Jordan Romero (born July 12, 1996) is an American mountaineer who was 13 years old when he reached the summit of Mount Everest. [draft]
Emma González: Leading Fight Against Gun Violence, Advocating for Justice
Photo: David Hogg (far left) and Emma Gonzalez (profile center) at the Rally to Support Firearm Safety Legislation in Fort Lauderdale, 2018. Credit: Barry Stock.
Emma González’s activism began tragically and heroically in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018. As a survivor of the horrific event that claimed 17 lives, Emma emerged as one of the most prominent voices in the student-led movement against gun violence.
New York, N.Y. As a thought leader and global citizen, Emma González stands out as a powerful advocate for gun control and social justice. We are deeply moved by Emma’s courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to ending gun violence in the United States. Her leadership has inspired a new generation of activists and brought critical attention to the urgent need for comprehensive gun reform.
Emma González’s activism began tragically and heroically in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018. As a survivor of the horrific event that claimed 17 lives, Emma emerged as one of the most prominent voices in the student-led movement against gun violence. Her poignant and passionate speech at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., captivated the nation and solidified her status as a leading advocate for change.
One of Emma’s most defining moments was her six minutes and 20 seconds of silence during her speech at the rally, representing the length of time the Parkland shooting lasted. This powerful gesture highlighted the profound impact of gun violence and the urgency of addressing this epidemic. Emma’s emotional honesty and articulate demands for stricter gun laws resonated deeply with people across the country and around the world.
Emma’s activism extends beyond public speeches and rallies.
As a co-founder of the March for Our Lives organization, she has worked tirelessly to advocate for policies such as universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons, and the implementation of red flag laws. Her efforts have mobilized millions of young people to participate in the democratic process, emphasizing the power of grassroots activism in creating meaningful change.
In addition to her work on gun control, Emma’s advocacy encompasses broader social justice issues. She has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, and racial justice, understanding that these issues are interconnected with the fight against gun violence. Emma’s inclusive approach to activism demonstrates her commitment to building a safer and more equitable society for all.
Supporting Emma González means standing with a generation of young leaders who are determined to end gun violence and promote justice. Her bravery, authenticity, and relentless advocacy inspire hope and action in the fight for a safer future. We are proud to support Emma González and her unwavering dedication to creating a world free from gun violence.
Emma González: Leading Fight Against Gun Violence, Advocating for Justice (June 13, 2020)
#EmmaGonzález #GunControl #MarchForOurLives #EndGunViolence #GlobalCitizen #JimLuceSupportsEmma #YouthActivism #SocialJustice #LGBTQRights #MentalHealthAwareness #GrassrootsActivism
Update: In May, 2021, González announced the usage of a new personal name, X (inspired by
Malcolm X) citing dissociation with their previous personal name and feminine pronouns.
Slide Show: Post-Tsunami Education at Orphans International Sumatera
Slide Show: Post-Tsunami Education at Orphans International Sumatera (June 9, 2020)
Who Was Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts Bay Colony?
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A play entitled “Town of Hingham and the Colony,” with Dudley Alleman, grandfather of Jim Luce, playing Gov. Thomas Dudley in 1948.

Who Was Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts Bay Colony?
Priyanka Chopra: Bridging Cultures and Empowering Women

From Bollywood to Hollywood Star – to Global Advocate
New York, N.Y. When I first meet Priyanka Chopra, I was not sure what to expect. I was delighted to find not only a charming and beautiful woman, but a kind and extremely intelligent one.

Born on July 18, 1982, Priyanka has captivated audiences worldwide with her talent and charisma.
Her journey from Bollywood to Hollywood is a testament to her versatility and determination.
However, Priyanka’s impact extends far beyond her acting career. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, education, and diversity.
As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Priyanka has focused on advocating for the rights of children and young women. She has worked tirelessly to promote education, healthcare, and gender equality in communities around the world.
Her involvement in campaigns against violence and discrimination highlights her commitment to creating a more just and inclusive world.
Priyanka’s efforts to bridge cultural gaps and promote diversity are equally commendable. She uses her platform to celebrate her Indian heritage and to promote cross-cultural understanding.
Priyanka Chopra’s work as an actor, activist, and advocate makes her a true global citizen and a powerful voice for change.
Priyanka Chopra: Bridging Cultures and Empowering Women (June 2, 2020)
#PriyankaChopra #UNICEFAmbassador #WomensRights #DiversityAdvocate #GlobalCitizen
TAGS: Priyanka Chopra, UNICEF, women’s rights, education, diversity, global citizenship, actor
Jim Luce Writes on Romania & Romanian-Americans
Enormous and iconic Bucharest Parliament; locals cannot forget horrors inflicted here under the Soviet Union.

