A Virginia Odyssey

What methods will connect today's civic leaders so they can learn and understand one another's challenges and concerns, and identify common problems and priorities? With A Virginia Odyssey, John P. Thomas opens up the discussion. The author describes the Lead Virginia program, which he has helped design and lead for over twenty years. Its experiential education curriculum serves two chief purposes: to broaden perspectives and to develop trusting relationships (social capital) among current senior-level leaders. Six significantly distinct regional cultures make mutual understanding and clear communication difficult across the state. A shared understanding of their cultural differences leads to a deeper appreciation, and therefore support, among values-centered leaders for solutions that are not-and cannot be-uniform. By enabling private sector and non-profit leaders to discuss their perspectives, by providing opportunities for them to educate one another about the issues in their communities, and by raising the level of understanding about the challenges facing their regions, program participants strengthen their capacity to work together. Included are direct quotations from individual graduates, as well as "case study" examples of applied social capital across a variety of contexts. Non-transactional interactions based on trust, not reciprocity, show us all the way forward. Of interest to readers everywhere for its engaging storytelling, filled with analysis, anecdote, and both qualitative and quantitative research, A Virginia Odyssey offers a strong basis for hope in the future.