In early 2009, Inspire’s senior leadership team from Australia, the US and Ireland gathered together at Bawley Point about four hours drive south of Sydney to spend time working out how we might go about helping millions of young people lead happier lives. In the lead up to the gathering each member of “the Bawley Crew” wrote down our hopes and aspirations for Inspire. Here is an edited version of mine.
I want for Inspire to be of as much benefit to as many young people as we possibly can be - Inspire’s potential to touch the lives of young people is as big as our collective imagination.
I want to contribute to Inspire’s success in the most appropriate ways that I can – to be of genuine and lasting service in whatever form that might take, mindful of my limitations and avoid being a bottleneck in areas not my strength.
I see my contribution being primarily around storytelling, people, and securing resources for our work.
I am passionate about having best-in-world people on the Inspire bus and playing my part in getting those people on board - by “best-in-world” I mean best in terms of both ability and commitment.
I am passionate about building on and nurturing the existing Inspire culture as set out in our values and behaviours. I believe that the life of a young Australian is worth no more and no less than the life of a young American, a young Irish, a young Chinese or a young Sudanese. Our Inspire Dream for young people is a dream for every young person.
I want for Inspire to be a self-aware and deeply authentic organisation which is powered for impact in the lives of young people.
In the busyness and worthiness of our endeavours it’s essential that we each take out time to reflect and nurture ourselves. For that reason every Inspire entity will always offer an extra week for reflection leave. To fulfill the wishes of our dearly beloved Kelly Betts we have also pledged to urge other nonprofit organizations to include reflection leave as a normal part of their working conditions.
I want to see young people who have benefited from Inspire take on leadership positions in the various Inspire entities on an ongoing basis and to inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps.
I want for Inspire to always challenge us individually and to be a place of enormous personal and professional growth fostering enthusiasm and a deep sense of joy.
I want for us to scale as fast as we sustainably can. In the immediate term that means securing our US and Irish ventures before we move further afield to embrace other countries.
I want Inspire to be a thriving and inclusive community of passionate supporters and partners united around the world in our mission to help millions of young people lead happier lives.
Our Dream
is for a world where every young person
can stand up and say:
I am a young person.
I am loved and I love.
There lies before me a land of endless opportunity where I can learn and grow.
There lies within me a limitless ocean of compassion and kindness.
I respect all people, including myself, for who we are.
I celebrate our common humanity and I honour our individual differences.
I show up for life each morning ready for whatever comes my way.
I give my best and I know it will make all the difference.
I am making my world a better place.
I am happy.
