Expeditions

Learning directly from communities around the globe and bringing ideas for a great life home.

Expeditions are our real-life adventures.

The Gambrell Foundation’s Expeditions take us to places where communities have built neighborhoods, gathering spaces, places of worship and beyond to help people thrive.

We travel with purpose to cities worldwide to see firsthand how their history, policies, and practices create communities where most residents experience:

  • Strong sense of purpose
  • Improved mental and physical well-being
  • High quality of life
  • Deep social connections

Our expeditions help us form bonds that often become lifelong connections and partnerships. The people we meet continue to inform and inspire our work long after we return home.
Want to learn how other places help their citizens live greatly? Read more about what we collectively learn during our Expeditions as we search for practical solutions to bring back to Charlotte and beyond.

Expedition Stories

Featured Story
Featured Story
Beyond Economic Mobility
I’ve spent my entire adult life working on issues of economic disparity. Guided by a passion for social justice coupled with an affinity for law, I began my career as a Legal Aid lawyer representing very low-income families on issues spanning from racial discrimination and housing evictions to the right to education and health care. […]
Learn More
Belonging & Identity: My Reflection of The Gambrell Foundation Expedition to Finland and Amsterdam
Imagine if our cities went beyond meeting our basic needs. What if they made us feel supported, valued and cared for? How would our lives change if streets weren’t just for movement but for moments of spontaneous discovery? What if our city’s public spaces didn’t simply tolerate people using them but were designed to inspire, spark social connection, and strengthen bonds between neighbors?
Learn More
Unassuming Strangers Turned Kindred Spirits – My Reflection on The Gambrell Foundation Expedition to Finland and Amsterdam
Journey with me — step away from the confines of your offices, classrooms, workspaces, and the congested hustle-bustle of your day-to-day routine, and free your mind! Imagine traveling from the United States and arriving in a city surrounded by majestic — yet functional and minimalistic — Nordic architecture as you breathe in the fresh, cool, and crisp air.
Learn More

    It is through these lessons that we will cultivate not just knowledgeable individuals, but mindful, empathetic, resilient, and inspired leaders.

    Dr. Ingrid Medlock

    Gambrell in Action

    Follow Our Journey

    Can we take a moment to appreciate the magic of @makaylabinter_? 💯✨ Thank you for creating such an AWE-some design for our recent convening.

    In our latest Q&A with @richardvreeves of @aibm_org, he reminds us that gender equality isn’t a zero-sum game. When we support struggling boys and men, we strengthen our entire social fabric.

    Read the full conversation, now on our website. 🔗 Link in bio.

    Strengthening partnerships & collaborating for impact: It’s what we do. 🤝

    Last week, we brought together Gambrell partners, grantees, and thought leaders from around the globe to dream big. Conversations were rooted in our ongoing work on what it means to live a great life—how ...relationships, belonging, awe, purpose, and chance shape our paths.

    We’re building a community of hopeful thinkers, tinkerers, and dreamers that combine research, policies, programs, reflections, and universal lived experiences to make waves. ✨ We cannot wait to share more soon. 📸: @creators.collab

    Remember this? Last May, we packed the theatre at @queensuniv’s Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts as we welcomed Dacher Keltner to Charlotte. 🎟️ 900+ folks gathered to learn more about awe and how it can transform lives.

    How do you infuse awe and wonder into your everyday ...routine? 💬 #LivingGreatly #Awe #Wonder

    Purpose isn’t something we wait to find—it’s something we build right now. 👉🏼 In our latest Q&A, @tee_esq_93 shares how @purposecommons is creating spaces where young people don’t just join conversations—they lead them. When we put purpose at the center, we transform education, ...strengthen communities, and help youth thrive.

    Head to the link in our bio to read the full interview. 🔗

    #PurposeDriven #YouthEmpowerment #LiveGreatly #CommunityBuilding

    After meeting @emma.holten earlier this year, our president added her latest work to his book stack immediately. 📖👏 Both Sally and Brian have been digging in — will you join us and let us know your thoughts?! 💭

    Toss the confetti. It’s time to celebrate! 🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to our Vice President, Brian Bridgford! Thank you for encouraging us to explore even the wildest ideas and for reminding us that there is always time for a sweet treat.

    Let’s show him some birthday love today!

    Hobbies light up our lives in ways we often overlook. In our latest Q&A, partner @tlaitio shares how regular engagement with activities we love builds resilience, community, and well-being. 🎨🪡⛷️

    Read the full interview on our blog to learn why creating space for hobbies ...matters. Stay tuned for more from Tommi’s Gambrell-supported research later next week.