Dave Genova views his early years in a public housing project in New York, in a way, as a gift. There he learned the benefits of living in a diverse culture and the importance of respecting people regardless of their color or ethnic background. They were lessons that have guided him through life – as a young person, an enlistee in the Navy, a college student who went on to get an advanced degree in counseling, a corrections officer, and finally as an instructor at North Carolina Outward Bound School for almost half his life.

At Outward Bound, he has had a profound effect on the organization and its staff and board, but most of all on the young students who participate in its rigorous courses. He often is thought of as “the conscience of North Carolina Outward Bound,” and for good reason.

Twelve years ago, in the wilds of the Pisgah National Forest, he overheard a young white student say she was glad there weren’t any African Americans in her crew, except she used a pejorative for “African Americans.” Genova was stung by the prejudice and insensitivity he heard in a place where leadership was the focus. His dismay wouldn’t subside, even as the Outward Bound season ended. When the complete Outward Bound faculty and staff had its next meeting, Genova stood up, reported what he had heard, and said something had to be done.

Out of that experience came the Unity Project, a program he envisioned, created, and implemented.It is a simple model that is having profound effects on young people in North Carolina and is being replicated throughout the U.S. and in the Middle East. Each summer, groups of 12 students representing the diversity of their high schools participate in a nine-day Outward Bound project that, while based on other Outward Bound programs, has the additional component of understanding diversity and improving race relations.There are 11 Unity Project schools in Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, and Greensboro.Thus far, more than 1,000 students have completed the summer programs and gone back to their schools to lead community projects to bring about social change. Scores of students have written about how their own changed attitudes and behavior have had a ripple effect throughout their schools.

One of the most striking outgrowths of the Unity Project was a similar project that brought two diverse groups of 10 young people from Israel to the mountains of Western North Carolina for two summers for an experience similar to the ones North Carolina high school students have. One of the participants said, “We came as five Jews and five Palestinians, but we left as ten human beings.”The project was so successful that it has led to an Outward Bound program in Israel modeled after the one in Western North Carolina.

The Unity Project is the most tangible example of Genova’s work to effect social change, but it is only part of his life’s work.Throughout all aspects of Outward Bound, Genova pushes for inclusiveness in recruiting staff and students.He has succeeded in making diversity and respect for people of different races, economic backgrounds, and religions part of the organization’s culture.Whenever he sees prejudice and disrespect, he speaks out.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is that Genova lives his life in way that it is a model for compassion and understanding.Quietly and unassumingly, he sets an example by asking students and staff about their lives, and gets to know them as individuals.He introduces people to each other and plants the seeds for conversation that often grows into personal relationships. He keeps up with the students after they leave Outward Bound, encouraging them as they live fuller lives back home and supporting them when they write of experiences in which they have shown courage.He and his wife Peggy adopted an African-American child, and they instilled in their daughter Kelly the values that led to her service in the Peace Corps.

His courage, compassion, and dedicated leadership have had a profound effect on race relations and cultural understanding across North Carolina and, now, in other parts of the world, demonstrating the positive social change one person with commitment can effect.