Follow Jim Luce on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter)
© 2024 The Stewardship Report on Connecting Goodness – Towards Global Citizenship is published by The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Supporting & Educating Young Global Leaders is affiliated with Orphans International Worldwide, Raising Global Citizens. If supporting youth is important to you, subscribe to J. Luce Foundation updates here.
Inspired by Elie Wiesel: A Journey of Compassion and Advocacy
Elie Wiesel at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008 at session entitled “Believing in the Future.” Photo: World Economic Forum
Elie Wiesel’s novels are more than literary achievements; they are beacons of hope and resilience that have profoundly influenced my life and work. By bearing witness to the atrocities of the past and the triumph of the human spirit, Wiesel has inspired countless individuals to strive for a more just and compassionate world.
New York, N.Y. In high school, I embarked on a literary journey that profoundly shaped my worldview and life’s mission. I collected and read as many novels written by Elie Wiesel [Luce Index™ score: 97] as I could: Dawn, The Forgotten, The Town Beyond the Wall, Twilight, Day, A Beggar in Jerusalem, The Gates of the Forest, The Oath. These books, still proudly displayed on my living room shelf, became a cornerstone of my understanding of humanity, resilience, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
Elie Wiesel’s works are not merely stories; they are profound reflections on the human condition, imbued with his personal experiences of suffering and survival during the Holocaust. Through his narratives, Wiesel exposes the depths of human cruelty and the endurance of the human spirit. Reading these novels allowed me to grasp the reality of evil in the world, a stark contrast to the idealism of youth. Yet, amid the darkness, Wiesel’s stories also illuminated the resilience of goodness, the possibility of redemption, and the power of hope.

This duality of darkness and light in Wiesel’s writing deeply influenced my perspective on life and humanity. His works underscored the importance of remembering and bearing witness, not just to honor the past but to ensure a more compassionate future. This understanding was pivotal in steering my dedication to uplifting humanity, leading to the founding of Orphans International Worldwide and the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation. Both organizations are committed to the welfare and education of vulnerable populations, aiming to foster global citizens who are both compassionate and empowered.
The opportunity to meet Elie Wiesel at a dinner at the 92nd Street Y in New York City was one of the most profound moments of my life. I was honored to share with him how his works had impacted me personally and shaped my endeavors. In our brief conversation, I felt the weight of his experiences and the depth of his wisdom. Wiesel’s gentle demeanor and profound insights reinforced my commitment to humanitarian work. His life and writings exemplify the power of storytelling to inspire action and empathy, teaching us that despite the prevalence of evil, goodness can and does prevail.
Wiesel’s impact on my life is not just a personal narrative; it is a testament to the transformative power of literature and the enduring influence of a single individual’s courage and resilience. His novels are a call to action, urging readers to confront injustice, remember the past, and work tirelessly for a better future. This call resonated deeply with me, driving the mission and vision of the organizations I founded.
Orphans International Worldwide aims to support and nurture children who have lost their parents, providing them with the tools and opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Similarly, the J. Luce Foundation focuses on educational and leadership initiatives, empowering young people to become compassionate and effective leaders. These efforts are grounded in the belief that every individual has the potential to contribute positively to society, a belief that was significantly shaped by Wiesel’s writings.
When I read about Elie Wiesel attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in 2008, at a session entitled “Believing in the Future,” I was reminded of Wiesel’s enduring legacy. The discussions on global challenges and the future of humanity echoed the themes of hope and resilience that permeate his novels. It was a powerful affirmation of the interconnectedness of our work and the importance of continuing to believe in and work towards a better future.
Elie Wiesel’s impact on my life, both through his writings and our brief meeting, continues to guide my efforts to uplift humanity and foster global compassion. Through Orphans International Worldwide and the J. Luce Foundation, I strive to honor his legacy by promoting education, empowerment, and empathy among those most in need.
#ElieWiesel #LiteraryInfluence #HumanitarianWork #OrphansInternational #JJDuceFoundation #HolocaustSurvivor #GlobalCompassion #Inspiration #LiteratureAndLife #Resilience #GoodVsEvil #HumanRights #YouthEmpowerment
Inspired by Elie Wiesel: A Journey of Compassion and Advocacy (May 26, 2024)
Toastmasters Magazine Profiles Jim Luce
Jim Luce speaking on Orphans International at the Greek Consulate in New York.
The Paths Less Traveled: Three global humanitarians speak out and lead in service of the greater good.

Toastmasters founder Ralph C. Smedley said it best when referring to the ripple effect that membership in Toastmasters can have on those around us, and local communities, and on the wider world:

“While most of us may have entered Toastmasters to learn to make speeches, that benefit is but the beginning of the good which may come to us, and the good which we may do for mankind.”
The members profiles here have lived up to that high ideal Smedley prescribed. All have dedicated their lives or careers to humanitarian work designed to fight injustice or discrimination, to help populations afflicted by natural disaster or violence, and to build a better understanding among people from different cultures.

