” Kuntzelman tries to live his life much like the mission statement of the organization he founded: “dedicated to promoting cultural understanding, academic development, en- vironmental awareness and world peace.” He divides his time between his chicago base of operations and his home in madrid, where he and his life partner Laura rose head up the Fundación por el Futuro (Foundation for the Future), a cultural organization that furthers their cultural, social and environmental work abroad. “i am trying to be an active catalyst for rapid social change,” says Kuntzelman. “chaos theory tells us that the right input at a super- sensitive moment can make an enormous difference far beyond the normally expected result. i think a transformation is imminent. i am working to do my part to be one transfor- mational catalyst—but we need many more to accomplish meaningful change.” the “imminent” transformation that he re- talk with emanuel Kuntzelman and it is easy to imagine him as a modern-day explorer. But unlike his ship-sailing counterparts, Kunt- zelman’s exploration does not take him to un- charted continents—it takes him to uncharted planes of spiritual, cultural and social enlight- enment. Kuntzelman is the president of the center for cultural interchange (cci), a nonprofit or- ganization he founded in 1985, which places foreign exchange students in homes and busi- nesses across the globe, and Greenheart, an initiative designed to promote the health and welfare of the earth and its people through cultural exchange, ethical travel, responsible consumerism and community service. to those he works with, Kuntzelman is a vision- ary whose thoughts and ideas may just save us from ourselves. to him, he is just a social scientist. “i am working to combine various new ideas into a functioning model of social transforma- tion that i feel is convincing and compelling,” he explains. “i feel individuals should concen- 16 october 2009 trate on transforming their own lives first, by contributing to the well-being of society and living in accordance to their highest principles. once they accomplish this, their example will serve to help transform friends and family; and the transformational movement will then be a groundswell, from the grassroots, individual level upward.” the son of a school teacher and a guidance counselor, Kuntzelman was always a seeker. the illinois native attended tulane university before transferring his studies to the sorbonne in paris. From there, he sought “enlightened individuals” and other creative thinkers who could aid him in his self-styled education. it was during his time as a student that Kuntzelman read Silent Spring, The Population Bomb, and The Limits to Growth, among others. these landmark books ignited the environmen- tal movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s and offered Kuntzelman a clear purpose. “the connection with nature took on new significance for me as i read the books that forecast the environmental and social crisis of fers to is the reason he launched a series of lectures, where he explores the need to resolve the perilous challenges of our social and envi- ronmental systems. His musings are part revo- lutionary, part philosophical and part common sense. He incorporates his wry sense of humor and has been known to do a few magic tricks— all in the course of a deep exploration into how we, as individuals, can change our world. But why, in a world full of cynicism and skepticism, does he try to uplift the downtrod- den masses? “i want people to leave my talks with a new commitment to transform; so their lives will never be quite the same,” he says. “together we can make this positive, peaceful change happen. it’s both an incredible challenge and blessing to be alive and experiencing the shift that is on the horizon. it is the duty of every- one to become aware of it, prepare for it, and do their part in facilitating the transformation we all need.” as Kuntzelman sets out on his next journey, he hopes that the whole world will join him. But, for now, he will have to content himself with as many chicagoans as he can fit into the chicago center for the performing arts. Kuntzelman will present his fourth talk in his lecture series on personal and social transfor- mation entitled “shift Happens,” on oct. 28, at 7pm. For more information visit emanuelkunt zelman.com. PHoto: CourtESy of CCI/GrEEnHEart
Shift Happens
Shannan Bunting
Emanuel Kuntzelman, president of the Center for Cultural Interchange and Greenheart, believes a shift is on the horizon
Talk with emanuel Kuntzelman and it is easy to imagine him as a modern-day explorer.
But unlike his ship-sailing counterparts, Kuntzelman’s exploration does not take him to uncharted continents—it takes him to uncharted planes of spiritual, cultural and social enlightenment.
Kuntzelman is the president of the center for cultural interchange (cci), a nonprofit organization he founded in 1985, which places foreign exchange students in homes and businesses across the globe, and Greenheart, an initiative designed to promote the health and welfare of the earth and its people through cultural exchange, ethical travel, responsible consumerism and community service. To those he works with, Kuntzelman is a visionary whose thoughts and ideas may just save us from ourselves. To him, he is just a social scientist.
“i am working to combine various new ideas into a functioning model of social transformation that i feel is convincing and compelling,” he explains. “i feel individuals should concentrate On transforming their own lives first, by contributing to the well-being of society and living in accordance to their highest principles.
Once they accomplish this, their example will serve to help transform friends and family; and the transformational movement will then be a groundswell, from the grassroots, individual level upward.” the son of a school teacher and a guidance counselor, Kuntzelman was always a seeker.
The illinois native attended tulane university before transferring his studies to the sorbonne in paris. From there, he sought “enlightened individuals” and other creative thinkers who could aid him in his self-styled education.
It was during his time as a student that Kuntzelman read Silent Spring, The Population Bomb, and The Limits to Growth, among others.
These landmark books ignited the environmental movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s and offered Kuntzelman a clear purpose.
“the connection with nature took on new significance for me as i read the books that forecast the environmental and social crisis of Our times,” he explains. “i realized that my spiritual search had to include a viable philosophy for the fair distribution of resources and the conservation of our environment.” Kuntzelman tries to live his life much like the mission statement of the organization he founded: “dedicated to promoting cultural understanding, academic development, environmental awareness and world peace.” He divides his time between his chicago base of operations and his home in madrid, where he and his life partner Laura rose head up the Fundación por el Futuro (Foundation for the Future), a cultural organization that furthers their cultural, social and environmental work abroad.
“i am trying to be an active catalyst for rapid social change,” says Kuntzelman. “chaos theory tells us that the right input at a supersensitive moment can make an enormous difference far beyond the normally expected result. I think a transformation is imminent. I am working to do my part to be one transformational catalyst—but we need many more to accomplish meaningful change.” the “imminent” transformation that he refers to is the reason he launched a series of lectures, where he explores the need to resolve the perilous challenges of our social and environmental systems. His musings are part revolutionary, part philosophical and part common sense. He incorporates his wry sense of humor and has been known to do a few magic tricks— all in the course of a deep exploration into how we, as individuals, can change our world.
But why, in a world full of cynicism and skepticism, does he try to uplift the downtrodden masses?
“i want people to leave my talks with a new commitment to transform; so their lives will never be quite the same,” he says. “together we can make this positive, peaceful change happen. It’s both an incredible challenge and blessing to be alive and experiencing the shift that is on the horizon. It is the duty of everyone to become aware of it, prepare for it, and do their part in facilitating the transformation we all need.” as Kuntzelman sets out on his next journey, he hopes that the whole world will join him.
But, for now, he will have to content himself with as many chicagoans as he can fit into the chicago center for the performing arts.
Kuntzelman will present his fourth talk in his lecture series on personal and social transformation entitled “shift Happens,” on oct. 28, at 7pm. For more information visit emanuelkunt zelman.com.
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