David Gershon, an internationally recognized authority on behavioral and large system change, is applying his innovative transformational techniques and vast organizational experience to bring the war against global warming right to your doorstep. His book, Low Carbon Diet, is both a personal how-to and a grass-roots organizing manual to help reduce our CO2 output and ultimately to become “carbon neutral.” In this interview with EnlightenNext's Carol Raphael, Gershon discusses in depth and detail his core understanding of behavioral change, and reveals his uniquely scalable techniques and methodologies for reducing greenhouse gases. Gershon's strategic guidelines for change are inclusive of personal, social, scientific, and political structures, and could provide the underpinnings of a conscious mass movement for environmental sustainability.
BIO
David Gershon, founder and CEO of Empowerment Institute, is considered one of the world's leading authorities on behavior change and large system transformation. Over the past two decades, David has developed a highly effective and robust transformational technology considered by many to be the state-of-the-art.
He has applied this methodology to a number of initiatives. Included amongst these was a global transformative event created at the height of the cold war, the First Earth Run. In partnership with the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) and ABC Television, he organized the historic passing of a torch of peace around the world. This simple and profound act of global unity offered at a moment of great fear engaged the participation of 25 million people in 62 countries, the world's political leadership and through the media an estimated 20% of the population on the planet. It was an extraordinary confirmation of the efficacy of the empowerment tools.
David applies his empowerment and large system transformation expertise to community, organizational and societal transformation issues. His clients include cities, countries and large organizations wishing to create behavior change amongst their constituencies. The versatility of the empowerment tools enable them to address issues ranging from organizational culture change to low-income neighborhood revitalization; from environmental behavior change to emergency preparedness. Longitudinal research studies indicate the adopted behavior changes are sustained over time.
His best selling book, co-written with Gail Straub, Empowerment: The Art of Creating Your Life As You Want It, has become a classic on the subject. Considered a master personal growth trainer, he co-leads the Empowerment Institute Certification Program–a school for practitioners wishing to gain mastery in the empowerment transformational tools and design templates. He has served on White House, United Nations and various international advisory committees addressing empowerment and large system transformation issues. His work has received considerable media attention and many honors.