Jim Luce
During a trip to Indonesia, Jim Luce visited an orphanage where he met a 10-month-old orphan who stole his heart and later became his adopted son, Mathew. But the squalid conditions he encountered at the orphanage left him stunned, and the thought of the other children there drove him to consider launching an international organization to aid orphans, Luce was working to get the fledgling organization off the ground, with the help of his mother (Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce), when his brother fell ill.

“My brother (Richard Livingston Luce) was dying from pancreatic cancer and I visited him in Texas,” says Luce. “He asked me if I was serious about creating Orphans International. I said yes, and he said if that was the case, I would need to become a highly effective communicator and leader. He said I needed to join Toastmasters, which he belong to is part of the software company he worked for. My brother then said he would leave funds for me from his estate on the condition that I joined Toastmasters.”
Luce, CL, honor that request and join the Roosevelt Island Toastmasters club in New York. Becoming club president within two years. In 1999 he successfully launched Orphans International (OIW), which supports the orphan care in 12 countries along the equator including Ghana, Kenya, Cambodia, India, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala. The groups long-term goal is to end orphanages globally, eventually placing children in their own extended families.
Luce has raise more than $1.5 million for orphaned children and, for that, the U.S. Congress twice has awarded him the Certificate of Congressional Recognition, in 2004 and 2007.
Making a Mark
Luce began his career on Wall Street and says his parents, who are both social activists, influenced him to move into humanitarian work. He founded the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, Inc., in 2008 to train and support young leaders to a place of empowerment for bettering the world. It includes the Young Global Leaders Program, which requires a 200-hour commitment of leadership training, as well as participation in a Toastmasters club. Inspired by Luce’s late father (Dr. Stanford Leonard Luce), a college professor who had a special interest in building students leadership skills, Young Global Leaders has graduated more than 100 students in the New York area.
Last year, students in the program traveled to Greece to visit refugee camps and orphanages, and we’re given $10,000 by the J. Luce Foundation to spend on a chosen cause. “Giving them the choice of of how to spend the money,” says Luce, “was designed as a values clarification of sorts. The students ultimately decided to use the money to fund an all-girls orphanage in Athens.”
The children from the first orphanages Luce opened years ago have now begun graduating from college, as has Luce‘s adopted son, Mathew Tendean Luce, who is carrying on Luce’s mission by serving on the foundation’s board of directors. The cardinal rule of Orphans International is inspired by Luce experience with Mathew: each child in the care of Orphans International should be treated the way a parent would treat their own child. This is known as “Mathew’s Rule.”
Read more about Luce’s work with Orphans International and global leaders program of the J. Luce Foundation.
The Path Less Traveled: Toastmasters Magazine Profiles Jim Luce (May 26, 2020)
2019 – Princeton Club
19th Annual Leadership Awards Gala: Three Continents of Leadership Experience

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2019 – Princeton Club (May 26, 2020)
Indonesia for Americans
Street scene. Photo by Davey Gravy on Unsplash.

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Jim Luce Writes on Seniors Citizens/Older Adults
Touching the lives of people in need around he world, from orphans to the aged.

- Visiting a Senior Center in Jakarta (May 24, 2020)
Unsung Heroes: My Grandfather’s Journey with the French Red Cross in WWI

New York, N.Y. Dudley Alleman, my maternal grandfather, was an American ambulance driver with the French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française) on the battlefields of France during World War I.
Few realize today that the United States entered World War I relatively late in the game, and that many brave Americans had volunteered to serve France against Germany early on. My grandfather, Dudley Alleman, Jr., was one of those men.
“Grandpop” had wanted to help France by serving in its air force, the French Aviation Service, but his eyesight was not strong enough.
Undeterred, he turned to volunteer with the American Red Cross – Croix-Rouge américaine – to staff ambulances on the battlefields. Early in World War I, Americans sympathetic to the Allied cause offered their service to France as ambulance drivers, while others fought in the trenches as members of the French Foreign Legion.
The American Red Cross drivers and the American Field Service (AFS) together founded an exchange program between France and Germany that became the foundation for all modern exchange programs, including, of course, AFS. The choice of Americans to help France fight for liberty and democracy was not surprising given the key role France had played in the American Revolution. There were most certainly those who simply sought adventure, but underlying their engagement were shared political ideals.

Many volunteers came from the cosmopolitan elite and well-educated classes. Some, like the Rockwell brothers, whose grandfathers fought in the American Civil War, came to repay the debt to Lafayette and Count Rochambeau, instrumental in helping the U.S. win independence in the Revolutionary War.
Many joined the French Foreign Legion while others served in the American Ambulance Field Service or as pilots in the Escadrille américaine, later known as the Lafayette Escadrille, acclaimed for their skill and courage.
“When men who have no obligation to fight, who could not possibly be criticized if they did not fight, yet nevertheless decide, upon their own individual initiative, to risk their lives in defense of a cause that they hold to be dear, then we are in the presence of true heroism,” wrote General Gouraud.
For soldiers wounded in the first few weeks of World War I, the first responders were often the ambulance units.

