Meet the Fellows: Greg Stowers
Greg Stowers
Key Club International Director, Kiwanis International
We’re excited to welcome Greg to MDLF! Greg works as the Key Club International Director at Kiwanis International and lives in Indianapolis.
About Greg:
What's up! I'm Greg Stowers and from both a personal and professional standpoint I work to engage, expose and empower those around me in a number of unique ways. Professionally, I'm responsible for more than 250,000 students and 5,000 adult volunteers as Key Club International Director. With students and stakeholders around the world, I've been blessed with the opportunity to expand and also reaffirm my a number of my opinions. Travel, specifically to different countries forces me to error on the side of inclusion with a concentration in a more equitable environment for all. I'm heavily involved in the city of Indianapolis. I've developed a non-profit to combat food insecurity, mentor youth, sit on numerous boards and have an ear to what's going on politically. I have a vested interest in not only Indianapolis, but the state of Indiana as a whole, and look forward to utilizing my time, talent and treasure to continue to build off the foundations set by those before me.
What's your vision for Indiana? How does this relate to your decision to join the program?
I had an incredibly unique opportunity to travel around Indiana in 2016. I learned about the importance of our urban centers, but also the impact of our more rural areas. It is my hope that we can take actionable steps to bridge gaps between people of different backgrounds to find new and innovative ways to solve the problems we face as a state. While we continually tout numbers and figures (which is important to acknowledge) I know many people who don't see the growing prosperity first hand. While I appreciate my upbringing here in Indianapolis, I also understand this state is much bigger than just my hometown. In order for us to move the needle forward, in a number of areas we need to make a concerted effort to have all voices heard, acknowledged and appreciated. I value being around those who want better for not only themselves, but those around them. Additionally, I value differences in opinion as it provides a space to either reaffirm or shift opinions. In this space, we have the ability to have tough conversations and find ways to work together. I see this program as a microcosm of the Indiana I envision; talented people of different backgrounds, working together to make things better.
What's your favorite quote?
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
What's something you're reading now?
Toxic Charity - Robert Lupton
Check out our blog to see more about our newest class of Fellows.