Our Philosophy
At the Tai Initiative, we strive to educate the public through our three core lenses: Leadership, America-China relations, and the subnational level of relationship. The point of overlap of all three of these lenses allows us to provide focused, expert, educational material to our audiences.
Leaders equipped with such knowledge and skills make lasting change.
By empowering the individual, we create subnational leaders capable of bridging the gap between American and Chinese futures.
Our Leadership
Executive Director
Carson Tavenner （泰卡森）is a member of the National Committee for US-China Relations and a retired US Air Force officer with thirteen years of experience serving the Pacific Command. His association with China began much earlier, in 1986, when he initiated one of the early sister-school relationships in Washington State, between Puyallup High School and Nankai Middle School in Chongqing. He is a 1991 graduate of the US Air Force Academy and a 2000 graduate of the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies Masters program. Currently he teaches Global Studies: China at Everett Community College. He has also taught world and East Asian history at the U.S. Air Force Academy, teaches leadership and teamwork in China through outdoor leadership programs, and is the Director of 爱世界 (Love the World), a non-profit bringing leadership and English training to needy Chinese communities.
Intern Team
At this time, we have no plans for a spring or summer 2022 intern team.
Board of Advisors
Zhou Baolin, Chief Mentor, Beijing Exploration Cultural Development Holding Co. Ltd.; Co-Founder, China Green Marathon Action Consortium
Donald A. Bishop, Minister-Counselor, U.S. State Department Senior Foreign Service (Ret.); Board of Directors and Immediate Past President, Public Diplomacy Council
Larry Donnithorne, COL, US Army (Ret.): President Emeritus and Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Colorado Christian University; Author, “The West Point Way of Leadership”
William Wild, Mayor of the City of Westland, Michigan
