Long time ECF advisor and friend Rana Zincir Celal was in Greece at the end of June for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation International Conference on Philanthropy and Sustainability in Athens and to visit the Thessaloniki Biennale. She shares her insights about these cities and their thriving efforts to include citizens into daily cultural life. 

While the international media focuses on the tension and brinksmanship of the negotiations, I left Greece last week moved by the inspiring and committed leadership of its many civic leaders who are charting a course for the future, undeterred, responding to the fragility of the current situation in ingenious and inspiring ways.