Tag Archives: Organizing

On Elections and Voting: Empower others

19 Oct

Why worry about who someone’s voting for or why?  Where is the power in that?

Why not focus instead on whether someone has found their voice, whether they are exercising their power by voting, whether they are encouraging others to vote?  That is powerful.

In 2008, I cried watching diverse people of all ages and races unite on election night.  I teared up again when our President proclaimed his pride, while my friend’s family and their infant daughter watched, in executing another human being.  I fumed reading headlines about battles in Washington DC, about budget crises, hate, restrictive new voting laws.

Where is the power in that?

I listened in stunned agreement when the Governor known best for lying spoke truth about faith and politics.  I heard the absent cry of humans dying around the world when foreign policy was discussed.

Where is the power in that? 

I shuddered in early 2008 with the understanding that our then-campaigning President would be no advocate for the poor.  Today I ache to see growing references to slavery in movies and media.  Ache, hearing the familiar entitlement, condescending tone in the Governor’s voice as he addresses the President.

Where is the power in that?

It hurts to see people struggle to treat others with dignity, because I know how much they must be hurting if being kind brings them pain.  It’s frustrating to witness the confounding struggle to protect freedom by limiting it.  

Where is the power in that?

It’s unclear how the average person is supposed to understand how legislation and policy breaks down along lines of class, race, gender and geography.  It’s difficult to clearly see and truly understand a reality that has been shaped, retouched, rewritten, finessed, and highlighted to advance a specific agenda.  I’ve watched in frustration, the ravaging conundrum that is capitalism, contingent freedom, and privileged democracy.

Where is the power in that?

While the entertainment factor of US campaigning and the distress factor around the world skyrockets, very little is said about how important, how easy it is to vote.  There’s been more interest in toys and office supplies during these campaigns than voter’s rights.

Where’s the power in that?

Of course, things do get better.  Always.

Whether that happens because things can get no worse, or because we slowly progress forward, is of no matter.

Place trust, faith in no man.

When our nation was born, our constitution said… Says… I am not fully human, and am not allowed to vote both because I’m black and because I’m a woman. We limit ourselves by expecting any human being to change the downward spiral of the planet and human race, particularly in the same length of time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Where is the power in that?

I’m no politician, but I have a voice.  I’ve dedicated my life to figuring out how and when to use it for the best purpose.  That is powerful.

We can’t let the terribly divisive tactics of media, political parties and personal agenda drive us into angered silence.  That only feeds self-destruction.  Nothing grows or flourishes when it seeks to destroy itself.  Sickness worsens with neglect.

Where is the power in that?

Be informed.  Learn about what’s at stake this election.  Research it, from all sides.  Make a decision.  Vote.  That is powerful.

I turn 33 this year, and look forward to my birthday because something important that’s not about me tends to happen around that date.  One year, we earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for a local urban farm.  Another year hundreds of volunteers helped improve our community center.  Another year a man was elected to lead a nation… In spite of the fact that its founders proclaimed him less than human.  That is powerful.

This year, we have a chance to vote not only for the President, but for Senate and Assembly seats, for laws that affect how we all live.  That is powerful.

Wherever we all stand on issues of politics, we can agree voting is important, powerful.  Think about how much of your time and effort is spent empowering others to simply find and use their voice by voting, vs. how much time is spent distracting from their empowerment to advance your agenda.

Where is the power in that?

If you are one of the privileged few who understand and feel impassioned about the way the American democracy works, your voice will be particularly important in empowering others to use theirs and vote, as election day nears.

That is powerful.

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10 Steps: How to eliminate distraction from purpose

19 Jun

Why? Why not? How important is this really?

These questions should be the most frequently asked questions of our day.  In answering them, we have to consider our purpose and that consideration naturally pushes our actions and behaviors in the right direction.

Yet, unless we’re in the middle of a crisis or vacation it seems these questions rarely come up.

Crises and vacations have a lot in common with one very large distinction:

Choice.

In crises and vacations, the mundane banalities of life disappear.  All you’re left with is yourself, whoever you choose to invite along, and wherever you happen to be.

In both scenarios, with the dull monotonous haze that creeps into everyday life washed clean, life is suddenly clutter-free.  Anything introduced to this clear, open space is immediately questioned, justification of its presence demanded.

In both scenarios, we become acutely aware of wasted time and energy, useless pursuits, fruitless thoughts and activities.  In full control of everything we choose to engage, all we do becomes saturated with the brilliant hue of meaning and life.

In both scenarios, we become free and uninhibited, compelled to do, say and explore things we wouldn’t ordinarily consider.  Unbound by planning and expectations, every moment is a new opportunity for a beautiful and unexpected experience.  We dream fully, open to new thoughts and ideas.

