Ju-Yen & Linnar Teng Initiative (JLT)

At GKI, we believe the ability to foster a more resilient future already exists in the world. However, realizing this potential requires bridging the gap between the individuals who hold this ingenuity by bringing them together.  

Thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of Ju-Yen and Linnar Teng, we are empowered to do just that. The Tengs, who emigrated from the People’s Republic of China via Taiwan to the United States (US) in the 1960s, understood these two nations’ complex and vital relationship. Their legacy allows us to build bespoke programming dedicated to fostering mutual gains in US-China relations. 

In an era often marked by misunderstanding and mischaracterization, the JLT Initiative seeks to illuminate the shared challenges facing the US and China. We promote a collaborative approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our futures rather than focusing on competition. We believe that invested individuals in both nations, working together, can achieve far more than either could alone.

Our Approach

We believe that by investing in people, knowledge, and innovative approaches, we can build a stronger, more interconnected world. Through strategic partnerships with organizations worldwide, GKI’s JLT Initiative currently works to: 

  • Revitalize Educational and Cultural Exchange: Fostering deeper understanding through people-to-people connections.
  • Enhance Knowledge Access, Transparency, and Integrity: Promoting the free flow of accurate and reliable information to counter misinformation and build trust.
  • Enable More Effective Interventions: Unlocking cross-border opportunities to address shared challenges.

Our current partners, each contributing unique expertise and resources, are at the forefront of facilitating and advancing knowledge and information regarding China:

The CEAL-JLT partnership is building a vibrant network of librarians from the US and China. Through cross-border exchanges, professional development, and the sharing of best practices, this collaboration strengthens professional ties and fosters mutual understanding between the two countries. GKI collaborates with CEAL on program planning, development, and implementation. Read more about CEAL here.

The GCL-JLT partnership is bringing peripheral academic research to key audiences in the United States. Circulating free and reliable information about China will empower informed decision-making and counter misinformation. GKI supports GCL with operational and editorial capacity building and content amplification activities across its three publications. Read more about GCL here.

The Duke-JLT partnership, alongside support from Duke Kunshan University and Wuhan University, is expanding the involvement of civil society actors in environmental justice and politics across the U.S., China, and other countries to bridge the gap between research and practice. This cross-border, multi-disciplinary collaboration will generate academic efforts that lead to actionable recommendations and support for local climate advocacy strategies and activities.

The JLT Initiative recognizes the importance of innovative approaches to complex challenges. We are integrating the Systems Innovation Toolkit by translating it into simplified Chinese and developing an experiential learning course. The translated toolkit will equip Chinese-speaking individuals and organizations to apply systems innovation approaches and unlock new possibilities for collaboration and sustainable, long-term change.

To stay updated on program activities, follow GKI on LinkedIn. To learn more or get involved, please email us at info@gkinitiative.org.

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