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GREG FORBES SIEGMAN
DIVERSITY - MULTICULTURAL - CIVIL RIGHTS - DEALING WITH INTOLERANCE
BACKGROUND: The First Thirty by Jillip Naysinthe Paxson is based on the true story of Greg Forbes Siegman, his efforts to make a difference, and the first thirty things learned from the people and places he encountered (and setbacks and successes he experienced) along the way. A large part of the book revolves around Greg's exploration of and involvement in Civil Rights, Multiculturalism, International Relations and Diversity in high school, college and his first six years out of college, including: the racially-charged events that occurred while he was in high school and college (and how he and others responded to them), to the focus of his two primary papers as an undergraduate (Native American culture & the treatment of it), to the bridge-building program he launched in college (which eventually led to him being named the college's Chairman of Community Service), to the multicultural mentoring program (BrunchBunch.org) that he started after college (and the 243 consecutive weekly outings which he coordinated and personally attended), and the dream he conceived in college (and began to implement a decade later) to build bridges between people of different races and cultures together. Greg is now asked to speak about these topics at schools, nonprofit organizations and other events. The book - and, in particular, the companion worbook (A Place To Sit) - also explore issues surrounding various racial and cultural issues, and multicultural interaction in a school or work setting. The First Thirty and A Place To Sit are now used by a wide variety of groups, schools, clubs, teams, organizations and companies who are studying/working/volunteering Civil Rights/Multicultural/Diversity (or Social Action/Social Justice), or who are interested in using the books as part of a civic engagement project.
== In 2007, The First Thirty was honored as Northeast Student Diversity Leadership Conference Multicultural Relations Book of the Year
== In 2008, a high school selected The First Thirty as their Readers Choice book for a student/staff/parents trip to Africa
BIO - Greg's Bio
WEBSITES: Greg's website - The First Thirty website - History behind Greg's multicultural mentoring program
BOOK SUMMARY: One page synopsis of The First Thirty
Sample of MEDIA & HONORS:
= At turn of the century, Good Morning America buried a Time Capsule chronicling Greg's efforts to break down racial and cultural barriers, and promote diversity
= Greg named Scholar-in-Residence at Confederation College (Canada)
= USA Today, Lexington Herald-Leader features on Greg's efforts to work with young people on dealing with intolerance for foreigners after 9-11
= Greg's program devoted to breaking down racial and cultural barriers was recognized as one of America's Promising Programs in civil rights
= Greg's efforts to bring people together of different cultures and backgrounds featured on National Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial site
= Other honors include: Jefferson Award for Public Service, America's Daily Point of Light, CBS Tylenol Hometown Hero, honored by Hasbro as one of 30 real-life America heroes, CBS Tylenol Hometown Hero, Simply Family's Heroes of the Year. Honored at Princeton as one of nation's top social entrepreneurs under 40.
= Other media includes: Volunteer Leadership Magazine, La Raza, The Washington Post, CBS, NBC, Education Week, College News, The NonProfit Times, NPR, articles in wide variety of school publications about Greg's events with students geared toward promoting diversity, multiculturalism
= Wrote guest column for Chicago Sun-Times on the impact of labels and stereotypes
EXAMPLE OF RELEVANT SPEECHES & USE OF THE BOOKS:
= Greg and Nobel Peace Prize Honoree Elie Wiesel were invited to be the two speakers at a Day of Tolerance (Greg spoke during the day, Wiesel spoke in the evening).
= Keynoted series of assemblies for school district in Kentucky post 9-11 on dealing with intolerance
= Senior Lifestyle Corporation, one of the nation's largest companies in the senior residential industry, ordered dozens of copies of The First Thirty for staffers in one of its regions, in conjunction with MLK Day 2008
== Greg delivered a Guest Lecture for a Race & Ethnicity course at Brooklyn College. In conjunction with the guest lecture, Washington Mutual ordered copies of The First Thirty for the students
= Keynoted Global Fair for high school students in New Hampshire
== The Multicultural Development Office at TIU organized a trip for students to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum. In advance, the MDO ordered copies of The First Thirty for all the students to read on the six hour bus ride en route to the Museum - citing the story's look at the impact that Harriet Tubman and other historic leaders had on a college student
== The National Conference for Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis (NCCJSTL) ordered copies of The First Thirty for a staff-wide reading
== After an incident involving racial and cultural insensitivity, a chapter of a college organization decided to do an internal and external project involving The First Thirty. Citing the book's emphasis on breaking down stereotypes and respecting other cultures, they ordered copies of the book to read themselves. They also ordered thirty copies to donate to local youth (with the plan to then volunteer their time working with those kids and discussing the book's lessons). They said their goal was to learn more about these issues so they didn't repeat their mistakes, and to share the story and its lessons with the kids so they didn't make those same mistakes at all
= The First Thirty incorporated into Race & Culture courses at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, in conjunction with Americans All and Makes Me Wanna Holler
= KC ordered copies of The First Thirty for every undergraduate in its Honor Society in conjunction with MLK Day 2006
= A school in Illinois used Greg's story in conjunction with Schindler's List and Night as part of a unit on Tolerance and Diversity. Read excerpts of essays written by students in that course.
= Led student workshop in New Hampshire revolving around labels, stereotypes, multiculturalism
= Asked to speak at "MLK Day" Events, Diversity Weeks and similar types of events.
