by Sabrina Acloque
Many people might be wondering what to do in the times that we’re in now. Sometimes it feels like we can’t escape the vitriol that we see and hear in our national politics, which trickles down to what we see and hear on the news and maybe even in our local communities. One of the things I mourn is the increased lack of civility in our national discourse. Whether debating issues large or small, the ability to have a healthy discourse on matters in an environment of respect should not only be a given, but is important for the ability to govern with dignity, competence and integrity. So, while many of our leaders may not be the pillars of virtue or example in this regard, that doesn’t stop us from being the type of leaders that we, ourselves, can and should be. When I was thinking to myself about how best to retain a sense of self and community in the times that we’re in and what may be even more challenging times to come, I came up with this list that I believe is helpful to share: (1) Remember to reach out to your friends and loved ones. Pour into the relationships that bring you joy, fulfillment and where healthy boundaries are respected. (2) Join professional associations. Of course, we know that such associations are good for networking, but they may also be a place where you find like-minded people committed to causes that you care about. These groups or associations may also provide you with the opportunity to contribute to or give back to your community, so that you have a tangible way of doing something about issues that, right now, may seem overwhelming. (3) Mentor a young person or someone coming up behind you in your profession. Whether we realize this or not, young people are looking up to us. Through us, they see what is possible and also, what could use some changing (see, for example, the efforts of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee [SNCC]). There is so much that can be learned from engaging with a student or young(er) professional (remember: age is relative ;-), who is excited to contribute their talents and skills to the world, and from someone, like yourself, with more life experience who can guide them along the way. The best mentoring relationships are those in which both mentor and mentee learn from each other. (4) Diversify your sources of news content. Don’t just let it come from social media or that same news channel you watch. Why? Because you must ask yourself if you’re being presented with information that sheds light on the larger context of how the issue arose. You should ask yourself whether you are being presented with multiple or opposing perspectives, so that you have a better understanding of what the different sides of the issue(s) are. Some channels are better at doing this than others. You should seek out news sources that are reputable, objective and have a history of educating on the larger context of issues we’re seeing play out now in society. News that is objective and comprehensive plays an important role in forming an educated citizenry, and in building empathy, all of which are important for many reasons. (5) Join or volunteer for civic and community-minded organizations. I meet countless professionals across various industries, so many of whom share the feeling of joy and gratification they feel when they are giving back or doing something to help others. Everyone has a different capacity of what that might look like, but do whatever is possible for you. (6) Along this vein, do not forget about the organizations that impacted you or gave you opportunities to thrive. If there’s a way to support these organizations’ missions, their students or clientele, find out how you can contribute to them. I am sure the current beneficiaries of these organizations will forever be grateful to you for the gifts that you are able to give in either time, money or talent. (7) When difficult conversations or conflicts arise – and they will – how will you engage? Will you be listening to understand or listening to make a point? Be intentional about whether you are listening with empathy or are just listening to respond. In some cases, reasonable minds can differ and if there’s an impasse, people should be able to “agree to disagree” and still remain respectful of each other. But always be mindful of your safety and assess whether the best course of action is to just disengage. (8) Ask more questions rather than make assumptions. Learn more about the histories of peoples or issues that you don’t know much about. (9) Just because you may see people going wayward in what may become an age of less accountability, never forget what your core values are and stick to them. (10) Treat people with the kindness that you would expect for yourself. (11) If you’re an organizational leader with the ability to make positive change, will you be committed to taking the steps necessary to achieve it? (12) When future readers of history are reading about this time in our nation’s chapter, don’t let them ask, “Where were the others? The ones who spoke up? The ones who acted differently? The ones who took action to create the just and equal society that we all deserve?” For example, when I think of Boston’s turbulent history with its busing crisis, I am happy that there were people like Ruth Marion Batson, the mother who brought to light Boston’s unequal and segregated school facilities that deprived students of color of a quality education in the 1960s. I am happy that public servants, such as Judge Arthur Garrity and Senator Royal Bolling Sr. of Roxbury, the latter who drafted Massachusetts’ Racial Imbalance Act, took measures to address the issue of segregation in ways that the Boston School Committee refused to at the time. And I am happy that countless other heroes worked hard to make my home city better during this tumultuous time in its history – people such as the late civil rights activist, Mel King and then NAACP attorney, Thomas Atkins. In sum, we may not be able to control the winds around us, but at least we can control how still and sure we remain of ourselves and our purpose. In the spirit of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let’s work to keep his many dreams alive. It’s not just about wishing that they come true. It’s about working for their realization, as well.
2 Comments
Jessica
1/23/2025 08:50:19 am
A wonderful reminder for how we can all be intentional and mindful of ourselves and others around us. Beautiful!
Reply
Sabrina
1/23/2025 05:54:33 pm
Thank you, Jessica!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |