Press release from William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations:
The William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, the flagship program of Wildacres Leadership Initiative (WLI), has named its 2020-2022 class. The William C. Friday Fellowship is a competitive statewide program for cross-sector leaders that seats fewer than 30 individuals across North Carolina every two-year cycle. Nineteen North Carolina counties are represented in this 11th Class of Friday Fellows, which includes three local residents: Angie Flynn-McIver of Buncombe County; Kevin Rumley of Buncombe County; and Lisa K. Bryant of Henderson County.
James Mills of Rocky Mount, a Friday Fellow from the Class of 2008 and WLI’s current board chair, shared, “I was amazed at the quality of candidates we interviewed. It was tough deciding who to seat.”
Selection chair Danny Ellis who is also a Friday Fellow from the Class of 2008 expressed his feelings stating, “Wow, NC! This year-long journey across this great state has culminated with a slate of incredible souls and personalities. Their presentations and revealed purposes has me excited and thankful for the opportunity to have led this effort.”
William C. Friday Fellows are committed to leadership in North Carolina, model humility and continuous learning, and are courageous risk-takers seeking to create innovation through their work in the world.
The 2020–2022 Class of Friday Fellows will share in a two-year experience that uses stories and objects to question, examine, and transform the places we inherit and inhabit in the world. Words and things alike will become pathways for question-framing, relationship-building, and world-shifting.
WLI Deputy Director and Lead Faculty Meredith Doster describes the fellowship’s proposed arc and impact, “The learning technologies of the 2020-22 fellowship are deceptively simple: Tell and hear stories. Remember and share things. Journey alone and in community. To grow leadership capacities, Fellows will practice being present to one another. Together, Fellows will make and hold space for deep learning and collective transformation.”
As with previous classes, the Friday Fellowship will immerse these North Carolina leaders in this unique free program held in locations throughout the state for six four-day development seminars. Before and after each seminar weekend are guided practices designed for class members to embrace new pathways to build and sustain relationships across lines of difference.
WLI Director Hunter Corn added, “Each of these individuals has made a choice to step into something not fully known and to be in relationship with those different than themselves. It is these choices that make communities stronger and more resilient. I am grateful for their choices.”
A class directory page with more information and a photo of each new class member is available at this link.
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