Gibrán's Podcast: Episode 30 - Stay Open with Giovanna Negretti

Gibrán's Podcast

I’ve known Giovanna Negretti for at least two decades. She is one of those Puerto Rican women possessed with passion, focus, commitment, perseverance and a charisma for leadership that makes her unstoppable. I have witnessed her growth through many leadership roles. And I was thrilled to interview her as she stewards the Online Progressive Engagement Network, a community of organizations wielding digital campaigns for progressive change all over the world. I think of her work as an essential counter-weight to the global rise of authoritarianism. OPEN is an important container where rich country democracies and the democracies of the post-colonial world can exchange ideas and strategies for bringing people together in service of progressive change. About a decade ago, I had the privilege of facilitating the gathering that gave birth to OPEN. And now, my friend Giovanna serves as its Executive Director. Giovanna has also held a commitment to the cause of Puerto Rican Independence for as long as I have known her. A topic we also cover in this wide ranging conversation. You’ll be inspired by Giovanna. And you will find something meaningful here, as two old friends in the work of social movement each keep finding our way to the wisdom of kindness, care and compassion that should always be at the center of any effort to make our world better. Enjoy!