Yet, how do we enter these scenarios, and how intentional are we about using them for optimal strategic benefit?

When we vacation, we carefully choose and plan timing, location, etc based on existing commitments, budget, availability, etc.  Vacation should be a time to retreat and drink in life, to advance with refreshed perspective.  Ideally we would realize a holiday is essential when a higher new perspective is needed, and would choose to retreat from the day-to-day.  Instead, we allow the day-to-day to dictate when and how we ascend to higher perspective.

We don’t choose to enter crisis.

We find ourselves gulped down into the middle of it, propelled up and outward from it, free-falling in a whirlwind of change, newness, trust, prayer.  Yet we invariably emerge with a higher, refreshed perspective.

Sometimes we aren’t allowed to wait until we decide to give the little every day things a rest, so we can finally focus on the overall purpose of it all.  Sometimes those things are forced aside so we simply find ourselves asking.

Why? Why not?  How important is this really?

We don’t need to be in China, Paris, Israel, Australia, or Jamaica to think carefully about what we choose to do with our time.  Nor do we need to be promoted, bedridden, grieving, overjoyed, or in a hospital to choose what we’re doing, what’s really important in our lives, what isn’t, and why.

Start today.  Grab a pen and paper and sit with your spouse, friend, or advisor.

A) Start by answering the question: How can I use my unique gifts to show how awesome God is?  This might take a minute to uncover.  Give it time.  This is the beginning of defining your purpose.

B) Then, identify how you spend your time (whether you like the activity or not) by four categories:

  1. What is in line with my purpose?
  2. What is purpose-neutral?
  3. What do I really want to do and is it in line with my purpose?
  4. What is out of line with my purpose?

C) Set a waking time frame (for example 24 hours minus 8 for sleep/ eating).  This is your daily purpose shift, or realistically, how long you spend moving toward or away from purpose.  The things you do during your shift will vary widely because maintaining your spiritual, mental, physical and emotional health, your relationships, and identity are as critical to your purpose as each obvious step you take toward it.

D) Estimate the time spent on each activity listed in category 1.  Add up the time and subtract it from your daily purpose shift.

E) Consider each activity in category 2: Is the activity tied to a unique gift of yours, and if so, how can it be tweaked so it becomes purpose-filled?   If not, move it into category 4.  If so, tweak it and estimate the time spent on it. Add the time and subtract it from the daily purpose shift.

F) Consider each activity in category 3: If it’s an activity that’s aligned with your purpose, estimate the amount of time you’d need to spend for the activity to be productive.  Add this time up and subtract it from your daily purpose shift.

G) Consider each activity in category 4: Commit to either severely limit, or eliminate the time spent on everything in that category.  Add this time up and subtract it from your daily purpose shift.

H) Consider how much time is left, pray for direction on readjustments, and make them.

I) Post this list somewhere visible, like the inside of a bathroom medicine cabinet, the fridge, as a screensaver, or at your desk.

J) Use the power of choice daily to fill your life with meaning.

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Aside

Living effectively: Spring cleaning

14 Mar

I’ve started spring cleaning and boy did my little home need it.  I chose two tiny apothecary chests for an optimum feeling of reward and accomplishment:  A sip of a martini for every little drawer emptied.

3 hours, 12 drawers and one martini later I was finished. :)

It occurred to me as I trashed years of random detritus just how much stuff we allow to accumulate when we’re not intentional about letting it go.

For many of us, it’s not until we move, get into spring cleaning mode, or become physically sick that we force ourselves to weigh critically and act with discipline: Only then do we figure out what’s in our lives with an eye for getting rid of things we don’t need, for lightening the load, for keeping only what optimizes our health.

As I organized, I realized not only was I getting rid of unnecessary clutter… Keeping only what makes sense and in organized, easily accessible and good working order, makes every action more effective, every step forward more successful and powerful.

When your life is cluttered, you may grasp at the wrong thing several times.  You may overlook the right thing because it’s hidden behind a distraction.  You may seize upon the right thing at precisely the right moment… Only to find it’s broken.

All that time and energy wasted trying to walk on a clear path towards your goal.

Knowing you have carefully sifted through everything, and everyone that’s in your life… Knowing you are keeping what is there for a specific reason, strengthens you with the power of intention.

With a clean, functional life you have the ability to work and press forward with all the tools you need for success at your fingertips and none of the hindrances of clutter littering your path.

Tomorrow, a powerful community of leaders and lovers are coming together to focus on spring cleaning of a spiritual kind for the entertainment industry:

Join us at http://www.thecryhollywood.com for The Cry.

