Denver: We are going to do Take Five with Greg Van Kirk, the President of the Social Entrepreneur Corps. Are you ready, Greg?
Greg Van Kirk
Greg: Yes I am. I hope so.
Denver: What should we be worried about?
Greg: We’re in an interesting political moment here in our society. I think we should be worried about losing opportunities to engage with each other.
Denver: What is one of your favorite documentaries or movies?
Greg: I love The Mission.
Denver: What is something you believe that other people think is just insane?
Greg: So many of the different ideas that we’ve had in our work, people have started off by thinking they’re insane, and oftentimes that tells me it’s something that we should try.
Denver: Name some organization or person that you have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for.
Greg: David Bornstein at Solutions Journalism Network; Martin Burt, Foundacion Paraguaya; Albina Ruiz, Ciudad Saludable.
Denver: What is the most important thing that makes for a healthy organizational culture?
Greg: Mutual trust.
Denver: What have you changed your mind about in the last 10 years and why?
Greg: I believe that to create change, we need to put youth in charge.
Denver: If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?
Greg: I’d be a fork.
Denver: If you were to start your career all over again and do something completely different and away from this field, what would that be?
Greg: An alpinist.
Denver: What is your superpower?
Greg: Patience.
Denver: What is something whether this is related to your work or not, that you’re exceptionally excited about right now?
Greg: Going on vacation with my family.
Denver: What are you currently reading?
Greg: The Brooklyn Bridge.
Denver: Given a choice of anyone famous in the world, dead or alive, that you could invite over as a dinner guest, who would you invite?
Greg: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Denver: What is the last thing that you taught yourself to do?
Greg: Power wash the side of a house.
Denver: What is something that you dislike that everyone else seems to be in love with?
Greg: Acapella.
Denver: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Greg: Work hard to maintain a good work-life balance.
Denver: Finally, do you have a quote you live your life by or at least think of often?
Greg: It’s not what you do, it’s what you set in motion.