Hidden Stories About Our Freedom

nonprofit, ,

The 4th of July is one of our country’s beloved traditions when we enjoy the great outdoors and some great grilling. Yesterday, I joined my family as they gathered to watch Team USA win the Women’s World Cup. This holiday has traditionally been a time to celebrate our victories as a nation, to commemorate our independence and to express our patriotism. It meant one thing in 1776. Today, what does it mean in our collective consciousness? What does it mean to be an American, to value our individual liberties and at the same time, acknowledge that others share that same freedom with us?

Wes Moore, Jody Williams & Sebastian Junger
Wes Moore, Jody Williams & Sebastian Junger

Listen to the stories of three people who fight for America’s freedom. They tell us what the work means to them––not romanticized, not idealized. It’s what most of us don’t see, or don’t know about, or sometimes even choose to ignore.

Stories Help You to Forge Meaning, Build Identity and Live Your Truth

nonprofit, , ,

On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court announced its landmark 5-4 majority decision on same-sex marriage affirming the right of all Americans, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, to marry. And over the weekend, many took to the streets to celebrate.

This came just in time for the annual Pride Parade that commemorates the Stonewall riots 46 years ago protesting police brutality toward the gay community in New York City. It sparked the gay rights movement and today’s fight for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in the United States. Most importantly, the journey of the LGBT community fighting for equality is a story about basic human rights. It’s a story that continues to test the humanity in this world.

Can we try to see through our differences and recognize what unites us? Do we have the courage to reveal our true selves in order to help others realize what truly matters? How do we get passed these artificial barriers and engage each other in human dialogue?

ted_lgbt

Listen to three stories from the heart that will inspire you to take a leap and have that conversation that will change your life forever.

podcast 06.29.15

On the Table for Education

nonprofit, , ,

A month ago, Nalani and I attended a gathering in Evanston Township High School where Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), gave a talk entitled “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity, and Making a Difference.”

Bryan-StevensonBryan Stevenson is a public-interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. His team at EJI, an Alabama-based group, has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent prisoners on death row, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

In his engaging and personal talk, Stevenson challenged the audience to change the conversation about race in the U.S., starting with realizing that the opposite of poverty isn’t wealth—it’s justice. Stevenson told stories of his childhood, growing up within reach of his grandmother. She was a strong influence to his psyche, helping to shape his values into adulthood. To this day, he hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol. He mentioned this not because he believes it’s virtuous, but rather because it became a significant part of his identity. This resonated with me as I believe that a person must have a solid sense of identity in order to know the true meaning of justice, which then leads to a clear vision for how to make necessary change happen.

According to Stevenson, there are four keys to positioning ourselves to make change:

  • Get proximate to the problem: Be present where we can experience the issues with our own senses.
  • Change the narrative: Understand where people are coming from, what stories fill their minds and engage in the process of reconciling them into a shared narrative.
  • Do something uncomfortable: Be compelled to do what’s right, one trickle at a time, to help yourself and the people around you overcome fear.
  • Protect our hopefulness: Believe in the potential strength and goodness of the human spirit.

Using the power of narratives to facilitate transformative change for organizations and communities is at the core of Barkada Circle’s mission. Stories reveal shared experiences and values deeply rooted in our common truths as human beings. It’s where we all come together and recognize a common identity. To reach this destination, we must first listen to the stories of others and share our own.

On May 12, 2015, Barkada Circle® will participate in On the Table, the civic engagement initiative of The Chicago Community Trust that celebrates its centennial by building community throughout Chicagoland. onthetable_logoBarkada Circle will be gathering people around a dinner table in Evanston to share their experiences and perspectives on education. Participating in this conversation will provide them opportunities for:

  • Meeting other equally invested neighbors who share similar visions for Evanston
  • Deepening their understanding of the community’s needs, programs, challenges and successes
  • Planting the seeds for future interactions, collaborations and resource sharing
  • Exploring possibilities for shared initiatives

This is Barkada Circle’s first step in supporting people’s efforts to make the necessary change for education in Evanston. As we facilitate more conversations, we continue the journey of addressing education as the cornerstone of our democracy and, presently, a tangled web of direction, intention and contention. Once we reach the place where we find our common truth and identity, only then can we change our story that weaves together reconciliation, courage and hopefulness.

Chicago Shines a Light on Suicide Prevention

nonprofit, , , , ,

If you live in Chicago or will be in town on Saturday, March 14th, join me at the Hilton Magnificent Mile and meet the good folks carrying out the mission of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Volunteers from all over will gather to share stories and learn how to increase awareness for the cause. I will be giving the volunteers useful tips on how to engage others through storytelling.

Suicide is a serious public health problem that takes an enormous toll on families, friends, classmates, co-workers, and communities, as well as on our military personnel and veterans.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013–the most recent year for which full data is available–someone in the United States died by suicide every 12.9 minutes. This makes it the 10th leading cause of death for Americans, but unlike many other leading causes, suicide continues to claim more lives each year. Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among young people age 15 to 24. The highest overall rates of suicide are for adults age 40 to 59.

To know the reason for someone’s suicide death is challenging. Research has shown that most people who die by suicide have a potentially treatable mental disorder at the time of their death. The disorder has often gone unrecognized and untreated. What we know about the causes of suicide is lagging behind that of other life-threatening illnesses because the stigma surrounding suicide has limited society’s investment in vital research. To find out more, you can go to the website of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Since its founding in 1987, AFSP has connected tens of thousands of people who have lost a family member, loved one or friend to suicide and help them cope. AFSP has reached thousands of individuals who are at risk for suicide, as well as those who love and care for them to make prevention possible. In order to help people understand the facts, AFSP has gained the participation of members of the scientific and clinical communities, who conduct groundbreaking research on suicide and its prevention.

To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages individuals and families, scientists and legislators, and community organizations in essential dialogue to increase awareness, understanding and support for those impacted by suicide.

Register today for the AFSP Volunteer Gathering on Saturday, March 14th and take the first step with me. It is a journey in which everyone must participate because the stories surrounding suicide reflects what’s happening in our homes, our schools and our communities. The more we openly talk about it and listen, the better we can see and act.

Source: www.afspil.org