Dr. Noelle Hunter

PGMAG INTERVIEW WITH

DR. NOELLE HUNTER (DNH)

PGMAG: Dr. Noelle, welcome to today’s interview with Lady Anita.

DNH: Thank Lady Anita. I am elated to sharethis time with you.

PGMAG: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

DNH: I’m Dr. Noelle Hunter. I’m a lecturer of political science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where I teach courses in international relations, U.S. government, public policy and federal institutions. I’m also president emeritus and co-founder of iStand Parent Network Inc. iStand is a voluntary NGO dedicated to reuniting families whose children are victims of International Parental Child Abduction, or IPCA. At iStand, we connect parents and families with peer support and resources to bring their children home from international abduction.

iStand was founded in 2014 by parents like me whose children had been internationally abducted to a foreign nation. In 2011, my daughter was parentally abducted from the USA to Mali. For nearly three years, I appealed to Heaven, mobilised a global support network, made countless trips to Washington DC to advocate for her return, and even went to Mali twice pursuing my daughter. Through God’s spectacular power, she came home and now I work closely with other advocates to help other parents reunite with their children. It’s immensely rewarding work.

PGMAG: You are one force of change in the field of leadership across America and the world and looking at your commitment in your role as the President of iStand Parent Network, it speaks hope and possibilities. In your capacity as a global leader, what would you suggest to the younger generation in terms of being relevant in the marketplace?

DNH: Thank you for such kind words.

I’m made of hope! I walk in hope and possibilities! My foremost suggestion to the younger generation is to believe in the power and agency of hope.

Our globalised society has abundant opportunities for them to create the type of world that they want to live in within their own lives and spheres of influence. Our interconnected, technologically-infused society has multiple gateways for building community and realising their unique gifts and talents. Most importantly, I encourage them to develop and actualize a heart of service. Serving others is deeply rewarding, and in the process of serving others, our noblest dreams are brought to life.

PGMAG: Please tell us more about your forthcoming event (Survivor Camp).

DNH: This is one of those wonderful hope-filled moments that I never saw coming, and is an outflow of hope in action. iStand has held an annual empowerment conference for parents for nine years, but we knew that we needed to connect and do better by our youth survivors. IPCA is quite excruciating for them. They are taken to nations where they don’t necessarily speak the language, experience the pain of separation from another parent and the confusion of living in a different country. When they come home, they are different, and they need support and resources.

The iStand Survivor Camp is the first of its kind in the USA— and maybe the world— dedicated to connecting IPCA youth survivors with each other in a fun summer camp experience. We have eight co-ed survivors, ages 7-18, who will join us for a week of hiking, swimming, art, games and a special trip to an amusement park. Our goal is to help them create friendship bonds with each other and experience healing and growth that transforms their trauma into triumph.

PGMAG: As an advocate for change, what are some of the steps needed to establish a global community where people from all walks of life could safely work towards the prevention of crime against children and families?

DNH:

Our global community has to value and support children and families in word and in deed. It’s good for societies and communities to espouse care and concern for families and children.

There are innumerable NGOs, state-led agencies, philanthropic and community groups who do this very well. What is needed is for more individuals to be actively involved in improving the quality of life for children and families by acknowledging the profound threats to their safety and wellbeing, by taking an active, personal interest in children and families who are suffering, and by supporting laws and policies that prevent such suffering. Prevention and protection against crime is not just the purview of governments. We can all do this in our own neighborhoods.

PGMAG: As a key player in leadership, what is your message for world leaders?

DNH: Simple. Now, more than ever before, world leaders must permanently dismantle our unipolar international system in favor of a multipolar international system in which the wellbeing of humanity is the common goal. This approach will lead to cooperation, poverty amelioration, environmental stewardship and a better quality of life for all.

PGMAG: You turned 50 this year – congratulations! If you knew what you know now, what would you have done differently?

DNH: Thank you! I thank God for allowing me to reach this milestone. I wished that I’d realised earlier that work, though vital, is not the end goal. Work is a vector for economic security and personal fulfilment, but it is not the primary driver in my life. It took me a long time to learn that, and, though my work outputs are bearing fruit year over year, I’ve also missed out on enjoyable times with family and friends and, most importantly, I missed out on rest. I’m grateful that I’ve learned this lesson and live differently with respect to work now.

PGMAG: We are so honoured to know that you would be joining us at this year’s Powerhouse Global Women gathering, scheduled to take place from 28th – 30th September in Surrey, UK. What should our delegates expect from your talk?

DNH: I never would have dreamed that I’d be joining you and other women leaders for such a remarkable event. Your theme, Setting the Sail for 2023, is perfectly aligned with my future vision, and the title of my talk is “Turning into the Wave”. When ships are in harsh seas, the captain will sometimes actually turn the ship into an approaching enormous wave, rather than trying to navigate away from it. The mass of the vessel can break through a wave, rather than the wave crushing it.

I’ll share some of my own ‘waves’ that I’ve turned into, that didn’t drown me, and instead taught me how to come out stronger on the other side. I’ll encourage those attending the gathering to expect that rough seas may come, and we can turn into the wave with strategy and confidence.

PGMAG: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?

DNH: Now, that’s the question. I’d tell younger me to be more gentle with myself. I heard a phrase once that people should be “hard on themselves and easy on others.” I think I should be gentle with myself and others. I’d also tell myself as a young girl that I am enough. That I am worthy. I was almost 50 before I truly began to believe that.

PGMAG: Thank you for sharing your brilliance with us through this interview. We wish you continued success as you travel in life.

DLH: Thank you, Lady Anita for sharing Powerhouse Global vision with me. Since I attended your virtual summit two years ago, I’ve begun to be more gentle with myself, reoriented my ideas about work and redirected my energies more positively. In important ways, you are responsible for who I am after turning 50!

PGMAG: Please share your website/links with us.

DLH: Our website is istandparentnetwork.com.

My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelle-hunter-ph-d-6b551057/

https://www.facebook.com/iSTANDParentNetwork

https://www.facebook.com/noelle.hunter.589