Leadership lesson breakfast

The Transformative Power of Human Connection

Reflections on the Leadership Lesson of Christo Brand, Mandela’s Prison Guard Turned Friend

Last week, the Grand Rapids Chamber hosted Christo Brand for a special leadership lesson breakfast to share his story of befriending Nelson Mandela, one of his former prisoners.

Throughout his stories, Brand highlighted the positive outcomes that are possible when human connections are made across differences.

Seeing One’s Humanity

Upon entering his profession as a corrections officer, Mr. Brand was told to see prisoners as the enemy, as terrorists who threatened their country, and to treat them accordingly. But Brand chose to see the prisoners in his care as human beings worthy of respect, affirming their humanity through small acts of kindness, which were received with gratitude by Nelson Mandela and his fellow prisoners.

Brand encouraged prisoners to pursue and further their education; and he observed the positive impact education had on Mandela’s life, even though Mandela was serving a life prison sentence.

A West Michigan Story

This observation resonated with my work in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI), a bachelor’s degree program offered in partnership between Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary to incarcerated students in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Through education, the CPI equips students and graduates to become leaders and positively impact their community; and because most CPI students are serving life sentences, they are transforming the prison community from the inside.

Christo Brand and Nelson Mandela exemplify the transformative power of human connection and education to bridge the divide across many areas of difference; and I’m grateful the Calvin Prison Initiative is among many people and organizations striving to make such tools accessible in the West Michigan community and beyond.

Learn more about CPI at an upcoming documentary screening, Behind Our Walls, which recently won the Best Documentary award at the Grand Rapids Film Festival.

Special Leadership Lesson Breakfast: Christo Brand

We’re excited to host Leadership Lesson Breakfast with Christo Brand. He is a former South African prison guard, one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. Brand is also the author of Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend.

What to expect:

📚 Leadership Lesson from a world famous author & speaker who guarded Nelson Mandela.

‍👋 You’ll have the opportunity to network with Chamber members and connect with other leadership program alumni.

☕ We’ll help you start your day off right with a delicious breakfast and plenty of caffeine to fuel your leadership superpowers.

Program Agenda:

8:00 am Registration and Networking

8:30 am Program Begins

8:00 am Q&A from Audience

9:30 am Conclude Program

9:30-10:00 am (post event networking)

Special thanks to Michael Sytsma, West Michigan President of KeyBank for making Christo’s visit possible.

Leadership Lesson Breakfast

Leadership Lesson Breakfasts feature strong community trustees and leaders sharing valuable leadership lessons.

What to expect:

👊 Each of the 3 speakers will share their 10-minute leadership lesson with the audience, packing a punch of inspiration.

🤸‍♀️ You’ll have the opportunity to network with Chamber members and connect with other leadership program alumni.

☕ We’ll help you start your day off right with a delicious breakfast and plenty of caffeine to fuel your leadership superpowers.