= Speaking at a church in Chicago on Christmas Eve
= Delivering a speech on service (in Spanish) in Washington DC.
= Invited to speak at universities like Boston College, GW and University of Connecticut on topic of multiculturalism and diversity.
= Invited to keynote annual event on Community Service, Multiculturalism hosted by local Mayors in Minnesota.
SAMPLE OF FEEDBACK FROM GREG'S SPEECHES:
"It was indeed a pleasure and a great honor to meet Greg. The presentation he gave...was a great experience as well as an important lesson... It's true that in our daily life we think we live in a pretty diverse place without knowing the meaning of diversity...Greg's experiences and ideas in fact prove that we are not just born to serve our personal purposes, but we are also here to be engaged in helping others and be with others without keeping the idea of race, culture and language in mind, and always struggle to raise the flag of humanity above every other thing in the world...." - Mati, student, Sage College of Albany (NY)
"Greg is the first speaker we ever hosted who was able to transcend both language and cultural barriers to truly connect with the hearts of our residents, cultivating their laughter, understanding and curiosity. In the past, translation has been an issue when hosting various speakers...but his simple telling of a great story diminished the necessary ennui of translation, allowing residents to fully appreciate the candid lessons offered. Many times our residents, limited in their English, were able to comprehend his words almost intuitively. He also touched our residents with his heart-felt concern for their lives...he extended to them an understanding that is, unfortunately, rare in today's culture. Many times our seniors are invisible because our youth does not have the time sit and enjoy wisdom's company, but he made our residents feel seen. Thank you." - Nina, B'nai B'rith Parkview Apts (NY), following event for Russian immigrants (done with a translator)
"...Of all the speakers wehave had who have tried to address racism and diversity issues, Greg has had the most impact on me personally...I also personally enjoyed listening to his story -- I wouldn't call it a speech because he is a born storyteller...So not only was I learning from what he was saying, but I was also learning from how he was saying it. And he did say it well. He had my undivided attention the entire time. God has gifted him with insight, compassion, humility, a teachable spirit, and he just oozes charisma..." - Kaija, staff member, Confederation College (Canada)
Wesley, College student (The George Washington University) : "Of all the speeches I've ever heard, including Maya Angelou, none have ever moved me like Mr Siegman's."
"I wrote an essay about Greg for a course I am taking -- comparing his story and what he's done with Ralph Waldo Emerson's book Experience, and one of Gandhi's philosophies about small actions leading to big things." -- Andrew S, Boston College student
"My students enjoyed Greg's presentation and learned much from their time with him." - Sabrina McGinty, Director of Cultural Enrichment & Diversity, The Sage Colleges
"I really enjoyed Greg's speech and it helped me to evaluate my own personal view about people. I really think if he could get every one in the world in one room, he could raise humanity to its highest level, and then the world could be a better planet. I started reading The First Thirty and it lead me to believe that one should not try to be a better person, one should become a better human being...[So far], I've found it to be very refreshing, interesting and insightful." - Devon, student, Brooklyn College
"The students were mesmerized by Greg's presentation. When he finished, the students responded with a standing ovation. It was genuine and spontaneous...He spoke to them with respect and honesty and they felt compelled to reciprocate. They were challenged to make a difference and made to believe that age was not an obstacle; he tapped the innate desire to do good, while the energy that flows from one's belief in ideals slowly consumed the audience.... He weaved a story of tragedy and senseless loss into a personal journey of hope, and commitment. He personalized his experience which helped to make it their experience. In a school trying to embrace diversity, he said and lived everything we try to model and embrace....What greater purpose can an assembly serve?" --D.S., Middle School Principa
Gina S, student, George Washington University: "...I think it was great Greg came to talk us on a subject [diversity] that is generally taboo or ignored. Most people superficially say that prejudice only occured back [in history] and now things have changed. But it hasn't and I've witnessed after the September 11th attacks when a lot of...I am glad Greg wasn't another one those people who says they're going to talk about a really serious subject in really difficult words....I find it great that he's a 28 year old guy [in 2001] who [cares about] work that may not be lucrative but will change a hell of a lot people... that's priceless..."
FOR MORE FEEDBACK FROM EVENTS, CLICK HERE
SAMPLE OF REVIEWS OF THE FIRST THIRTY:
"An American tale with global relevance, The First Thirty illustrates the ability within each of us to help bridge the divisions that have separated so many for so long." - Peter K, High School student (Kenya)
"A lesson in humanity..." - - Midwest Book Review
PAUL STEWART, PRESIDENT, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY PROJECT OF THE CAPITAL REGION, INC (NEW YORK): "...I found the impact of Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King on Greg's life a real delight. I loved the work toward reconciliation for young and old, rich and poor, blacks, whites and others..."
"An inspiring reminder that, whether it's the other side of the world, the other side of the country, or just the other side of the tracks, if you end up in a place you never expected to be and dare to explore it, you just may find your passion in the process." - Jeanne-Marie, College student, Louisiana
"A poignant story that epitomizes the evolution of never-ending struggles into ever-lasting legacies." -Russell M. Frye II, Morehouse College Student
For more on Greg, go to www.GregForbes.com
For more on the book, go to www.TheFirstThirty.com
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