Tom Adams

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Noticing and Action: Where to Focus?

Noticing and Action: Where to Focus?

by | Aug 30, 2022 |

Last week’s post by guest contributor Shirin McArthur explored how learning about racial justice can become action for positive change. She reflected on a quote by Tre Johnson that said, “When Black people are in pain, white people just join book clubs.” Shirin added that she is part of a book club focused on racial justice and that this challenge to go beyond book clubs applies to her and to all of us who like to think of ourselves as “white allies.”

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War, Justice and Love: Any Connection?

War, Justice and Love: Any Connection?

by | Aug 16, 2022 | ,

While I heartily agree with the direction President Biden is heading on most issues, I am troubled by his recent announcement that the U.S. had used a drone to kill Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of Al Qaeda and one of the masterminds behind the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack. The New York Times reported President Biden as saying: “Justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more.” The President reminded us of President George W. Bush and his promise, reiterated by his successors, that the U.S. would track down and get retribution for those involved in 9/11, no matter how long it took.

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More on quilting, connecting and loving

More on quilting, connecting and loving

by | Aug 2, 2022 | ,

Last week’s post on the Quilt of Souls stirred up a lot of memories of the power of quilting. No matter the difference of culture, race, class or privilege, everyone who shared their experiences talked about how quilts and quilting were a source of nurturing and love for them and those involved. In the spirit of sharing how we all grow in loving, I am sharing  –  with permission – the reflections of some of our readers on how quilts and quilting touched their lives. Undoubtedly,  there are many more stories about how quilting and loving were intertwined in families and life journeys. Please share your experiences in the comments section after the post or by email to me at [email protected]. Here are three replies I am savoring:

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Quilting as a Path to Love

Quilting as a Path to Love

by | Jul 26, 2022 | ,

Writing about love and deepening my ability to express the centrality of love to life itself is a goal I set for myself in retirement. A less heady goal I set was to finish writing a book that I have been toiling over for a long time. It is a book about Bill and Lois Wilson/and their marriage. You may recall that Bill Wilson was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous and Lois Wilson was the co-founder of Al-Anon, a Twelve Step program for families and friends of people with drinking problems.

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Lessons for Today from AA’s 87 Years

Lessons for Today from AA’s 87 Years

by | Jun 14, 2022 | ,

The founding moment for Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) happened on June 10, 1935. Recovering alcoholics and their families from all around the world are celebrating the unique and powerful personal and family transformations that are the result of this simple Twelve Step program. The power of A.A. and the Twelve Steps is now frequently applied to many other addictions. And the number of people grateful to Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith for a chance meeting in Akron in June of 1935 continues to grow.

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George Floyd Two Years Later: Who is winning the racism battle?

George Floyd Two Years Later: Who is winning the racism battle?

by | May 24, 2022 |

America is in denial about its “war” on racism. Only one side is truly engaged – the white supremacists.  They are organized and committed to winning at all costs. If those of us who want to end racism are serious, we have an imperative to organize, fight, and not stop until we are victorious. We need the commitment of a warrior and the heart of a nonviolent revolutionary.

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Working for Racial Justice – Learning through Conversations by Tom Adams 

Working for Racial Justice – Learning through Conversations by Tom Adams 

by | Apr 26, 2022 |

This week I am continuing to explore concrete recommendations from author Eric Deggans about daily actions that advance our commitment to be anti-racist. In his article Not Racist is not Enough: Putting in the Work to be Anti-Racist, the first tip is about “accepting that we’ve all been raised in a society that elevates white culture over others.” In last week’s post, I looked at how we each might conduct a racial justice self-examination to advance our awareness and motivate personal change.

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Working for Racial Justice – Learning through Conversations by Tom Adams 

Concrete actions for racial justice: self-examination

by | Apr 19, 2022 | ,

In last week’s post, I invited readers to share what they have learned about working for racial justice in the nearly two years since George Floyd was murdered.  I shared some resources which I have found helpful, including an NPR podcast/article by Eric Deggans. In his article, “Not Racist is not Enough: Putting in the Work to be Anti-Racist,” Deggans is very concrete. He offers four practical tips below that I’ll explore in this and future posts:

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About Tom Adams

Tom AdamsTom Adams writes and speaks on topics vital to the intersection of our personal lives with our community and global lives. He has for decades been engaged in and written about nonprofit leadership and transitions, spirituality and spiritual growth, how we each contribute to a more just and equitable world and recovery from addictions and the Twelve Step recovery movement.