The Content of Our Character Project continues its civic story-telling project in earnest, endeavoring to tell stories on-line, and in a publication, about exemplars of ethical leadership - individuals, organizations, and companies who uphold ethical principles, inspire high ideals, provide visionary leadership, and work to build a more just and humane world.

On June 24, 2002, The Content of Our Character Project commenced a special initiative, "Dreaming Again, America," by honoring four exemplars at an awards presentation held at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Generation X
The Content of Our Character Project's first honored exemplar for
Generation X stood on top of the world on May 16, 2002. 29,035 feet high! He climbed Mt. Everest to pursue his dream of sharing hope with other cancer patients. Twice, he has been diagnosed with cancer, and once, his doctor predicted that he had only 2 weeks to live. He has overcome both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's tumor. He has, to put it mildly, overcome obstacles and met challenges, and, in so doing, has exhibited great courage and inspired others through his vision. As our honoree himself has said: "If a guy who's had two cancers, was once given two weeks to live, and lives without fully functioning lungs can do it, anybody can follow his own hopes and dreams." The Content of Our Character Project proudly honors Sean Swarner (pictured at right) of Boulder, Colorado as an exemplar of ethical leadership for his generation.

Baby Boomer Generation
The Content of Our Character Project's first honored exemplar for the Baby Boomer Generation has committed her life's work to the betterment of others. Before assuming her current position, she worked in the fields of higher education and philanthropy. For the past ten years, she has served as Executive Director for the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, endeavoring to build civic partnerships and citizen leadership in communities nationwide. She additionally serves on the Boards of Directors for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and the Topsfield Foundation. She stands as a model of decency, as one who deeply values human dignity, and as a leader who appreciates and understands public responsibilities. The Content of Our Character Project proudly honors Suzanne Morse of Charlottesville, Virginia as an exemplar of ethical leadership for her generation.

Civil Rights Generation
The Content of Our Character Project's first honored exemplar for the Civil Rights Generation is an advocate for the written word, one who believes the dissemination of information unleashes and sustains democracy. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years; has written more than 4000 columns and articles; and has authored 3 books. From 1972 until 1991, he was a political columnist and senior editor at the Philadelphia Daily News. He is now the Spearman Professor of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his earlier days, he helped to establish and guide the Black Power Movement. His numerous awards include the 1993 Free Spirit Award from the Freedom Forum. He has dared to be honest in raising matters of equity and fairness; he has challenged both public leaders and the media to be accountable. The Content of Our Character Project proudly honors Chuck Stone of Chapel Hill, North Carolina as an exemplar of ethical leadership for his generation.

World War II Generation
The Content of Our Character Project's first honored exemplar for the World War II Generation has been called the guru of contemporary American philanthropy by a former president of Stanford University. By all accounts, he is a renaissance man, a man of the liberal arts, and a citizen who cares deeply about future generations. He served as an ambassador in the Johnson administration; held posts as president at both C.W. Post College and Hofstra University; and directed the Exxon Education Foundation. He is the founding director of Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy. Among his honors are six doctorates. In the midst of a so-called retirement, he has traveled extensively to places such as Eastern Europe and Northern Ireland to explore philanthropy as a means to resolve ethnic conflict and build civil society. He is a public teacher who works for the common good,
aspires to foster sustainable democratic practices, and gives selflessly. The Content of Our Character Project proudly honors Robert Payton of Indianapolis, Indiana as an exemplar of ethical leadership for his generation.

The overarching goal of The Content of Our Character Project is, and has been, to explore both what is distinctive about ethical leaders from different generations and what they have in common. These four exemplars show this dual focus beautifully. In some ways each is a quintessential child of his or her generation: the public servant and educator, the crusading civil rights journalist, the foundation executive, and the heroic mountain climber who overcomes disease and disability. But all of them have demonstrated the idealism, determination, and the concern for a larger common good that America needs from generation to generation.

Wonderfully, we all are graced by exemplars among us.

In addition to the four individuals described above, the following twenty-one individuals and organizations, among others, have been nominated as exemplars of ethical leadership:

Sistahs Wid' Gaps, a Bay Area poetic duo using poetry to heighten civic
participation among youth.

Jason Dean Crowe, a teenage philanthropist and peace activist who lives in Newburgh, Indiana.

The New Schools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy initiative dedicated to K-12 education in California.

And 1, a Philadelphia-based business striving to be the world's foremost compassionate company.

Jean Griswold, a disabled woman who started a home-care company to help the elderly and people with disabilities.

The Seed Foundation, a public charter boarding school in Washington, DC.

Morris Dees, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery,
Alabama.

Jamaica Plains Open Studios, a Boston event where under-represented artists display their works.

Marian Wright Edelman, director of the Children's Defense Fund.

Magda Escobar, director of Plugged In, an organization that provides disadvantaged youth access to technology.

KidsVoice, a Pittsburgh-based child advocacy organization.

Leslie Carson, director of Forefront, a membership network of 60 grassroots, human rights activists.

Lawrence Community Works, a community development corporation working to improve a New England milltown.

Chinh Le, a Vietnamese immigrant serving as counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

The Boys Choir of Tallahassee, a nationally acclaimed African-American choir.

FBI Adopt-a-School Initiative, a collaborative project involving law enforcement and schools to help kids.

Michael Josephson, the southern-Californian founder of the national Character Counts! Coalition.

Rev. Carolyn Abrams, a faithful servant to social justice projects in Mississippi.

Honest Tea, an environmentally and socially responsible business.

Cory Booker, recent mayoral candidate in Newark, New Jersey.

The Service Board, a Seattle-based group uniquely combining mentoring, job training, and snowboarding.