Community Conversations: The Power of Generosity

New Hampshire is one of the richest states, in terms of per capita and median household income. Yet the state ranks dead last in per capita philanthropic giving. Part of this Community Conversation will look at this lack of financial support for those in need. But we’ll also take a deeper look at what it means to give, as volunteers and mentors in our community. After hearing from three presenters with different backgrounds and involvement in philanthropy and volunteerism, the floor will open to all attendees to share their thoughts about how we can enrich our society by exploring new ways to embrace a spirit of giving. This program is being held on Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back to our communities.

Presenters include:

Lewis M. Feldstein
Lew Feldstein served for 24 years as the CEO and president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the state’s largest foundation. During his tenure the Foundation’s assets grew from $25 million to almost $500 million becoming one of the largest community foundations in the nation. Feldstein has been selected several timesas one of the ten most influential people in the state.

For ten years following the fall of the Soviet Union he played a lead role in building community foundations across Europe, and for seven years worked on the World Bank leadership team as the Bank invested in, and tested, the role of community foundations and private philanthropy in the developing world. He co-chaired the Saguaro-Seminar “Civic Engagement in America” together with Robert Putnam at Harvard University and with him co-authored “Better Together: Restoring the American Community”, a book analyzing the grassroots development of civic engagement in the United States.

In the political field, Mr. Feldstein participated in the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and was an advisor to New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay. Among his singular achievements were seven-year tenure as the MC of the International Zucchini Festival, and a stint as wine steward and personal assistant to John Wayne on his yacht in the Mediterranean. Mr. Feldstein was listed among the Top 50 of nonprofit executives by the “NonProfit Times” and holds honorary doctorates from seven universities.

Roy Schlieben
Roy is currently the President of the Peterborough Rotary Club, executive director of the Monadnock Art X Tech Makerspace and an advocate for the continued vibrancy of his hometown.

He is a returned Peace Corps volunteer and has led the successful development of a wide range of projects around the world, from the set up of radio stations aimed at building peace in war torn regions of Africa, to initiating a campaign to get shark fin off the menu’s of restaurants and hotels in Thailand. Roy has resettled with his family in Peterborough and is working with local and international non-profit organizations achieve their mission through strategic fundraising and marketing efforts.

Joyce Carroll
Joyce Carroll, Community Programs Coordinator for the Cornucopia Project has been an avid gardener for more than 35 years, and delights in connecting children and families to the natural world through gardening.  Joyce led more than 100 volunteers in the construction of the Cornucopia Community Garden over the past several years, and appreciates the remarkable gift volunteers are to their local communities.  Her passion for grassroots, community-based work has been a driving force in her life. Prior to moving to Peterborough in 2009, Joyce worked in the field of land conservation, engaging volunteers in making public lands accessible to community members of all abilities.

Community Conversations is a series that explores many of the issues impacting our communities. A partnership between the Monadnock Center for History and Culture and the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, each Conversation features local experts talking about challenges faced by our communities. Some issues are global in nature, but each conversation is designed to examine the topic from a local perspective. The program provides residents with the opportunity to learn more about key issues impacting their communities, to engage in a civil dialog with speakers and with each other, and to come away with a sense that there are things that individuals and communities can do to foster change and improvement. 

Community Conversations are held in Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, 19 Grove St., in Peterborough.  The program is free and open to all.

Community Conversations are proudly sponsored by: