GPYouth USA Featured Leader: Kensu Bates

Naomi Yakawich
August 25, 2016

“Being a moral and innovative role model is more than being a leader. It is a lifestyle of seeing how you can live for the greater good and how in each day of your life you can make a small contribution in making a better world.” -Kensu Bates

Global Peace Youth-USA is proud to introduce August’s GPY Featured Leader, Kensu Bates. A student in Communications, Kensu is also a long-time GPY member and advocate in the Edmonds, Washington area. A lead organizer for projects like the 2016 MLK Day of Service and Earth Day of Service, he is motivated by his determination to be a good role model.

Kensu Bates (left) at 1D1K in Washington D.C.

“A moral and innovative leader means being a leader that will act selflessly, with a higher purpose, while using creative methods to reach the end goal,” says Kensu, “I believe in the importance of this because as leaders we need to notice that our different characteristics and what we bring to the table is what defines us, not money, position, or power. Being a moral and innovative role model is more than being a leader. It is a lifestyle of seeing how you can live for the greater good and how in each day of your life you can make a small contribution in making a better world.”

Kensu also participated in the One Dream One Korea events held during the 2015 70th anniversary of the peninsula’s infamous division. After voicing his strong support for every step towards the unification of the two Koreas, Kensu shared his advocacy for the vision of “one global family.”

Kensu went on to divulge his advice to other young leaders saying, “Stay humble and have humility in whatever you are doing. True leadership is when you can really step back and self-assess and see what you can learn from your success but also from your failures. It is important to live for the greater good with a higher purpose. This is because each person has the ability to make a difference in making a peaceful world. But it will not just be handed to us. We need to make an effort in helping our global family.”

Kensu (far right) and team take a break during the 2016 MLK Day of Service

 

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