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The Cry

12 Mar

Have you ever joked to yourself that you must be getting old because the crap kids listen to nowadays is terrible?  That back in your day, music and movies were really good and it’s all going downhill now?  Ever changed the channel around little kids and a certain rock or hip hop song came on?  Struggled to find an appropriate movie to watch with your son or daughter, mother or father?

Radio, television, movies, cd’s, and video games are all media.  The hugest hub of media development on Earth is in Hollywood, California.

There are complex arguments about the impact of media on human behavior, thinking, and spirit but the bottom line is:

Media matters.

The singers, writers, crew, actors, designers, and dancers matter. What they’re doing matters.  How it’s produced matters, who watches it matters.

People around the world watch what comes out of Hollywood.

Can you even begin to fathom what it would be like if high quality, positive messaging was all you ever heard or saw on the TV, radio or big screen?

We have the power to do something more than be opinionated or even angry about the quality of media nowadays.

Have you ever stopped to think about what being opinionated and angry about something really is?  It’s cursing.

Cursing is why it hurts so much when someone says negative about you.  It’s why so many mental therapists are thriving professionals.  Speaking negativity over someone or something consistently produces a negative effect.

Is it any wonder that the film and music industries are so filled with negativity?

The power we have over this and any situation we intend to change is the power of prayer.

And I don’t mean a little half-baked wish on the fly.  I mean thousands of people of all walks of life, stopping what they’re doing and focus all of their energy intently on praying.

For change.

Prayer works.

Whether you want to call it the power of positive thinking, karma, receiving what you put out, hoping, wishing, energy transference or what doesn’t matter.  Believe what you want, there is something to this spirituality thing:  Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindi, Jewish, agnostic or other spiritual practice… The majority of living humans across all cultures believe life isn’t just limited to us folks and what we make with our opposable thumbs.

Prayer has been scientifically proven effective in positive transformation.

On Thursday March 15th, thousands of leaders of different faiths, people from different walks of life are gathering in Hollywood to pray for transformation.  You should be a part of it.  Even if you can’t physically be there, you can be a part of it where you are.

Spread the word.

Make a difference in a way that affects the rest of the world.

http://www.thecryhollywood.com/

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Flashpoint

22 Sep

Yesterday, Barack Obama condemned acts of terrorism before the United Nations in his comments about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the quest for world peace.

Yesterday, the United States executed Troy Davis, a black man convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a white man in a case filled with reasonable doubt.

Yesterday the United States executed a Lawrence Brewer, a white man convicted of dragging James Byrd, a black man, to his death behind his truck.

Today at the United Nations, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the US and others of racism, colonialism, war-mongering and causing the financial crisis.

Right now, American citizens’ right to vote is being snatched away.  A new super-committee, focused on telling the public how their taxes will be spent, has been given more power than Congress.

Nations from Japan, China, the United States, Indonesia, Turkey, and Somalia are rocked by natural disasters.

Yet…

Today’s top news is who will win the US Presidential race in 2012 and what’s wrong with Wall Street.

Change is not comfortable.  And growth without pain is limited.  ’Cause we all know we’ll never push ourselves past what we’re comfortable with willingly.

So when do we get so uncomfortable we change?

And what happens next?

Humans are born inherently good:  We love babies because they are innocent and pure along with being cute and cuddly.  We’re nearing our breaking point.  And when we break we must know the manner of our spirit.

Ours is not to murder.  It is not to hurt.  It is not to lie, steal, or cheat.

Those are the easy ways out.

It is infinitely more challenging to love your enemies: Act in mercy.  To understand your foes: Act in love.

The US, infant nation that it is, has gone through radical changes our generation forgets:  We were born of a revolution.  We have warred to split our nation over slavery.

It seems people feel pulled in all directions without any clarity: The political world is a shambles with no decisive positions to be seen, except from the extremes.  So when the tea party burns and republicans fail, what is left?

Let’s make sure it’s the best the human spirit has to offer.

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A new chapter…

6 Jul

Less than a week into the second half of the year and I’m peacefully settled with the reassurance that even in times of uncertainty, certain things are certain.  So much has happened, and there is so much more to come.

I appreciate your readership so very much, and with this entry will make some minor changes: I’ll be posting weekly instead of whenever I feel like it, and will be encouraging feedback much more.

This week, you get the plan for the next few entries, as my life has changed dramatically this year:

1) I have a new office!  It rocks my world.  And everyone else’s.  People smile and giggle when they walk in.  There’s a turtle and a waterfall and Dr. Seuss.  I’ll offer a virtual tour of the spot soon.

2) In February I decided to change my lifestyle and lose weight.  15 gone, 10 more to go.  The how will be shared, photos are for my man’s eyes only.

