Dear Friend:
With the end of the year upon us, I wanted to wish you the best for 2022 and extend my gratitude for your support in friendship or as a client or partner. With the COVID pandemic still present, it continues to be a time of difficulty and adjustment for many. I am hopeful that in 2022 conditions will improve across the U.S. and globally and allow all of us to engage with each other more.
For me this last year as offered some important opportunities for my work as a consultant, coach, educator, and trainer. I am appreciative for the opportunities offered to me including:
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The Forage Center, the NGO I am president of, was able to offer its first "face to face" simulation since 2019 in October. The photo above is from our program at Arcadia University near Philadelphia. (Even though we are unmasked in the photo, during the exercise everyone was continuously masked).
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I continued teaching as an adjunct at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. I teach a facilitation skills class and career development course for the the graduate program, as well as manage the interns.
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I continued publishing on Forbes.com as part of the Forbes Coaches Council. This past year I wrote 7 articles on career related issues.
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I directed the 9th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar in October/November. Nearly 60 faculty and students participated online. Continuing this effort is one of the most significant things I do.
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I also continued to present and write on community college issues in 2021.
- This year I started a graduate certificate in positive psychology (online) at the University of Missouri. I have really enjoyed the experience and hope to complete it in the spring. It's never too late to go back to school!
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Earlier this year I was appointed to the City of Rockville's Community Policing Advisory Board. Making sure law enforcement aligns its work with community needs, social and political change, and diversity is important to me. I was also appointed to the advisory board of Arts Meet DEI.
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I completed my term as president of the National Capital Area Chapter of the Fulbright Association. Fulbright is an important international outreach program that needs to be supported.
In 2022 I hope to continue writing, coaching, and advancing peacebuilding awareness. I look forward to teaching at the School of International Service at American University (my alma mater!) in the spring and, through the Forage Center, host a June simulation in Western Maryland. Still much to do! I'm not slowing down.
I'm grateful for the love and support of my wife Lena, and our children Sonya and Lorenzo. Lena and I have started traveling a bit more with the waning of the pandemic. She continues to put her all in teaching aspiring nurses at Montgomery College. We have a new teacher in the family with our daughter graduating from Towson University in May and now teaching kindergarten in Montgomery County Public Schools. It's tough work! And our son is now working for EPA on superfund projects. I've had a couple of chances to visit my mother in Florida this year, which I am grateful for. And she and my in-laws seem to be thriving overall right now.
All the best to you and your family and loved ones in 2022!
David J. Smith
December 9, 2021
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