Ambulance drivers drove their wagons and carriages up to the front lines to transport the wounded back to the safety of the nurses and doctors in the triages. But with artillery continually improving in range and accuracy, battlefield triages and hospitals were moved further back behind the front than they had been in previous wars, exacerbating the load faced by already strained horse-carriage ambulances. In response, ambulance services enlisted the help of automobiles.
In addition to the French Red Cross was the American Ambulance Corps, directly affiliated with the American Red Cross, and the American Ambulance Field Service, another volunteer ambulance division, which chose to be integrated directly within the French Army. Both the American Ambulance Corps and the American Field Service chiefly employed college students, graduates, and university faculty in their ambulance divisions, fostering a sense of prestige and genteel tradition around ambulance divisions.
The ambulance drivers faced tremendous danger.
Bombs, wafting noxious gases, and infectious diseases were everyday threats. The chaos and dangers meant that volunteers often were exhausted and experienced trauma akin to that of the soldiers. My grandfather was injured exercising his duties.
The American Field Service Exchange Program I spent a gap year in Germany with in high school grew out of these ambulance drivers who created an exchange program between France and Germany in the hopes that if people knew each other as people, war would be less likely.
Although the vast majority of ambulance drivers came from the nation’s most renowned schools, specifically Harvard and Yale, institutions around the country committed student after student to ambulance duties.
Ambulance drivers tended to understand the war differently from infantry.
It is no secret that many American ambulance drivers became famous writers, actors, and artists after the war, including e.e. Cummings, Ernest Hemingway, and Malcolm Cowley. Many ambulance drivers turned to writing memoirs and novels, and diaries of their experiences were often long, poetic, and descriptive. The nature of their service, their tendency to be educated youths, and their bird’s-eye view of the battlefield may have inspired artistic responses.
The American Field Service no doubt enhanced this phenomenon with the establishment of the American Field Service Fellowship after the war, which sent young Americans and ambulance drivers, like Malcolm Cowley, to France to provide humanitarian aid. Others, like Grandpop, returned home. It seems these volunteers quickly reintegrated into American society after their war service, and many men returned to their former jobs.
Grandpop never spoke to me about his service.
Perhaps I was too young; he died when I was only five. I can only imagine the horrors he witnessed and the fortitude he had to overcome America’s initial neutrality to the death and destruction he witnessed. Reflecting on his bravery, I am reminded of a humorous story: When Grandpop was asked why he chose to drive an ambulance instead of fighting in the trenches, he would jest, “I figured dodging bullets in an ambulance was better than running into them on foot!”
My grandfather’s story is not just a personal family history; it is a chapter in the broader narrative of American volunteerism and international solidarity. His courage and dedication are a legacy that I am proud to carry forward.
#WWIVeterans #AmbulanceDrivers #RedCrossHeroes #FamilyLegacy #Volunteerism #WarHeroes #HistoricalValor #HumanitarianService #AFSExchange #GrandfatherStories
Unsung Heroes: My Grandfather’s Journey with the French Red Cross in WWI (May 24, 2020)
Twenty-Five Years on Roosevelt Island, in the East River of New York City
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Twenty-Five Years on Roosevelt Island, in the East River of New York City
Foundation Launches Young Leadership Experience to Hellas (Greece)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/foundation-launches-young_b_8954740
Much of science, medicine, mathematics, theater, music and art come to us from ancient Greece, representing the highest of human virtues. This fascinating world of Gods, majestic temples, and stunning antiquities will be the experience of a lifetime.

The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Supporting Young Global Leadership
Jan 11, 2016, 11:45 AM EST

This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Leadership. The ability to motivate others towards a common goal. When coupled with a charity or philanthropy, the art of connecting with others to better humanity. This has been our objective since founding Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW) in 1999, ‘raising global leaders.’ And it continued in 2008 with the launch of the J. Luce Foundation, ‘supporting young global leadership.’
The Parthenon, Acropolis — temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
We have sought to make the world a better place, especially for arts, education, and orphan care. The niche of Leadership has allowed us to focus on transferring skills and assets to the next generation – to continue the never-ending challenge of allowing people to be their best.

