"Too often, we mistake proximity for presence and gathering for connection. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, facing unprecedented division, our most urgent task is not merely to occupy the same spaces, but to build durable bridges of the mind and spirit. The conversations that once echoed across front porches and hallowed grounds-from Martha's Vineyard to the bustling tech hubs of Accra, from Marrakech to family kitchens across America, were the foundational acts of building community, or 'common unity.'"
"By 2050, Africa will represent one in four people on Earth. The continent's economic potential, alongside its global diaspora, positions it as a critical partner in shaping the future of innovation, labor, and influence. This unprecedented alignment of demographic shifts and economic power presents an opportunity for collaboration that transcends borders and benefits all who engage with it. The fractures of history have long separated us. Yet silence cannot repair what was broken. We must speak across oceans, unify our faith, ingenuity, and capital. This isn't a long-term aspiration; it's a present-day imperative."
"This was the spirit in which we convened The Global Exchange. Designed not as a conclave of the elite, but as a symbol of our nation's hunger for common ground, we gathered on the historic soil of Martha's Vineyard. We sought to model a new chapter of "common unity," where shared purpose outweighs division. Our vision, however, extends far beyond its shores."
Durable connection requires more than physical proximity or simple gatherings; it requires intentional dialogue and shared purpose to rebuild community and mutual trust. A Global Exchange convened on Martha's Vineyard aimed to model 'common unity' by prioritizing dialogue over elite exclusivity and by seeking partnership across diverse communities. Africa's demographic and economic rise—projected to represent one in four people by 2050—creates an urgent opportunity for equal, mutually beneficial collaboration. The approach centers on collaboration, not charity, and calls for speaking across oceans to unite faith, ingenuity, and capital into actionable partnerships for present-day impact.
Read at Fortune
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