Orbis Institute, an independent 501(c)3, was founded in 2002 by David A. French. After decades working in business and supporting a number of nonprofits, David set out to build an organization that would effectively realize his vision for a new kind of leadership development. He understood that the systemic challenges of the 21st century were both local and global, and the next generation of leaders would need to build and engage communities at home and around the world.
The first programs began with the help of students from the University of Colorado at Boulder’s President’s Leadership Class (PLC). Together, they launched an innovative training program for young emerging leaders from 10 different countries.
Between 2002 - 2012, Orbis delivered eight World Camps in the US, China, Slovakia, Austria, and Poland, including participants from over 30 countries. Through this work, a second Orbis Institute was established in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2002.
After years of programming abroad, David made an important decision to shift how Orbis would impact the world. As an East High School graduate, he felt it important to bring the work back home. In 2004, David bought a beautiful Victorian home one block west of City Park, which we now lovingly call the Orbis House, and launched a co-living space. Still with a global vision, Orbis shifted to the mentality of “think global, act local.” For a decade, the Orbis House provided housing for international students who had just finished their studies and wanted to spend more time in Colorado, along with recent local graduates who were finding their feet in the world.
In 2016, Orbis evolved its co-living model into a co-living fellowship program for young leaders in social impact work. The Orbis Fellowship supported fellows in their personal and professional development as they worked with local community organizations and developed their own community leadership initiatives.
All of our programs have been grounded in Orbis Institute’s community leadership model to foster awareness, critical thinking, and intentional action. Our approach to group centered leadership not only allows individual leaders to cultivate their own individual paths, but also builds and organizes communities around them.