Detail of an Ionic column on the hill of the Acropolis. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Towards that end, we began to publish The Stewardship Report on Connecting Goodness in 2010. Last spring, we began a Fellowship program with Marietta College’s leadership center. This fall, we sponsored the formation of civic club, the New York Global Leadership Lions Club (NYGLLC). Our emphasis across all organizations has been on honor, intelligence, benevolence – and stewardship.
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Statue of a young man displayed at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Leaders are born, not taught. However, born leaders still need to be grounded in the Humanities and given access to the tools, funds and network they need to move mountains. It is with this in mind that we announce The J. Luce Foundation Leadership Experience, our inaugural trip to the cradle of education, philosophy and democracy – where our young leaders will absorb The Ideals of Hellas.
Breathtaking sunset at the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Much of science, medicine, mathematics, theater, music and art come to us from ancient Greece, representing the highest of human virtues. This fascinating world of Gods, majestic temples, and stunning antiquities will be the experience of a lifetime.
The Caryatids (maidens) used as columns at the Erechteion, Acropolis.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 14 – Sunday, May 22, The J. Luce Leadership Experience: The Ideals of Hellas is open to the leadership of our Foundation (both young and old) and all of its many affiliates, including Orphans International Worldwide and the New York Global Leadership Lions Club. Board members, Global Advisers, Executive Committee members, Luce Leaders, Luce Fellows, and Luce Scholars are all welcome – as well as their parents!
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We will announce this trip formally with a spectacular video at our
Leadership Awards Reception in February. Courtesy: J. Luce Foundation.
Students from any educational institution we support are welcome, including our new friends from the Center for Global Business Stewardship at St. John’s University and Legacy High School in New York.
Grand Temple of Olympian Zeus in the center of Athens. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
This nine-day experience ‘Empowerment Tour’ will allow participants to not only experience the Spirit of Hellenism and its glories but also receive Certification. Several certificates of achievement will be available, from the Greek government to various Greek non-profit organizations to our Foundation.
Doric columns illuminated by the Athens sun on the Acropolis hill.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Georgia Nomikos, President and C.E.O. of The Orpheus Luxury Collection in New York and a Global Adviser to our Foundation, explains:
In the words of the great Socrates, ‘We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live.’ I am absolutely inspired by this upcoming trip, where youth from around the world will he introduced to my Hellas, taught phrases in Greek, and discover the intricacies of Hellenic culture and the intellectual stimulation that transpires. They will journey through the land that gave birth to our civilization today, indulging and embracing Eros the Light and the Passion of our nation!
Upon climbing the Acropolis, you will feel the powerful energy of the sacred rock, where the longest lasting democratic leader, the great Pericles stood, as well as the legendary Aspasia, a scholar and philosopher. You will be in awe of the sight and grandeur of the Parthenon, a monument built high above the city as an eternal Symbol of Democracy – a temple of perfect structure and aesthetics devoted to Athena the Goddess of Wisdom. Sophia, “Wisdom,” has always been the goal of the Hellenes’ humanistic spirit and whose philosophers were perpetually seeking.
Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon with arms extended as if in the process
of throwing a thunderbolt (or trident), found at Cape Artemision.
Circa 460 BCE, displayed at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle understood that leadership could be safe and stable either by transforming the leader into a philosopher or the philosopher into a leader through the virtues of prudence, bravery, justice, and piety. The leader, in turn, should be able to inspire and cultivate an inner motive for the good inside each citizen. Georgia continues:
The practical examination of these theories were tested to be true with Aristotle’s student, Alexander the Great, who treated Persians equal to Hellenes throughout his reign – no doubt a direct result of his teacher’s philosophical influences. You will follow the very footsteps of these giants of thought as they walked along the streets of the ancient Agora (market), discussing and proving their theories and ideas with fellow citizens and thus changing the future of the world.
At the Acropolis Museum shining in the extraordinary bright light of the Athenian sky, you will have a chance to admire the divine sculptures of the gods, heroes and leaders of the most famous wars and battles of antiquity, such as Achilles, Leonidas, and Themistocles. Under this very same light, the ancient citizens of Athens dared to practice direct democracy, freedom of speech, and the political argumentation at the Ecclesia (Assembly).
The Propylaia, the main entrance of the Acropolis. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
They will also see the famous courthouse of Areios Pagos in Pnyka – where they opposed the tyranny and intellectual slavery of the established civilizations of the East. Pnyka is the hill where Demosthenes gave his most brilliant speeches to defend democracy and Isocrates conceived the Pan-Hellenic idea of the Hellenic City-States, making an unprecedented revolution in the definition of a human nation: “Whoever is not a Hellene is a barbarian,” however, “A Hellene is one who has a Hellenic education.”
This trip is a direct result of the launch of our foundation’s Hellenic Fund, launched this fall to benefit ethnic and migrant youth in Greece (HuffPo). This Fund will support Luce Leadership, Fellowship, and Scholarship projects in Greece that will begin to be set up by our young leaders traveling there in May.
Ionic column at the Acropolis. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Lessons and idioms from the philosophical wisdom of the ancient Hellenes to be learned include “Teach a youngster” (Delphic maxim), “Know Thyself ” (Socrates), “Moderation in all things” (Aristotle), and in terms of therapy and medicine, “You are what you eat” (Hippocrates).
