While getting to know some new friends, I was asked, “So, what do you do?” After explaining the framework for The Purpose Project, and our goal to inspire more young adults to take on the problems that are confronting our world, a conversation that started as small talk quickly turned into a spirited discussion.

Like many other members of our generation, the group around the table that day was frustrated by the issues that fill the news: the state of our environment, our political system, our economy, just to name a few. Momentum seemed to build as people took turns pointing out the causes or the implications of an issue and sharing the ways in which social issues present themselves in their lives. But after the venting subsided, the energy that had filled the conversation disappeared as quickly as it had come. What was the source of this sudden buzz-kill? That persistent, and difficult to answer question: “What can we do?” Read the rest of this entry »

This is the new website for The Purpose Project, a nonprofit venture working to create a dialogue between different generations of social changemakers: those who will soon retire, and those who will be responsible for leading us forward.

We’re excited about having a more robust, blog-based website where we can share our progress with you more easily. This customizable platform, powered by WordPress will allow us to post updates as we conduct interviews with the changemakers, write articles and chapters from the book, and begin to develop the curricula and teaching tools.

Duke ran a short article today in The Chronicle about The Purpose Project. There are a few errors (Plowshares Institute definitely isn’t “reaching a standstill”) but otherwise it’s a nice feature. Click here to read the full article.

Op-ed by MICHELLE COTE

Society consistently underestimates America’s youth. Once again, we have been labeled self-important, entitled, and ill-equipped to lead this country into the future. This perspective, however, is inaccurate and unfair. It encourages despair and stifles progress, and because of this, threatens to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In her recent book, “Generation Me,” Dr. Jean Twenge argues that Americans born after 1970 are more self-centered than any other group that has come before. She has come to this conclusion after researching generational differences in attitudes and lifestyles — and she believes that this trait will soon have damaging repercussions on society.

According to Twenge, we developed our sense of self-importance during our childhoods. We absorbed confidence-promoting messages from our parents, teachers, and pop culture. Self-esteem based lesson plans and relaxed (non) grading systems in schools led us to believe that we deserve success. Chart-topping hits such as Whitney Houston’s 1986 “Greatest Love of All” (is loving yourself) and advertising slogans such as “An Army of One” reinforced our inflated levels of self-importance, Twenge says. Read the rest of this entry »

Co-Directors Matthew Bennett and Michelle Cote on “Alive With Clive” aired March 5th, 2007. If you weren’t able to watch it live, a shortened version is available below.

Part One

Part Two…

…is available by clicking here.