Convention 2007

"Living a Life of Leadership: Intersecting with Christ"

Dr. Mary K. Nelson '61 to keynote at 2007 GACAC Convention

The mission of Gustavus Adolphus College can be summed up in a few words: "Preparing students for living lives of leadership and service." High standards of teaching, service, and student-led initiatives characterize what is happening every day on the campus of Gustavus. It is through practice that students become adept at living lives of leadership and service and translate the College's mission into their own career and personal development goals.

There is an old adage: "Good leaders are made, not born." What makes an effective leader? How do we develop leadership from within our congregations? How does this leadership translate beyond the congregation, into the workplace, into communities, and beyond, into the world?

Dr. Mary K. Nelson, founder and president emeritus of Bethel New Life on Chicago's West Side, will deliver the keynote address, "Leadership Towards Community." Over the past three decades, Nelson has spearheaded social action programs needed in her primarily African American neighborhood. To date, her faith-based community development corporation has built more than 1,000 affordable home units, started employment and training programs that have placed over 4,000 people in full employment, and organized family support, schools, and daycare centers. The corporation serves 12,000 clients each year, employs more than 300 people, and has brought over $110 million in investments to the West Side. Her energy, understanding of need for social action, and creative approach to solving problems are sure to be an inspiration!

I tell people to just start somewhere. The next steps will come. The evolution will happen. If you try to be global and wait until you can do everything at once, you can end up waiting too long.

—Mary K. Nelson