ILI provides important skills, connections and capacity for participants and our organizations.

In defining this collaborative program as an “Intercultural Leadership Institute,” we are making an important distinction.

Cross-cultural approaches emphasize comparing and contrasting two or more distinct cultures.

Inter-cultural approaches, on the other hand, stress the shared grooves of social memory, co-habitation and mutual accountability at the same time as they allow us to challenge dominant norms as well as honor, empower and find solidarity in the differences of our histories, traditions, identities, vocabularies and more.

We believe an intercultural approach to change-making and developing leaders within the arts and culture field is critical to respond effectively to the significant shifts that are underway in nearly every facet of our society, politics, environment and economy at the local, national and global levels.