Luminari Founder, Hilda Pang Fu, Reflects on the First 5 Years

What prompted you to create Luminari?

In the early 1970s, my husband and I came to Pittsburgh and soon later adopted it as our hometown. We decided to pursue our careers and raise our two children here, as Pittsburgh was friendly and continues to be a very livable city.  When other cities offered us opportunities throughout the years, we could not dismiss the kindness we experienced from other residents, as well as the close friendships and professional relationships we developed. Consequently, one of our greatest priorities has been to give back to Pittsburgh, so that it evolves over time as an even better place to live.

I strongly believe that for Pittsburgh to be vibrant, we need to actively harness the diversity of perspectives that exist throughout our region. This will help us to make better decisions, build stronger working relationships, and attract and sustain talent.  

In 2009, I founded Luminari, a nonprofit with a mission to broaden minds, inspire innovations and encourage community engagement.  My vision began with summer programs for teenagers, inspiring them to get into the habit of putting themselves in other people’s shoes when considering an issue. I also wanted to maintain a small and nimble organization that eventually will inspire people of all ages to experiment with different ways of doing things. 

For our teen programs, we go to great lengths to recruit participants from different school districts and backgrounds. In particular, we welcome young people who recently immigrated to this country. The built-in diversity of the participants, coupled with outstanding instructors and professional practitioners, creates enriching experiences that are not available in a typical classroom setting.

What are you the most proud of in the first five years?

Luminari is now offering four mind-broadening programs. They all offer opportunities for teens that they may not encounter in any other formal setting.   I am proud of ALL of them, but there is a special spot in my heart for the first program that we launched back in 2010, the IWant to be an Ambassador! summer camp. I wanted a program to focus on the art and skills of diplomacy, the age-old tool used for building and sustaining working relationships among countries, resulting in peaceful solutions rather than wars. This goes beyond leadership training. It’s about inspiring our young people to apply diplomacy in their immediate environment. Its daily application is critical to long term successful outcomes. 

I am proud of its success and ripple effect after the past four summers in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. I am thrilled with its totally original curriculum, format and inspiring delivery by instructors and business leaders, as well as international diplomats who participate each year. 

Our entire team is encouraged to see that all of our programs inspire participants to act and make a positive difference in their immediate environment. We believe this approach is a far reaching one that creates a powerful ripple effect.

Who are some prominent supporters? Who are some of the

people that make the organization what it is?

Our strength and originality are powered by the creative minds of our “luminari.” Luminari is a collection of people, experts in their professions, who are dedicated to sharing their wit and wisdom to make our little corner of the world a better place. We have created a team that truly enjoys working together and is energized by the creative process. You can see a partial list of our “Luminari” on our website. We are very grateful to the foundations and sponsors who have believed in us since our inception. Their support of our mission has been a critical endorsement.

What’s next for Luminari? What will the next 5 years look like?

Currently, all our programs are designed for teenagers. However, we are planning to offer some adult programs in the near future. I am looking forward to the next phase of Luminari’s journey with a great deal of enthusiasm. We have built a sound and quality foundation and now, we need to remember it is a creative process and not a race. My heart sings when I think about the far-reaching effects we are poised to create over the next five years.

4 reasons DIPLOMACY will help you succeed in life

Written by Luminari Staff

“Diplomacy,” the word often conjures images of politicians, prime-ministers, or presidents negotiating ways to create peace and economic stability. For teenagers who are dreaming of a future career in politics or international relations this vision of diplomacy is surely an exciting and gratifying view.

Yet, there are many young people who also dream of being entrepreneurs, teachers, physicians or technology specialists. Moreover, what about those young people who haven’t decided what career they want to follow? How will sustainable learning, meaningful dialogue and skillful diplomacy foster their dreams of the future?

Join Luminari during the 2014 “IWant to be an Ambassador!” camp for an experience of a lifetime. Skills learned throughout the week offer a unique opportunity for self-reflection and dynamic growth with long-lasting benefits in any professional field, here are FOUR:

1. Build public speaking & communication skills

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Whether you are giving a speech to a classroom of your peers or you have to organize a project for your career, good communication is essential in any profession. The I Want to be an Ambassador! camp encourages thoughtful and open conversations with people from different points of view. You will find the power of listening to be a powerful tool in understanding how to communicate with others who have a different opinion or world view than your own.

2. Gain confidence in self & others

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Whether you are defending a friend who is being bullied or discussing an opinion with a teacher, you will use skills from our Ambassador camp. When you are speaking with someone who bullies, or an authority figure, it is important to do so calmly and in a way that doesn’t offend. During our 7-day camp, you will acquire and practice techniques that allow you to speak in a manner that will keep everyone calm and respectful, but will also ensure that your voice is heard.

3.  Succeed in college

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While at college it can sometimes be difficult to attend long lectures while paying close attention and listening for important details. However, success is often measured by your ability to both listen and to perform exceedingly well in your courses. You will learn techniques that will make listening for key details and important information easier by focusing on what someone is saying, how they are saying it, and filtering what is critical to success.

4.  Great career opportunities

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In today’s workplace active listening and team-building are essential for fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills. It is giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking the time necessary to understand the points being made, asking questions when appropriate and not interrupting. Our hands-on summer camp teaches you how to understand and solve problems with people from difference backgrounds.

The I Want to be an Ambassador! camp focuses on the art of diplomacy to effectively accomplish goals in daily life. With exercises in Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, teens will visit embassies and talk with business leaders and diplomats to inspire a thirst for global knowledge, hone new skills and impact local communities – one person at a time.

Meet Luminari Award Scholar: David Taesan Han

David Han is one of our five 2014 Luminari Award Scholars. David is a freshman at Fox Chapel Area High School and an aspiring biologist, journalist, and environmentalist. He enjoys reading, writing, and exploring the natural world. David also is a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra, where he plays the cello, and a member of his school’s crew and cross country teams.

David’s 6-word Biography

I aspire to humility, compassion, curiosity.

What are your expectations for the 2014 “I Want to be an Ambassador!” Camp? 

I expect an exciting and educational experience at the camp, as well as to meet other students who share my interests.

What does “diplomacy” mean to you?

To me, diplomacy means advocating for a cause respectfully and intelligently, considering the needs of other parties involved.

What does 2014 have in store for you? What are your future plans/career goals? 

This year, I hope to found a National Geographic/Environmental Club at my school, and become involved with APYA and the Out of Eden Walk program. In the future, I would like to be a biologist/ecologist and science writer: an ambassador for scientific education and climate reform.

I’m currently reading:
Two books - “The Species Seekers” by Richard Conniff and “The Unconquered” by Scott Wallace

My favorite movie of all time: Spielberg’s “Lincoln”

My favorite hobby: photography

My favorite Pittsburgh restaurants include: The Ramen Bar, The Green Mango, and the Double Wide Grill

I’m looking forward to summer because:

I will have more free time to explore my extracurricular interests

Thing I cannot live without: the support of my family and friends

Quality I most value in friends: integrity

Quality I most value in myself: integrity

Quote or mantra I live by: “You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.”    - E.O. Wilson

My biggest pet peeve: intentional ignorance and dishonesty

My most significant lesson learned: that I should no longer be intimidated by large projects and assignments

Project I'm energized by: The Out of Eden Walk project

Join David Han this summer during the 2014 “I want to be an Ambassador!” camp. To learn more call 412-877-1888 or visit www.luminari.org.