3) My home will soon be equipped with a garden and rainwater catchment system.  Oh boy.

4) I’m a believer, and worship through song and dance.

5) I’m writing my grandfather’s biography and have less than a year to produce a first draft.  http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aaw/watkins-ted-1912-1993

 

The kicker: I’m going to change the world.  Don’t know how.  But that’s what’s going to happen.  So I’m going where life leads me.  Last week, that meant to a gorgeous lakeside retreat with friends, to revel in nature’s glory.

This week, that means to Maryland for the Congressional Black Caucus Boot Camp program.  Here’s why.

Why you are applying for admission to the Boot Camp program:

I am deeply concerned about our future.  We are at a critical confluence of need, resources, power, and reach to make lasting change a reality now.  My purpose is to make life better for those in need and my life’s path is slowly and with certainty, directing me to the means to do so.  The Boot Camp program is a tremendous opportunity to align myself with others working to actualize change.

Comments on your future political plans

While I do not aspire to political office, my position at a major non-profit is the right platform for me to be groomed into a phenomenally powerful advocate to advance the careers of others and execute work in our communities.

My work is centered in the non-profit sector at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), founded by my grandfather Ted Watkins Sr. in 1965, and led now by President/CEO-elect Timothy Watkins Sr., my father. It has been my privilege to work diligently and steadily through the ranks to lead the Development Team.  Together we generate all of the public funding requests and program design for the $15 million worth of services administered to more than 30,000 people living in the most impoverished area of America, Watts.

Watts is a microcosm for what is right and wrong in our nation, and a beacon of hope for change.  WLCAC has the capacity, reach, vision and mission to actually improve the quality of life for those living in poverty: To develop a model for change that will shake the world.

Your view of our nations’ current challenges

What we see today is the same crucible that led to the revolt in 1965:  Leaders and politics are driven by economics, greed, and darkness.  The evidence is all around us in the widening gap between rich and poor and shrinking middle class; Elimination of programs serving the poor, the elderly, the disabled, women and children; Raging wars; Pride and glee on display over the taking of human lives.

Insight on how you would politically approach solutions

Leaders and politics must be driven from a place of universal spiritual alignment, from a value system that values human beings as Earth’s most precious treasures instead of idolizing cash and commodities.  We have allowed the separation of church and state, and imperialist obsession with controlling a global economy destined for failure to break us.  It has dragged the people away from their loving will to fight for what is truly right, for what is truly just, and as a result our nation is on its knees.

The global spiritual community is already united around simple universal truths and it is time for that voice to be heard.  The vast majority of our nation, and global population are a spiritual people and must be uplifted and encouraged to speak truth to power.  To outline the mandates by which our leaders must govern.  To sweep away the shattered images saturating the media, and to return our democracy to a reflection of its people.

Of course, there’s still plenty of love, victuals, rainbows, sunshine, and butterflies for all. :)

Any major changes in your life in the past six months?  Any happy constants?  Aging doesn’t count. 

Happy second half of 2011!

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The ‘ama’s: Os and Ob.

17 May

The ama’s: Os and Ob.

The same day I recovered from my first bout of food poisoning, I sat, stunned and disgusted as another wave of sickness washed over me and body revolted.  There, on the television screen in front of me the leader I once admired for his divinely inspired wisdom and apparent reverence of love, of humanity, of life… Was announcing with grim pride that he had ordered the murder of another human being and “succeeded”.  To make matters worse, images of celebratory gatherings across the nation followed, along with an interview of gentleman who ironically, repeatedly praised the president by comparing him to his predecessor.

This, while elections loom.

This, while a baby, not one month old yet sleeps in her mother’s arms, her grandmother, father and loved ones observing with disgust.

My eyes filled with tears as I boiled inside and thought, maybe we need to be shaken out of complacency.

What man decides who can kill one another?  What crimes qualify for the celebration of murder?  How have we returned to the macabre celebrations of public executions England was known for… Lynchings Americans continue to enjoy?

This, while our nation increases spending on warfare and cuts funding for the poor?

My patriotism returned to me when it seemed America had finally elected a leader compelled by love,  not fear… And now… Now.

Well, at least we got the bad guy! Wiped out evil! Now our nation and our world is more secure.

Except for this: Unlike the good ‘ole States of A’s, terrorists organize in cellular networks specifically so they won’t be weakened by external forces executing their leaders.

And this: Celebrating heads on sticks only angers people.  Especially when it’s one of their own.

How different is it really?

Life and love are too precious to be discarded, mocked, or wielded as political weaponry.

I’m hopeful as I continue to meet more life lovers who agree, and know we will make this world one for our babies to love by making our voices heard and speaking truth to power.

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