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40 CHILDART GLOBAL CREATIVE LEADERS JAN-MAR 2021 41

LIFE Once there was a little girl who lived says, “I always had a home environment where and cultures of the world. As she shares the

in Oklahoma in a neighborhood full of
we could talk about big ideas, and tell big stories
stories of what grandparents’ value most, how
friends to play with. She spent her days
people deal with the hard parts of life, and how
about the meaning of life, and talk honestly
ALWAYS organizing the neighborhood kids to about the hard things in our lives.” Upon being people make it through the day, listeners begin
act out the wild and wonderful stories
to make connections with one another. They
introduced to theology and philosophy courses
she came up with. Often these stories
at the University of Oklahoma she realized she
begin to develop empathy. “A very important
were about space alien invasions and
was fascinated with big ideas about the human
part of empathy is helping students learn to
defending Planet Earth. Frequently they
GETS included elves and fairies. Any television condition and the challenges of learning to live put themselves in the shoes of someone very
together in this world. She realized early on that
different from themselves, and try to understand
show or movie could become inspiration.
what the world may mean to someone whose
thinking outside the box was vital in the quest to
Costumes were crafted out of bits of
beliefs are very different from their own.” Daily, as
understand the bigger story into which we all fit.
nature. The stage was the wide-open
she encounters numerous, seemingly intractable
BETTER fields of the great outdoors. The days For Serene, spirituality and creativity go problems, she employs creative thought to meet
hand in hand. She believes that being creative-
were long and delightful, and wonderful
the challenge at hand and draw communities
empaths comes naturally to children and
and imaginative.
together.
The little girl was Dr. Serene Jones, now recommends nourishing the natural spirituality Serene has been thinking about how to save and
in children by allowing them to think wild things
the 16th president of Union Theological about the universe. She reminds us that the point defend the wonderful world we live in for many
Seminary in the city of New York. She of being a child is not to figure out how to learn to years. Her message to children is that life always
is Union’s first female president. She is do everything perfectly. Rather, the joy of being a gets better. “We are working very hard for that
an ordained minister, respected scholar, child is found in pushing the boundaries of what better. Hang on and try to be loving to your
public speaker, and author. She holds is known and stretching into that creative space friends. When you are loving to your friends,
degrees from the University of Oklahoma, where new ideas emerge. you receive love back, and that love is what
Yale Divinity School, and Yale University. will keep you going.” Creative thinking has
Sharing compelling stories is an enduring
From a young age Serene has loved theme in Serene’s life. Her work involves both been instrumental in her journey to defend light
big ideas. Of her childhood home life she listening to and telling the stories of the people and love in a complex world.

REV. DR. SERENE JONES

PRESIDENT

UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

NEW YORK CITY

REV. DR. SERENE JONES LIFE ALWAYS GETS BETTER https://icaf.org