Taking a Graciousjourney: Lessons and Connections from Colombian Adventures
Dr. Bobby Gondola Jr. journeys with Susanne Wissell and Nicholas Williams
Our Colombian Expedition: From the Amazon to Medellin
The Power of Inquiry: "El peor diligencia es lo que no se hace"
Scholarly Focus: Dr. Bobby Gondola's Fulbright-Backed Trek Across Colombia - Episode 3
While making our way from the Amazon to Medellin, we were graced with insights from Eden Bolivar, the dynamic leader of Fulbright Colombia. One of her natively held sentiments, echoing "El peor diligencia es lo que no se hace," or "If you do not ask, you don't know what's possible," was that Colombia is steeped in the art of collaboration. As Eden put it, "We engage with each other to 'collaborar,' or to collaborate." Requesting assistance from those around you is the way to find solutions to shared challenges or individual problems. This shared principle is a key tenet of Fulbright's mutual exchange program, promoting the exploration of fresh ideas and partnership-building opportunities.
The remainder of our unforgettable learning experience was brimming with novelties, future collaborations, and innovative ways for JWU students to grow from our inspiring month abroad.
Medellin: New Terrain, New Ideas
Embracing the Heights of Medellin
Upon visiting Universidad EAFIT, we delved deeper into their collaborative efforts with employers, shedding light on workforce development plans within Colombia. We became familiar with the bursary and employer pathway programs generously financed by major Colombian employers. Additionally, they shared a methodology for sustainable cities anchored on four core principles: 1) infusing sustainability during city planning, 2) conserving biodiversity, 3) advocating for policy and decision making, and 4) fostering dialogue – particularly essential for Colombia, given that 75% of the nation's population resides in urban areas.
One of EAFIT's Trustees, Santiago Londono Uribe, shared his transformative journey from government service to academia to administration. Mr. Uribe encouraged us by saying, "In politics, there was no common ground - you either won and took everything, or you lost and got nothing. That's not how it should be. Society's important structural changes do not only come by winning elections. Structural changes take time and require consensus – and we forgot consensus. Politics is everywhere. But you don't have to be in an eternal campaign."
His poignant words resonated with the Fulbright scholars, coming from diverse disciplines, institutions, and locations. Mr. Londono Uribe underscored the importance of collaboration and the role institutes of higher learning play in driving societal transformation. This wisdom fired up my own brainstorming sessions about the possibilities for my courses at JWU.
Our newfound understanding of nonprofit sustainability linked funding to impact, and while some might perceive a scarcity of resources (Billups, 2024), I questioned the direction of that funding, the communities we support, and the goals of investment. These queries haunted me during my tour of the stunning Museo de Arte Moderno, where installations explored the city and its surroundings as well as a retrospective of Hernando Tejada's sculpture, painting, and drawing.
This questioning also paved the way for heartfelt conversations with my students in my NPM5010: Theory and Practice of Nonprofit Management class, centering on sustainability in nonprofits. I presented real-life examples from my own fundraising experiences in nonprofits, and I aimed to extend their thinking about sustainability in a holistic, global context.
Moravia: A Community to Learn From
Evidence of investment in communities through political, private, and NGO support could be seen in the extraordinary "Community Tourism" efforts of the Moravia neighborhood, once a makeshift settlement and now thriving with vibrant rebirth. Organizers at EAFIT arranged for us to meet with local leaders of Moravia, many of whom were women, who run the nonprofit organization that helped preserve its history and promote it to visitors.
In my nonprofit management class and my own experiences in social entrepreneurship and personnel deployment in nonprofit organizations, students will encounter organizations like Goodwill, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Special Olympics. Through this eye-opening experience, I was also introduced to tiny, grassroots organizations like those in Moravia, which could serve as real-world examples for students, prompting them to think beyond the US nonprofit sector.
Barranquilla & the Caribbean Coast: A Mirror to Rhode Island
At Universidad del Norte, also known as "Uninorte," we encountered educational institutions rooted in coastal heritage, reflecting the historical significance of Colombian commerce and culture. Founded with a mission to serve historically marginalized students, Rector Director Meisel shared that the majority of students at Uninorte were enrolled through scholarships. The region, which once served as a central hub for Colombian commerce, has since shifted its priorities to services.
