An entrepreneur who won a $50,000 grant that requires him to live in Missouri for a year has founded a World Economic Forum (WEF) non-profit network in Cape Girardeau.
Kalyan Gautham became a member of a Bangalore, India Global Shapers Community before establishing a sister chapter in Cape Girardeau, according to media reports.
“It is not connected to the city in any way,” said Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder.
The WEF website describes Global Shapers Community as a worldwide network of youth leaders spanning 481 cities in 150 countries with a goal of implementing projects locally.
“It's a group that wants to start some nonprofit work,” Kinder told the St. Louis Record. “I've explained to people that we have a large number of non-profit organizations here in Cape Girardeau that are not connected to the City of Cape. As long as they are interested in doing something productive and not illegal, then the city does not intervene.”
Both the WEF and Global Shapers were founded by Klaus Schwab, a German engineer, and economist.
It was widely reported that Schwab coined the phrase "By 2030, you will own nothing and be happy about it" at a November 2021 WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Other Global Shapers Community hubs are located in Algeria, Kuwait, Gambia, Chicago, Lichtenstein and Nashville.
Comments on Twitter in response to the development have been largely critical. For example, on Sept. 7, AuntieEm, Ultra MAGA Neanderthal Extraordinaire wrote, “The WEF is in Missouri & is coming to brainwash your children: WEF & Global Shapers in Cape Girardeau.”
Caroline Mueller tweeted on Sept. 5, “Here come the globalists to Missouri...” while ComMunistsBlocKed posted on Sept. 27, “WEF implanted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 7 Communist members cloaked as the 'Global Shapers Community.' Schwab owned. Communism has settled in St Louis also, Cori Bush involved. Keep your Eyes open. Shun their efforts.”
Gautham, a self-described Al Gore climate reality leader, reportedly relocated to Cape Girardeau after he was awarded $50,000 by Codefi’s 1st50K grant program for his startup called WATT, a virtual community engagement platform for activities promoting social, environmental, and political good. It required Gautham to live in Cape Girardeau for a year.
"I do know him," Kinder added. "I've met him."
Gautham did not immediately respond to requests for comment but told the SE Missourian in a previous interview, “Having lived in the UK, Dubai, Manila, Hong Kong, and Singapore, I have always been involved in social initiatives through Global Shapers, contributing to a greater cause. For me, members of Global Shapers are like family and I wanted to bring that experience and opportunity to Cape Girardeau.”