The group will explore the oldest district of Athens, Plaka, considered one of the most unique, beautiful, and historic neighborhoods on earth. Also known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods,” Plaka lies right under the cradle of Western civilization, the Acropolis. Plaka is filled with many archaeological monuments and sites spanning millennia. It’s also thought that it has been continuously inhabited for nearly three thousand years, which of course makes it one of the most ancient continuously active neighborhoods in the world today.
The Caryatids standing tall and proud, Erechteion building Acropolis.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
The team will dine in one of Plaka’s oldest restaurants, ‘Fisherman’s Taverna,’ which is one of the neighborhood’s oldest restaurants offering connoisseurs of the finest Hellenic traditional cuisine has to offer. Additionally, will have the chance to experience ancient Hellenic cuisine at Archeon Gefsis (‘Ancient Tastes’) which serves dishes based on original ancient recipes proved by studies to have high nutritional value and healing powers. Today, we realize the healthy eating habits of the Mediterranean Diet.
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In Athens, the young leaders will see the Zappeion, the first building to be erected for the revival of the Olympic Games in the modern world. Inspired by Orphans International Worldwide, they will also visit the Hatzikriakio Childcare Institution that houses orphan children – both Hellenes and refugees – and have the chance to do their part in this philanthropic organization.
Front view of the altar at the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion at sunset.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Then, they will take part in a World Leaders of the Future Workshop and become familiar with ideas deriving from great leaders of antiquity from Solon to Alexander the Great and to the present. Next, a visit to the Hellenic Parliament to learn about the traditions of politics from ancient Athens to the present day. There they will have the opportunity to meet with our friend, the Hellenic Minister of Tourism to exchange their thoughts and ideas.
At the end of their journey, they will complete their Hellenic Ideals Experience by attending an amazing theater production encompassing the most important works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides in ancient tragedy. Through the meaningful ancient Hellenic myths and the moral basis of ‘Hubris-Ate-Nemesis’ they will learn how the greatest leaders in mythology wielded power, leading to a therapeutic cleansing of the soul known as “catharsis.”
The Boy Jockey bronze statue of a boy on a horse, discovered in a
shipwreck near Artemesium and dates from 220 BCE displayed at the
National Archaeological Museum, Athens. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
The Hellenic idea of Leadership opposes the Machiavellian principals of domination and gives rise to the Humanistic Ideal, something that we need now more than ever. As global citizens, we each have a responsibility to raise awareness, advocate and promote the education and empowerment that will enrich life for all and foster a healthy sustainable planet for the future. Socrates said: “Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” That is the greatest power a leader can have.
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Seminars and other sites planned for the Experience include “The Mysteries of the Great Gods” (Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Pnyx, Areopagus), Syntagma Square, Kolonaki, Plaka, Piraeus, Delphi, Attica-Athens Riviera, the Temple of Poseidon – and many more.
Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Many optional activities are available, including Synagogue services for our Jewish young leaders. Three museums – Benaki, Goulandris, and Ilias Lalaounis are available, as is a ‘street art walk,’ ‘dinner in the sky,’ as well as a day cruise to Hydra, Poros, Aegina.
Accommodations in Athens run the gamut of student-level to five-star hotels, including the Grande Bretagne, King George, Amalia, Electra Hotel, and New Hotel. The Grand Bretagne offers eternal elegance with breathtaking views of the fabled Acropolis, regal Syntagma Square and the Parliament. Situated right in the heart of the city since 1874, this landmark hotel is within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, and the business district. The Amalia and Electra hotels have special student packages.
Sunset at the Temple of Poseidon, in Sounion. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Orpheus Luxury Collection – Travel Group has moved mountains to contain costs for this experience, for which a limited number of scholarships may be available. Package costs excluding airfare range from $4,550 for Deluxe $3,350 for First Class, and $2,950 for Student, per person based in double occupancy.
We thank Georgia for including in these packages accommodations for seven nights at hotel of choice including all taxes and fees, daily breakfasts, all transfers as mentioned in the itinerary, five Lunches, four dinners, certified English-speaking tour guides accompanied by special theatrical performances outlining historical/cultural importance at specific sites, theatrical performances, tours and entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, Certificates of Achievement presented and signed from Greek officials and other institutions for attendance and volunteer work, as well as photographic highlights of special memories throughout trip with a gift album presented to each participant upon departure.
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The Erechteion on the Acropolis was the repository of the ancient Athenians.
Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
Our foundation has granted Honorable Mention for Leadership over the past years to several individuals around the world including 16-year old Lobsang Tsering of the Manjushree Tibetan Orphanage of Twang, India; Aadel Euro, a modern dance student from Baghdad, Iraq now in New York; Eric Niragira, an ex-child soldier in Burundi; and Ranjan Kumar, founder of the Gyanjyoti Rural Development Welfare Trust in Bihar, India. We hope to raise contributions to have them join this experience.
The Bon Voyage Benefit to raise funds for scholarships for The J. Luce Foundation Leadership Experience: The Ideals of Hellas is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 12. Readers may make a tax-deductible contribution on-line here. Checks payable to The J. Luce Foundation may be sent to 540 Main Street #418, New York, N.Y. 10044.
