A Dose of Wisdom

“No human community can exist without culture.”

This is the wisdom shared by Vaclav Havel.

Vaclav, a former playwright and elected first president of the Czech Republic, shared this bit of insight as part of the Wisdom project.

Wisdom is the work of 34 year old New York based photographer Andrew Zuckerman who completed the project in 2008.

Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts a generation can give to the next is wisdom gained from experience, the project consists of a collection of 50 photographs/interviews that capture the wisdom of legendary leaders and visionaries, over the age of sixty-five, from the worlds of politics, science, sports and the arts.

Wisdom exists in the form of a book of portraits, a film and a travelling exhibition.

The latter (the exhibition’s Canadian premiere) is on display at Toronto’s elegant Brookfield Place (formerly BCE Place) until August 5^th, 2011.

Each copy of the book comes with a download code for a 60-minute film comprised of interviews from the project.

Among the global personalities featured are people such as Actor/Director (and all around Dirty Harry) Clint Eastwood, Diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry Kissinger, first woman to become United States Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Actor Robert Redford.

There are also two notable characters as far as Poland and Canada are concerned. The first is Zbigniew Brzezinski, Warsaw born, McGill University educated, former United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter.

The second, is world renowned architect Frank Gehry who was born in Toronto and hails from Polish Jewish ancestry.

Wisdom is an inspiring and rewarding exhibition. If you’re in need of a gust of in your sails make sure to check it out. Best of all, it’s free!

And if you’re looking to combine the show with a nice dinner – we recommend either Ki  (Modern Japanese) or the eclectic Marché which are just steps away.

Enjoy your dose of wisdom!

But before you dig in, check out this trailer for the film…

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Mixing and Mingling at YouNxt’s Garden Reception

Ontario Minister of Revenue Sophia Aggelonitis and Ontario PC Finance Critic Norm Miller with members of YouNxt and the Canada-Poland Chamber of Commerce.

Recently YouNxt along with the Canada-Poland Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Garden Reception in the beautiful garden of the Polish Consulate in Toronto. The location overlooks the city skyline from across Lake Ontario and is really one of the most magnificent Consular spots in the country. If you’ve never visited the Consulate, we highly recommend it.

Toronto skyline as seen from the garden of the Polish Consulate

With Chopin’s music providing the soundtrack nearly one hundred business leaders, entrepreneurs and young professionals mixed and mingled to make some fruitful connections.

We were also very fortunate to be joined by some very distinguished guests and speakers including Ontario Minister of Revenue, the Honourable Sophia Aggelonitis, Ontario PC Finance Critic Norm Miller, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Republic of Poland Wlodzimierz Leszczynski, the President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Toronto Christian Frayssignes and “Canada’s Sales Coach” Tom Stoyan.

On hand was also Vice-Consul Wojciech Dziegiel to pass along greetings from our host the Consul General Marek Ciesielczuk.

Minister Sophia Aggelonitis

Ontario PC Finance Critic Norm Miller

Vice-Consul Wojciech Dziegiel

"Canada's Sales Coach" Tom Stoyan

Director of YouNxt Filip Terlecki

The aim of the Garden Reception is to provide business leaders and young professionals with the opportunity to meet and hear from Government Officials and to network with leaders and entrepreneurs from various industries. The event always attracts a diverse professional crowd including those breaking ground in social media, business and arts & culture.

Many thanks to Peter Calak from the Gravity Bureau for snapping the great photos. And, most importantly, thanks to you for delighting us with your presence.

The Gravity Bureau Inc. crew

Greetings from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

Greeting from Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak

If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend but would like to next year, please drop us an email at younxt@gmail.com in order to find out how you can be part of the event.

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President Obama Calls Poland “A Model For The World”

The official greeting ceremony of the President of the U.S. at Poland's Presidential Palace.

As noted recently in the New York Times, the United States might not have the same pizazz in the eyes of young Poles as compared to that of their parents, but when the “Leader of the Free World” pays you a visit you roll out the red carpet.

Over the weekend, President Barack Obama made a 24-hour visit to Poland as part of the final phase of his European tour.

He visited four countries over six days with his flying fortress, Air Force One, touching down in Warsaw on Friday evening.

He met with Poland’s President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He discussed security and energy issues, met with leaders of Polish democracy, and, along with Poland’s President, co-hosted a dinner for leaders of Central and European states.

Obama called Poland a model for the world and praised the country for it’s peaceful and succesful transition to democracy after the fall of Communism in 1989.

He also confessed to a personal Polish link.

“If you come from Chicago and you haven’t become a little bit Polish, something’s wrong with you,” he joked.

President Obama greets young leaders at The Presidential Palace

President Barack Obama pays his respects while visiting the memorial to the victims of the Smolensk plane crash at Field Cathedral of the Polish Military in Warsaw, Poland, May 28, 2011

President Obama is greeted by Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski at the Presidential Palace.

President Barack Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski review troops during the arrival ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

Pres. Obama meets with Polish politicians, activists & Solidarity leaders to learn about Poland's experiences in a peaceful democratic transition.

Presidents Obama & Komorowski co-hosted a dinner for leaders of Central & Eastern European States.

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