By: Ally Horine | Echo
Change emerges from a combination of powerful words and actions. The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) chose its two keynote speakers to represent both sentiments: Bob Goff as a role model for action and Christena Cleveland as a guide for words and reconciliation.
Bob Goff, author of "Love Does," is all about action. In his book, he tells several stories of the whimsical power of love and how love is not only words. Through a series of actions, he became the founder of Restore International, a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India and Somalia.
In addition to Goff, Christena Cleveland is an author and speaker with a passion for overcoming cultural divisions. Like Goff, Cleveland promotes action through words of reconciliation. As an award-winning researcher and author of "Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart," she has a reputation as a gifted teacher and facilitator of unity.
"We would love for students to have a greater understanding of how they can sharpen their leadership skills for both now and the future," junior and NSLC cabinet member Abby Dyer said. "Whether students are serving at Taylor next year or heading into the real world, this conference gives students the opportunity to implement those two topics into their conversations and actions at Taylor and beyond."
NSLC begins on the evening of Feb. 26 with a dessert reception and the first keynote address from Goff.
The hope for the conference this year is for students to engage in deep conversations and grow as leaders through actions and words. While leadership development does not happen all in one weekend, this is one of many ways Taylor seeks to develop students as servant leaders, using actions and words to bring truth.
Senior and NSLC President John Leman has attended the conference since his freshman year.
"It's been formative to who I am," Leman said. "It has sparked passion inside me to how I view others and made me realize my passion for the homeless. I think if students attend this conference with an open mind, powerful change will happen."
Students interested in attending only the reception are invited for a reduced rate of $10. The conference continues all day Friday, concluding with a Saturday morning keynote session with Cleveland.
For questions about the NSLC, contact Cathy Weatherspoon at ctweatherspoon@tayoru.edu
For more information, visit www.taylor.edu/events/nslc/.
