Kathy Hubbard will never forget Lulia. A young woman she met on a mission trip to Jordan, Lulia was the first to explain to Hubbard the power of the veil.
According to Lulia, al-hijab - as it is called in the Arab world - symbolized the fact that she was a proud, committed Muslim. Instead of limiting her freedom, she explained, it "liberated" her from modern social pressures, such as fashion and hairstyles.
For Hubbard, the meeting proved to be an enlightening experience, providing a perspective that may not have crossed the minds of most Westerners. It was this type of understanding that Hubbard was seeking when she co-founded Bridges of Understanding (www.bridgesofunderstanding.org), a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization devoted to supporting projects and efforts that foster better understanding between the American people and the people of the Arab world. Now, three years after its founding, the organization appears to be making a difference in both worlds.
"More than 60 percent of the population in the Arab world is younger than 25," said Hubbard. "If we can connect with them, creating mutual understanding [between the American and Arab cultures] becomes easier. [W]e are reaching out [to them] through education and the arts."
laying the foundation
A few years ago, while working on a project for the US Department of State involving Arab and US businesswomen, Hubbard met a couple who shared her global view of the world - which, eventually, became one of her passions.
Karim Kawar, Jordan's former ambassador to the US, and his wife, Luma, shared Hubbard's view that there was great curiosity, interest - and misunderstanding - between the US and Arab worlds. Together, they wanted to find ways to dispel faulty perceptions and stereotypes.
Thus, Bridges of Understanding was born, to shed misconceptions in both parts of the world by organizing mission trips, supporting educational efforts, and facilitating the exchange of information. When the Kawars returned to Jordan, the foundation was fully laid, as their presence in the Middle East proved to be a critical factor in the organization's effectiveness.
"We had an immediate presence in both cultures, said Hubbard.
providing the passage
Hubbard believed education was key to creating better understanding, and she has always been a big proponent of a liberal arts education, "which has let me leverage my talent [in so many ways]," she said.
According to Hubbard, most Islamic holy men, or imams, support education.
"In fact, radicals are often young, unemployed, directionless men," she said.
Since its founding, Bridges of Understanding has initiated more than a dozen projects (see below).
"We are not a complex, analytical think tank," said Hubbard. "We are strictly grassroots driven, and our strength is finding and creating ways for people to meet and get to know each other, often through conferences and trips."
While the organization tries to reach everyone, Hubbard has found that women are generally more receptive to discussion and involvement in new projects.
"I've been to the homes and shared meals with Arab women who talk about their religion and faith - and their businesses," she said.
As Bridges of Understanding continues to grow, Hubbard is proud - and grateful - for the organization's accomplishments.
"I never imagined I would be involved with this type of undertaking,"she said. "My husband's support has been a big part of my success."
Hubbard believes world events have helped shape the organization, which may not have come to fruition without crisis.
"During difficult times, people do some serious soul searching and discover what's important," Hubbard said.
For her, it was turning a major crisis into a great opportunity.
Bridges of Understanding Projects
- Sport 4 Peace, a program that recently brought three Iraqi coaches and 10 girls interested in improving their basketball skills and global knowledge to the US for a two-week trip to Washington, DC, and Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Youth Talk, a collaboration with Global Nomads Group that facilitates videoconferences between US and Arab high schools. In 2008, three US high schools and three Jordanian high schools participated. This year, the number will grow to 12.
- Boston Children's Chorus, a two-week cultural exchange tour that brought together youth from the US and Jordan who love making music. They performed at local venues in Amman and in many rural towns in the Kingdom.
- Support for Heal the Rift, a one-day youth rally that recently took place at New York City's Washington Square Park and generated a solidarity movement among moderate forces from both the US and Arab Worlds.
- Support for the Youth Initiative for Progress in Iraq, a conference designed to provide Iraqi and American youth with a voice and the tools necessary to progress toward a sustainable future between the two countries.
Wife of CEO member Al Hubbard, Kathy Hubbard is a co-founder of the Bridges of Understanding Foundation. She serves on several educational and arts-related boards, including the Board of Trustees of DePauw University and Choice Charitable Trust. She is a former Board member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the National Museum of Art and Sport. She was appointed by President George W. Bush to the J. William Fulbright Board in 2006. Hubbard has a long history of political involvement at all levels of government. She has worked on various political campaigns, including those for Vice President Dan Quayle, President George H.W. Bush, and President George W. Bush. She has also worked for the International Trade Division of the Indiana Department of Commerce and the Hudson Institute. She has a BA from DePauw University and attended the University of Neuchatell in Switzerland. The Hubbards reside in Indianapolis, Indiana, and have three children: Will (24), Katie (21), and Sara (21). |
