Someone had emailed me this piece of literature sometime ago. I keep it near by because I find it so true to being an effective and positive leader and just like Jazz, to me, is a sound that one has to try out over and over again to see its beauty just like leadership, one has to try many times and fall many times and learn to see the beauty in leadership, becasue it is hard to be the best leader on the first try but once you get there, once you get that sound and harmony in leadership it is a beautiful thing.
An Encounter With Jazz
Consciousness of self. Congruence. Commitment.
COLLABERATION
Whoa, hold on. Stop right there. Just a minute
Do we really have to work together?
Common purpose. Controversy with civility. Citizenship
Living the model means energy, chaos
Enthusiasm, freedom, empowerment
And sometimes ANGUISH
Jazz leadership is very time consuming
But extremely rewarding
Endless creativity results from people
Armed with sheets of paper and markers
True facilitation is listening
NOT DIRECTING
Collaboration means more
Than an office with many desks but no wall set diviers
It requires PAITIENCE AND INNOVATION
I suddenly realized that
Some fortunate children are enrolled in affluent centers
While the unlucky ones spend their time in shabby ones
Why do some children begin their lives with one strke against them?
I learned many lessons
To be a credible preacher, you must put your sermon into action
Green, red, blue are the building blocks of rainbows
High school students are extremely bright
"Sea of Controversy" clues to take on a synerguystic quality when combined
And gold "Starpower" chips are worthless with out:
COLLABORATION
You cant tap yourself on the head
If you are wearing a protective crash helmet
Leadership never has easy answers
Jazz music is beautiful
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Social Responsibility.....What does it take to have it?
I have been thinking a lot lately about social responsiblity. Not so much what it means, but what it takes to have it or to understand the need for it. Is it fair for us to demand that those who have more should demonstrate more social responsiblity? I am not stating an opinion just simply asking a questions. Now while many of us do not have the funds to set up charitable foundations that cure malaria, or fight hunger but does that mean people should not do anything? I believe the most basic form of social responsibility is voting. Voting, think about that. We, as Americans, are in a much privilaged position. We are able to be socially responsible without shelling out millions, without dedicating our lives to service, without standing on a soap box, we are able to vote for those we feel will bring about a change that each of individually, for whatever reason, what to see in our country. What is sad about this is that historically voting records for have been unsteady. So many people do not vote and to me this is one of the biggest ways one can turn their back to their social responsiblity, it is just saying I do not care, and let other people take care of it. There are so many people in this world that have died for an opportunity to express their choice and yet we have people here in the great country of America, where it is made very easy to vote but yet every election there are so many who do not.
I am not here to begin to talk about the reason behind the lack of voting I am here to give people a little persepective. Our economy is about to go into a recession, millions of people do not have access to affordable health care, were are eyeball deep in a war that resembles in many ways the Vietnam war, our national debt is sky high, our crediblity amongst other nations is diminishing, and our education system is failing our youth miserably. These reasons should evoke a sense of urgency in people, an urgency to look at the candidates and choose which one you feel is best to fix these problems, to lead us honorably, to change our image as greedy Americans to a humbling nation. I understand that it is hard to act on social responsiblity but here, in 2008, we as Americans have the opportunity to be responsible, to be civically active and we need to grasp this opportunity and run with it. We can no longer turn our heads away, change the channel, and pretend to ignore the blantent problems of our nation, not to sound too patriotic but it is our duty. Voting is our duty. It is our duty to honor those who have can before us and to honor those who will come after us, to honor those who do not have the privilage of voting. Encourge those to vote. Encourage people to make a change. Encourage people to be socially responsible. Nothing is ever going to get done if we dont.
I am not here to begin to talk about the reason behind the lack of voting I am here to give people a little persepective. Our economy is about to go into a recession, millions of people do not have access to affordable health care, were are eyeball deep in a war that resembles in many ways the Vietnam war, our national debt is sky high, our crediblity amongst other nations is diminishing, and our education system is failing our youth miserably. These reasons should evoke a sense of urgency in people, an urgency to look at the candidates and choose which one you feel is best to fix these problems, to lead us honorably, to change our image as greedy Americans to a humbling nation. I understand that it is hard to act on social responsiblity but here, in 2008, we as Americans have the opportunity to be responsible, to be civically active and we need to grasp this opportunity and run with it. We can no longer turn our heads away, change the channel, and pretend to ignore the blantent problems of our nation, not to sound too patriotic but it is our duty. Voting is our duty. It is our duty to honor those who have can before us and to honor those who will come after us, to honor those who do not have the privilage of voting. Encourge those to vote. Encourage people to make a change. Encourage people to be socially responsible. Nothing is ever going to get done if we dont.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Another Year Old
It is January 2nd 2008. I have been 24 for one whole day. This time next year I will be 25. Ugh. But until I am 25 I will not think about it because 25 to me means that I am officially an adult. I feel that at 25 I should not enjoy cereals such as Lucky Charms, I should wear more high heels and not so many flip flops, along with that I should get pedicures (see Auntie Chesca I will take care of my feet), maybe not be so ga ga over Harry Potter books, start living on my own instead of with 5 roommates like I did in college and possibly live in a house that does not look like a scene from Animal House, should do my hair on a regular basis, I should do laundry more than once every three weeks, open up a savings account and start saving for a house, not live on a stipend and, many other adult like things I should do at the age of 25. BUT I am not 25 yet, I am 24 and I love it because all of the things listed above do not apply to me yet and will not apply to me for another 363 days. So I will eat my sugary cereal, do my hair only if I feel like waking up in time to do so, read Harry Potter and love it, not break my ankle in heels, but I will contemplate doing my toes and love being 24.
Last year was a good year for me. There are many things I got the opportunity to do such as:
1. Complete one whole year of national service and changed the world in my own way
2. Live with a rather large dog
3. Travel to Miami, Boston, Washington D.C. New Hampshire (which I might add not so interesting but hey I was there for a week,)New York City, and the the New Jersey shore (several times)
4. Drank my first pint of Guinness and did not like it
5. I learned how to surf and failed miserably but it was an amazing expereince!
6. Completed my first 10 mile run
7. I saw Bill Clinton speak as well as George Bush Sr (2 Presidents in one year, not bad)
8. I got to speak on stage in front of 400 people in Boston (one of my fears were conquered in that moment)
9. Played soccer on a roof top that overlooked the Philadelphia sky line
10. Saw the Yankees play for the first time, saw the Phillies play....Yanks trump Phillies
12. Made it through two rounds of a very intense, grueling, Teach For America Interviews....didn't get the job but hey I made it a lot further than most people
11. Got at tattoo.......HA JUST KIDDING MOM!
I grew a lot last year, there is a lot I did do that I did not list, I am proud of my accomplishments with City Year and the amazing changes I saw in the youth I work with, I had wonderful roommates last year and I survived my first post-college adventure. There is still much I want to do this year. Things that are possible and I am sure things that are impossible, but hey I can dream right? These things include
1. Complete a second year of National Service and change the world in my own way yet again
2. Take the GRE's (eeek!)
3. Kick a pigeon...I am cruel. I don't care. They are gross.
4. Travel. Travel.Travel. Preferably internationally
5. Go the the Philadelphia Art Museum more often. Its free on Sunday's so why not.
6. Run a marathon. If I can do 10-12 miles then 26 is cake. You can quote me on that.
7. Not buy anything Nike, GAP or Starbucks. AKA start fighting corporate America.
8. To write more. Take more pictures. Document the events of my life.
9. Volunteer with an organization that gets more young people to vote.
10. Do environmental work. Global Warming is here to stay people...Walk or ride a bike!
11. Go home more often.
Of course there is a lot I want to do with my life but I figure this is a good start. I am going to make 24 my best year yet because next year its 25 and then I am old. Well not old. I mean I will have to grow up in many ways that I am not already. But for now I will settle on changing the world, fighting corporate greed, combating global warming, and I will read more. It is going to be a great year.
Last year was a good year for me. There are many things I got the opportunity to do such as:
1. Complete one whole year of national service and changed the world in my own way
2. Live with a rather large dog
3. Travel to Miami, Boston, Washington D.C. New Hampshire (which I might add not so interesting but hey I was there for a week,)New York City, and the the New Jersey shore (several times)
4. Drank my first pint of Guinness and did not like it
5. I learned how to surf and failed miserably but it was an amazing expereince!
6. Completed my first 10 mile run
7. I saw Bill Clinton speak as well as George Bush Sr (2 Presidents in one year, not bad)
8. I got to speak on stage in front of 400 people in Boston (one of my fears were conquered in that moment)
9. Played soccer on a roof top that overlooked the Philadelphia sky line
10. Saw the Yankees play for the first time, saw the Phillies play....Yanks trump Phillies
12. Made it through two rounds of a very intense, grueling, Teach For America Interviews....didn't get the job but hey I made it a lot further than most people
11. Got at tattoo.......HA JUST KIDDING MOM!
I grew a lot last year, there is a lot I did do that I did not list, I am proud of my accomplishments with City Year and the amazing changes I saw in the youth I work with, I had wonderful roommates last year and I survived my first post-college adventure. There is still much I want to do this year. Things that are possible and I am sure things that are impossible, but hey I can dream right? These things include
1. Complete a second year of National Service and change the world in my own way yet again
2. Take the GRE's (eeek!)
3. Kick a pigeon...I am cruel. I don't care. They are gross.
4. Travel. Travel.Travel. Preferably internationally
5. Go the the Philadelphia Art Museum more often. Its free on Sunday's so why not.
6. Run a marathon. If I can do 10-12 miles then 26 is cake. You can quote me on that.
7. Not buy anything Nike, GAP or Starbucks. AKA start fighting corporate America.
8. To write more. Take more pictures. Document the events of my life.
9. Volunteer with an organization that gets more young people to vote.
10. Do environmental work. Global Warming is here to stay people...Walk or ride a bike!
11. Go home more often.
Of course there is a lot I want to do with my life but I figure this is a good start. I am going to make 24 my best year yet because next year its 25 and then I am old. Well not old. I mean I will have to grow up in many ways that I am not already. But for now I will settle on changing the world, fighting corporate greed, combating global warming, and I will read more. It is going to be a great year.
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