Vernā Myers’ Post

🙌 "Sometimes, coming from our backgrounds, it feels like you’re walking across a rickety bridge...And if you happen to fall, you can trust there will be someone there to catch you." The real impact of organizing a community of intersectional professionals (people with proximity to their work that comes from lived experience) is the cross-sector and multi-generational support. Yes, we need people with lived experience to lead the design and implementation of social change. Yes, growing up in a system gives us an unrelenting desire to fix it. If we want more lived experience at the table, we also need systems to look after our well-being and take care of each other as we step up. 🙏 Thank you, Travis Baird, for penning our latest Substack piece on the true power of bringing intersectional professionals into leadership and decision-making roles. So many powerful and quotable points here. For those interested, the Network of Intersectional Professionals is a new community of people with lived experience of the systems in which they work. Message Anthony Barrows or Austin Lee for more info or fill out the new member form in the comments below.

This article and its author (thank you, Travis!) offer incredible insight on needs and value of intersectional leaders and people with lived experience, while also serving as a beacon of hope and support in really trying times in the non-profit and public sectors. Please join me in this incredible network for change!

BUILD Institute values #racialequity #justice listen to this short interview with our CEO offering insights and the importance of leading for equity and justice. Thank you New Detroit, Inc. for Just Lead Annual Summit!

For #NationalPublicHealthWeek Day 1, I want to highlight the FIRST Center's commitment to Civic Engagement with our stakeholders. FIRST conducts research WITH first responders, not ON first responders. Read more about FOCUS Culture Camps: bit.ly/CultureCamps

There are many communities in our society that have been marginalized and overlooked throughout history. Their stories and perspectives are often left untold, as the dominant narratives fail to provide space for their voices. However, illuminating these underrepresented communities and amplifying their compelling stories is vital for creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive society. Here are 7 movies that illuminate underrepresented communities and give a voice to their compelling stories.

Dr. Dafina-Lazarus Stewart (2017) illustrates how many of our institutions are stuck in conversations around "diversity" but we need to move toward real justice work. What barriers do we set up to keep folks out of rooms where decisions are made? How does power actually operate in our board rooms? How can we get rid of racist/sexist/classist policies that harm folks in (and outside) our community? We need a shift not only in language, but in action, in how we share resources, in how we share power.

Our closing plenary by Joann Cattlin and Stephanie Livingstone examines potential research themes from the #society5ethics conference. We asked attendees to tell us their research ideas and Jo and Steph are presenting a summary of the themes in a session called “Voices from the Future” #community #digitalliteracy #humancentric #misinformation

cool article from The New York Times 📰 "Is the Partisan Divide Too Big to Be Bridged? In today's world, divisions are all too common. But there are key takeaways from those working tirelessly to bridge these gaps: Building Connections:Creating spaces for meaningful interactions across different backgrounds requires dedication and intention. Learning from History: Embracing and understanding our past is crucial for a shared and inclusive future. Community Action: Real change often starts at the grassroots level, showing the power of local initiatives. Bridging these divides is tough and demands consistent, hard work and sometimes it is very difficult to get participation from all viewpoints. But these efforts highlight the potential to foster unity and deeper understanding within communities. see the full post https://lnkd.in/ee29XBN5 #SocialImpact #BridgeTheDivide #UnityInDiversity

Many people tend to think about the impact of the government on their lives in terms of state or federal leaders. However, the reality is that residents interact a lot more frequently with their local government. They rely heavily on their community leaders for services such as public works, park access, permits, and many other things. The challenge for local leaders is to find ways to strengthen the bond between their administration and community members. The solution is to create positive and seamless civic experiences at every resident touchpoint, which can be achieved through three essential steps: personalized engagement, centralized access, and seamless interactions. Learn more here: CivicPlus #CivicExperience #LocalGovernment #Community https://lnkd.in/gKJEPNtm

Spinning Forward sat down with Paul Taylor co-founder of Evenings and Weekends Consulting, after his session at the CivicAction summit. In our conversation, Paul talked about the often-overlooked voices of those most affected by societal challenges. Taylor emphasized the importance of prioritizing the viewpoints of individuals impacted by systemic issues and white universalism. He challenged the prevailing notion of who holds expertise in solving complex problems, advocating for a shift towards amplifying marginalized voices and experiences. The interview also touched upon the necessity of meeting marginalized communities where they are, both physically and metaphorically, to truly understand their needs and perspectives. Curious to explore the full conversation and gain deeper insights into building more inclusive solutions? Check out the complete interview in Issue 17 of Spinning Forward. #BIPOC #POC #DEI