The Metopes of the Parthenon. Photo: Ariane Nomikos.
We are excited to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity for connecting with others to better humanity; what better way could we support young global leadership. Our foundation will continue to focus on transferring skills and assets to the next generation – to continue the never-ending challenge of allowing people to be their best. We believe the group that completes this first Experience will be uniquely qualified – and certified – to do just that. Through our ideals of honor, intelligence, benevolence, and stewardship, coupled with the ideals of Hellas, these young leaders will move mountains indeed.
“Our America” – Exploring U.S. History Through One Family’s Eye
New York, N.Y. This column, written by several including Molly Luce Larkin, focuses on American history through the eyes of one family. In 2010, Jim Luce wrote in the Huffington Post, Mayflower Roots – and a Metrocard – Get One on the Subway. In this piece, he began to explore the impact of Brahmin roots in today’s American soil. Most families, as ours, had both heroes and horse thieves. We cannot change the past, but we can report and reflect upon it.
Our maternal grandfather, Dudley Alleman, Jr., is the boy seated
third from the left. Taken in 1898 in Portland, Maine.
- b. 1578, Richard Warren, Lt., Mayflower Compact
- b. 1576, Thomas Dudley, Governor (Mass.)
- b. 1610?, Thomas Bull, Capt.: In Early New England, Our Ancestor Fought Pequot Warriors
- b. 1612, Frances Elizabeth Alcock
- b. 1612, Anne Bradstreet, Poet
- b. 1685, Jacob Alleman
- b. 1647, Joseph Dudley (Wiki)
- b. 1685, Jacob Alleman: 1763: Jacob Alleman Family Killed by Indian Warriors
- b. 1800, Thomas Jefferson Dudley: In Early New England, Our Ancestor Fought Pequot Warriors
- 1806, Andrew Hull Foote, Rear Admiral
- b. 1834, Samuel Augustus Foot, Gov., & Senator (Ct.)
- b. 1827, Stephen Bleecker Luce, Rear Admiral
- b. 1882, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President
- b. 1898, Henry Robinson Luce, Publisher, Time-Life
- Wallis Simpson
- b. 1903, Clare Boothe Luce, Congressmember (Ct.): “Fame” – Spotlight on Super Woman Clare Boothe Luce
- b. 1923, Stanford Leonard Luce, Professor: Remembering my Father
- b. 1924, Frances Dudley Alleman-Luce, Psychologist: Remembering My Mother
- b. 1925, Henry Luce III, Philanthropist
- b. 1926, Leila Hadley Luce: The Last of the Great Luces?
- b. 1920?, Henry Stokes: Quaker Volunteer Medic in Caves of Yenan
- b. 1925, Elizabeth Luce Allyn Stokes: Remembering My Aunt Elizabeth
- b. 1935, Louis Fiber Luce, Professor: Remembering My Step-Mother
Our Ancestor Frances Elizabeth Alcock and The Salem Witches Trial
Painting: Examination of a Witch (1853) by T. H. Matteson, inspired by the Salem trials.
New York, N.Y. Voluntary indentured servitude in the early American Colonies was the prominent system of labor until replaced by slavery. Nearly half of total white immigration to the Thirteen Colonies came under indenture.
In 1638, at the age of 26, our ninth great-grandmother Frances Elizabeth Alcock left England on the ship Bevis as a servant to the Richard Dummer family. On that same ship, also hired as a servant, was John Enoch Hutchins, who would soon become her husband.
At the conclusion of their servitude, the young couple settled in Haverhill, Massachusetts where she raised ten children and he worked as a skilled carpenter. They must have done very well because they were probably the first family in Haverhill to have servants of their own (including an Indian woman named Hopewell).
In the summer of 1692, nineteen emigrants to Massachusetts were convicted of witchcraft and carted off to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem village, for hanging. Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to the trials. This travesty of justice probably occurred in Salem due to an unfortunate combination of an ongoing frontier war, a poor economy, congregational strife, teenage boredom & personal jealousies.
On August 18, 1692, at the age of 80 (and seven years after her husband had died) Frances Alcock Hutchins was arrested for witchcraft as a result of a complaint filed by Timothy Swan, Ann Putnam & Mary Walcott. The charge was not pressed because her son Joseph and his wife’s brother-in-law Samuel Kingsbury posted “sufficient bond” – which I think must mean that they paid them off. The accusers’ complaint was that she “hath sorely afflicted them in their bodies by witchcraft Severall times Contrary to the Peace of our Soverigne Lord and Lady King William & Queen Mary of England & to the Majesties Law in the Case provided”.
Poor Frances spent four months in prison (which must have been wretched in the 1600s) and was finally released on the 21st of December. No record of a trial was ever found.
But, believe it or not, that was not Frances’ first brush with the law! In September of 1653, at the age of 41, Frances and her friend Mrs. Joseph Swett were arrested in Haverhill for disobeying a law that had been passed 3 years earlier prohibiting the display of finery for persons whose property was valued under £200. Frances was arrested for wearing a silk hood but, while she was acquitted because she had been brought up “above the ordinary rank”, her friend Mrs. Swett was found guilty and made to pay 10 shillings.
So, be very glad that you were not born in Massachusetts in the 1600s.
Our Ancestor Frances Elizabeth Alcock and The Salem Witches Trial (May 8, 2020)
This column, written by several including Molly Luce Larkin, focuses on American history through the eyes of one family. In 2010, Jim Luce wrote in the Huffington Post, Mayflower Roots – and a Metrocard – Get One on the Subway. In this piece, he began to explore the impact of Brahmin roots in today’s American soil. Most families, as ours, had both heroes and horse thieves. We cannot change the past, but we can report and reflect upon it.
See: “Our America” – Exploring U.S. History through Family’s Eye
Harvard Crimson: Structure in Memory of Gov. Thomas Dudley (1915)
NEW GATE FOR YARD BEGUN | STRUCTURE IN MEMORY OF THOMAS DUDLEY
Cambridge, Mass. Work on the new Dudley Memorial Gate has been begun within the last few days. The structure is the gift of the late Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes who bequeathed to her nephew, Mr. I. N. Phelps Stokes, the architect, a sum of money to be expended in erecting at Harvard a memorial to her ancestor, Governor Thomas Dudley of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

