How i³ Started

Co-founder Rob Lerner tells the story of how SMA got its i’s…

The occasion was brunch in honor of John “Economic Hit Man” Perkins on the eve of the 2016 San Miguel Writers’ Conference, where John was a featured keynote speaker. We were at the home of Conference ringleader Susan Page and Mexican folk art impresario Mayer Shacter. The pancakes had long since been consumed, and fueled by a third (fourth?) round of coffee; the conversation had jolted up to such high-minded topics as the “state of human civilization.”

Suddenly, Diane blurted out, “Wouldn’t it be great if we had a regular lecture series here in San Miguel, something like the City Arts and Lectures series in San Francisco?” I could tell from the glint in Susan’s eye that she thought it was a good idea, too.

That was the spark, and just few meetings later we had a name—i³: ideas that inform & inspire — a volunteer steering committee, and our first presenter: former Mexican President Vincente Fox, speaking on U.S.–Mexico relations in the wake of the 2016 U.S. election.

Steering Committee:

Founding Patrons:

2018 Sustaining Patrons: