Editor’s Note: This week’s post focuses on a recently released document of the Catholic Church which continues a pattern of claiming to respect all human life and then disrespecting and condemning some people through its teachings and their interpretations. I am sharing the statement of Frank DeBernardo in response to this recent document, particularly as it applies to transgender people. Frank’s message is a simple and direct one that emphasizes love and respect for all. This lesson has broad application for all of us – as individuals and as institutions. Frank, and I concur, finds it hard to accept any Church taking positions that preach love and respect for all and then uses out-of-date science and theology that disrespect and harm people. Frank’s message below provides practical lessons for all. There is an irony that the Vatican issued this statement on Monday, April 8 the day after proclaiming the preceding Sunday Mercy Sunday, a celebration of the always-available mercy and forgiveness of God.
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The Power of Spring Faith
Spring is prime time for people of three major faith traditions – Muslims, Jews, and Christians. This week’s post explores my recent experience of Easter as a Christian in the larger context of these three faith traditions.
Setting the Stage for Equitable Leadership Transitions
If you’ve seen one nonprofit board, you’ve seen one nonprofit board. There are those that drive change and those that prevent it. Boards that raise money and boards that don’t. Those living in the weeds and those that function at nosebleed heights.
Remembering Women in March – Who and Why?
March is Women’s History Month. This week’s post reflects on what that might mean to each of us. Designating a time to focus on the role of women got its start with the first International Women’s Day on March 8, 1911. In the United States, the School Board in Sonoma County CA expanded attention to women’s history from one day to a week of events in 1978. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week in the United States. In 1987, Congress made this celebration permanent and expanded it to the full month of March.
Leadership and Letting Go
The organizations we live and work in every day are highly complex and multi-dimensional with many moving parts and diverse personalities, perspectives, and interests. They’re also interdependent with the volatile and complex world beyond their walls. As a consultant to nonprofit organizations, I’m hyper-aware of the forces that continually buffet them – vagaries in the political environment that impact their funding, social and economic forces that impact their clients, the many impacts of the pandemic, and the impact of generational differences in the workplace, to name just a few.
America’s thorniest question: How do we bridge differences and find connections? Thoughts and questions from Florida
Across the country, there has been blowback against initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Florida is one of the states taking a strong policy and governing approach against these initiatives. Governor Ron DeSantis, with his now unsuccessful bid for the US Presidency, has initiated policies that are oppressive to people of color and the LGBTQ community. And ultimately all of us as state residents.
Honoring Lois Wilson on her Birthday
This week we celebrate the life of Lois Wilson on her birthday, March 4. Lois is a 20th-century leader and co-creator of the Twelve Step movement. Without her, the path to recovery for people with alcoholism and other addictions would be very different and perhaps wouldn’t exist at all. Given this, one might wonder why so few people know much about Lois.
Black History and the Call to Action
As Black History Month comes to an end, and hopefully we plan to continue learning and acting for racial justice, this week’s post reflects on the many possible ways to take action for racial justice. Reading and knowledge are suggested, yet not enough.
Going Deeper with Black History Learning
This month I am exploring ways to pay attention to Black History. Everyone’s history is everyone’s history if we are all one and equal. Given the difficulty we have had learning accurate Black History, being intentional for a month (or a lifetime) about learning is essential to deepening understanding and advancing equity.
Black History Month Learning Opportunities Not To Be Missed
Last week’s post made the case that paying attention to Black History Month is more important than ever. And it is important for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or politics. This week I will explore some of the many types of learning opportunities, and what I am learning from a couple of examples.