As first planned the memorial was to be simply a clock tower. It was at the suggestion of President Lowell that the plan was modified so as to make this tower a part of a large gateway. This with its ample wings fills the last and one of the most important gaps in the Harvard fence.
The gate will stand on the line of Quincy street between the president’s house and the old Peabody house. The iron and brick fence of the structure will continue from the south end of the structure to the corner of the Yard. The other end will extend to the edge of the president’s driveway.
The structure is recessed back from Quincy street with an arched passageway for pedestrians on each side of the great centre gate. On the inner or yard side the gate will be flanked by semi-circular brick walls about four feet high, the quadrant of each curve nearest the gate containing a stone bench.
Built of brick and limestone the new gate will conform both in the material and general style to that established by Mr. McKim for the whole college fence from the pioneer Johnston Gate. The style of the tower might properly be called Georgian or Colonial.
On the Yard face of the clock will be a large relief of Governor Dudley against a back-ground of colonial street and houses. The relief will be cut in American Travertine stone of the same color as the limestone used for the trimmings and ornaments of the Gate. The tower will be thirty-six feet high and eight feet square at the base. The inscription will be on a tablet set in the Quincy street face of the tower.
Inside the gate there will be a circular courtyard from which the main drive way will lead up to the president’s house. A brick walk will continue down to the new Widener Library. – March 16, 1915
| Plaque Reads: Thomas Dudley Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay | |
| Baptized October 12, 1576 at Yardley Hastings England Married at Hardingstone, England Dorothy Yorke Apr 25 1603 and at Roxbury, Massachusetts Catherine Hagburne Widow April 14 1644 – Died at Roxbury July 31, 1653 In 1597 He received a Captain’s Commission from Queen Elizabeth and was at the Siege of Amiens under Henry IV of France One of the Twelve signers of the Cambridge Agreement Aug 26, 1629 Sailed from Southampton England in the Arbella, March 22, 1630 Chosen Deputy Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay at a Court of Assistants on Board the Arbella, March 23, 1630 Arrived at Salem Massachusetts June 12, 1630 Founder and the First Householder of Cambridge, 1631 Deputy Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay 1630-34, 1637-40, 1646-50, 1651-53 Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay 1634-35, 1645-46, 1650-51 Assistant of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay Chosen one of the Standing Counsell for the Tearme of his Life May 25, 1636 Appointed in 1637 by the General Court Held at Newtown One of twelve men to take order for a College at “Newetowne” Commissioner of the United Colonies 1647-48, 1649-50 Appointed Sergeant Major General, The Military Forces of the Colony May 29, 1644 Signed the Charter May 31, 1650 of Harvard College Buried in the Old Cemetery at the corner of Eustuis and Washington Streets. | |
Harvard Crimson: Structure in Memory of Gov. Thomas Dudley (1915) (March 16, 2020)



















