Osha Hayden and Robertson Work discuss the meaning of a compassionate civilization that respects all people, cultures, and the earth. Robertson has devoted his life to serving as a leader, trainer, facilitator and advisor to create sustainable change.
Robertson Work is a nonfiction author and ecosystem/justice activist. He has worked for over fifty years in fifty-plus countries as UN Development Program principal policy adviser for decentralized governance, New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Policy professor of innovative leadership, and Institute of Cultural Affairs executive-director in four countries conducting community, organizational, and leadership development initiatives. He has published four books, with contributions to eleven others.
Previously, he was UNDP's Principal Policy Adviser of Decentralized Governance for 16 years at UN headquarters in New York. While with UNDP he designed and coordinated the Local Initiative Facility for Urban Environment (LIFE) operating in 20 countries and another global program, Decentralizing the MDGs through Innovative Leadership. He also coordinated a global community of practice on decentralized governance, provided policy advice to countries worldwide, conducted research and prepared global policy papers.
Prior to UNDP, Mr. Work served in Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Jamaica, USA and Venezuela for 21 years as country and regional director with the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), an international NGO with UN Eco Soc Consultative status. His work of human development in 55 countries has consisted of the design and implementation of research, training and demonstration projects in leadership, organizational and community development, rural and urban development, NGO and project management, policy formulation and advice and group facilitation.
Mr. Work has written widely on decentralization and local governance, urban and rural development, poverty eradication and environmental improvement, the role of civil society in governance and development, capacity development and participatory methods. He has taught at the University of the West Indies, University of Aruba, Antioch University Graduate School of Whole System Design, the ICA Global Academy and the Social Artistry School. He conducted his graduate studies at Indiana University and Chicago Theological Seminary and undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University, which honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003. He and his wife live near Asheville, North Carolina.
Learn more: https://www.robertsonwork.com/
Books:
A Compassionate Civilization
Serving People & Planet
Earthling Love: Living Poems
The Critical Decade 2020-2029: Calls for Ecological Compassionate Leadership