A year of exploration

I'm composing this post on the first day this month that really feels like autumn. In the background, I can hear the excited bubbling of many small conversations among the Fellows, catalyzed by a full day spent discovering the "inner side of leadership" with Gibran Rivera, a wonderful coach and facilitator from the Interaction Institute for Social Change. 


I am feeling very fortunate to be working with these ten Fellows. Their excitement for discovery is palpable and totally captivating. Everyone arrived in Boston two weeks ago primed to dive in and explore the complex and fascinating ecosystem of El Sistema, from Alaska to Venezuela.


photo by Xochitl Tafoya

Our goal is to uncover as much as possible through classroom discussions and experiential learning. We've got nine months to find out as much as we can, to digest as we can, and to dream about what the future holds, for the Fellows individually and for the field as a whole.

We already know that we will not become experts about any particular topic in less than one year. Rather, the experience will help each participant determine a path to delve even deeper into what he or she is most passionate about in this emerging field. Each Fellow brings a personal collection of lived experiences as well as a unique sense of purpose to this inquiry. It will be very interesting to see where they each will land at the end of the year. Stay tuned…

Heath Marlow
Program Director, Sistema Fellows Program