In 1973, Jim Gallagher convened an interdisciplinary group of eminent scholars and practitioners to address the critical issue of underrepresentation of minority children within gifted education. Underrepresentation of culturally different children stems from a complex combination of societal, economic and political, and personal factors. J. J. Gallagher (2001) believed that the foundation of giftedness was in innate advanced ability, but he understood equally well that whether or not potential would come to fruition was a function of the child's environment and opportunities. He felt that educational environments must include a variety of experiences that directly pertain to the student's interest and challenge his or her abilities. Educational experiences should include diverse instructional practices and multicultural curricula that emphasize relevant and engaging pedagogy such as problem-based learning and inquiry approaches. Gallagher believed that to do the job well, it takes a team. He believed that collaboration among educators, partnerships with families, alliances with business and community members, and cooperation with policy makers were essential. Because meeting the needs of students with gifts and talents is a complex task with broad ranging responsibilities, he called for "a team approach by professionals, in partnership with families, each of whom brings to the table some unique skills to apply to this impressive collection of responsibilities."