David Lawrence Jr. to Speak at Inaugural Chapman Leadership Lecture.
David Lawrence, Jr. will deliver the keynote address for the inaugural Chapman Leadership Lecture at FIU.
Lawrence will deliver his address, titled "The Principles of Power and Leadership: How to get things done in Miami and America," at 6:30 p.m. on September 12 at FIU's Graham Center Ballroom, 11200 SW 8th Street. The lecture is free and open to the public. Please register online.Lawrence, former publisher of the The Miami Herald and early education advocate, will kick off the lecture series established as an annual forum for transcendent leaders whose lives and work create opportunities not only for their organization, but also the community they serve, and society at large.
The Chapman Leadership Lecture is grounded in the Center for Leadership's research in identifying characteristics that make for ethical and effective leadership.
"Alvah Chapman is Miami's transcendent leader, one who put the greater good at the forefront of his efforts," said Modesto A. Maidique, president emeritus of FIU and executive director of the FIU Center for Leadership. "Naming this lecture for Alvah Chapman honors his legacy as a transcendent leader, one whose leadership benefited not only his own company, but the greater good of our community."
This year marks the 20th anniversary of "We Will Rebuild," Chapman's mobilization of the South Florida community to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Andrew. In addition, through the Chapmans' determination to eradicate homelessness, the Chapman Partnership (formerly Community Partnership for Homeless) is a major force behind many of Miami's most important initiatives for the homeless population.
Betty Chapman, the widow of Alvah H. Chapman, said that her husband thought of education as one of the components of a strong community.
"Alvah and I both felt it was important to have the opportunity to earn a college degree, to stay close to home, keep a job and further your education," said Betty Chapman.
In 2001 the FIU graduate school of business was named in honor of Alvah H. Chapman.
In many ways, Lawrence has continued the work Chapman started, said Maidique.
"David embodies this model of transcendent leadership in his work as a tireless advocate for children, making him the ideal choice to serve as inaugural speaker for these lectures," he said.
Retired in 1999 as publisher of The Miami Herald, Lawrence has been a leading advocate for early childhood development and readiness. He is president of the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, leads the Children's Movement of Florida, and is Education and Community Leadership Scholar at the University of Miami. Lawrence was instrumental in the passage of a state-wide constitutional amendment to provide pre-K education for all four-year-olds.