Walking around the enchanting campus, I marveled at beautifully preserved trees that once flourished in the coastal jungle. Dr. Maria Cristina Martinez Habibe, the Dean of Sciences and a passionate lover of trees, explained the captivating power of these plants and the urgent need to protect them. Her unabashed enthusiasm for the flora moved me, and I found myself deeply moved by the parallels between the Colombian coastline and Rhode Island's storied past in the American Industrial Revolution.
Today, our university’s online programming, such as CPS, supports new paths for commerce, service, and community involvement in the northeast US. In the online programs I teach, we are preparing business students to embark on global careers focused on management, marketing, and, importantly, nonprofit coursework to help them understand and apply the principles of doing good and generating value. My trip to Colombia tested the boundaries of my thinking and inspired me to consider how I might better support students in their efforts to drive positive community change.
Sharing the Knowledge, Giving Back at Home
Since returning from my travels, I've connected with Dr. Sofia Rivera, a researcher I met in Bogota who completed her research on Barranquilla and the Colombian Caribbean coast. She shared an academic paper with me, which encouraged greater understanding of the subtle shifts in aquatic ecosystems and the need for increased study of these delicate areas and their treasured waterways. I plan to share Dr. Rivera's paper with my students, as it will augment their understanding of mission, fundraising, management, and organizational sustainability.
It is essential to me that I continue to provide my students from diverse backgrounds with rich, global perspectives that mirror their expanding worldview. One of my primary goals is to encourage collaborative learning, where students can exchange ideas and experiences from varied cultures and communities. Understanding our interconnectedness will enable us to foster innovation and work in harmony to address the challenges facing our society.
Fulbright Coordinator and international studies department leader from the U.S. Department of Education, Mark Bladel, posed a powerful question, "How can we impact society and solve the world's problems?" His response? "It's through partnerships, friendships – they transcend academic systems in both the US and Colombia." Alberto Roa Varelo, Vice Provost for Academics at Uninorte, added that this connection is made possible by embracing "travesuras" or antics – engaging with curiosity and enthusiasm, a practice I embraced during my enlightening, incredibly loud lunch table during our closing ceremony.
"Travesuras" signifies a playful, adventurous spirit, and I'm eager to bring that zest to the courses I teach (and learn from) with our website students. It's my hope that our connections in Colombia will serve as a catalyst for growth and transformation that extends across our various institutions.
Reflections and Looking Ahead: Rhode Island Reunion
As the summer comes to a close in this region, I've returned excited to share my newfound knowledge and fresh insights with our community. I look forward to applying these transformative lessons within the JWU environment and translating "travesuras" into tangible actions that will inspire our students to explore their curiosities and achieve greatness.
About Dr. Bobby Gondola Jr.
As a dedicated Adjunct Professor in Johnson & Wales University's Master of Business Administration - Nonprofit Management degree program, Dr. Bobby Gondola Jr. embarked on his second Fulbright Commission-sponsored research excursion to Latin America during June-July 2024. As the only participant from New England, Dr. Bobby joined valiant scholars from other US institutions for a one-month journey through Colombia. Accompanied by esteemed faculty members from various Colombian universities, this team delved into the nation's astounding biodiversity and environmental climate. Catch up on Dr. Bobby Gondola's first Fulbright research adventures in Colombia through his Blog #1 - Bogota and Blog #2 - Leticia and Amazonas.
- Dr. Bobby Gondola Jr. utilized the insights gained from the Fulbright-sponsored Colombian expedition to brainstorm innovative ways for JWU students to grow academically and professionally through collaborations, marking a shift in the direction of investment, and challenging the traditional norms of the nonprofit sector.
- As EAFIT demonstrated in Medellin, educational institutions can foster societal transformation by focusing on sustainable cities, collaboration, and dialogues, which aligns with the personal growth, learning, and education-and-self-development principles that Dr. Bobby Gondola Jr. promotes in his courses at JWU.
