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Why Olympians matter

February 25, 2010 By Leadership One Comment

Clara Hughes, one of Canada’s all time great athletes, wrapped up her competitive career yesterday with a bronze metal in speed skating. In her press conference she had this to announce:

The international media and Olympic visitors noticed the Downtown Eastside.

So did the five-time Olympian who carried Canada’s flag in the opening ceremony.

Winnipeg’s Clara Hughes won bronze in 5,000-metre speedskating on Wednesday at the Richmond Olympic Oval and donated her $10,000 bonus to the Take A Hike Foundation. The charity runs outdoor recreation programs for inner-city youths.

“I took a wrong turn and ended up in the Downtown Eastside in my little car. I will never forget seeing people suffer so much,” Hughes said in a Canadian Olympic Committee news conference.

“People were just shells of themselves and I couldn’t believe the situation, this reality, exists in Canada. It was surreal, I felt like I was in a movie set.”

Hughes said she can leave Vancouver knowing that she “didn’t just come here and skate in circles.”

I am in Seattle today with a friend of mine, Bob Stilger, and he shared a great reflection with me.  He said he was amazed that the Vancouver games have not made a secret of homelessness and poverty in the Downtown Eastside, and he was impressed that the media had covered the story of Canada’s pooerest postal code and that people were out there protesting and telling their stories.  He was inspired to tell that story as a way of encouraging others to take advantage of major events and festivals to talk about what is really going on.  High marks to Vancouver for not burying the issue, he said.

Back during the Summer Olympics of 2004 I made a passionate argument for why we should spend public money supporting Olympic athletes. The essence of that argument was that the discipline and practice of transforming oneself towards excellence builds a remarkable capacity to see that possibility in others.  Today, Clara Hughes confirmed my hunch, and in so doing challenged all of us not to skate in circles about poverty and homelessness.

After the games are over, there will be deep cuts to services and staff who work with the most vulnerable people in our society.  Will you rest on your laurels or take Clara Hughes example to heart and put your money where your mouth is?  If you are looking for ways to contribute time and expertise and money to good efforts in the downtown eastside, let me know.  If you are interested in the issue of violence against Aboriginal women, there is an Open Space coming up in teh spring that will address that issue and we are looking for wanyone who wants to help to come out and be a part of making new solutions in a world of diminishing resources.

Way to go Clara!

Patterns of leading in networks

February 25, 2010 By Art of Hosting, BC, Collaboration, Learning

From a recent Art of Hosting in Sweden comes a learning from some young leaders thinking about how to lead in networks:

1. Open and transparency of decision making process and “organizational” structure, even if it’s dynamic. No Taboos or un-written rule. The aim should be to make the system as visible as possible.

2. Empowers loads of action (systemically): What is the minimum structure needed to enable self-organizing and action?

3. Good communication culture (this is the real challenge I guess)

4. Clear process of creation and updating the leading thoughts

5. Low entrance step, it’s easy to join, accessible.

6. Inclusive, nobody is left out if they want to contribute and participate.

7. Purpose large enough but clear enough. People should feel that I want to be part of this. Purpose is container both for action and expansion. Case: 350.org brought together many networks, as did Survival Academy.

via How to lead a network well? ideas from AoH Karlskrona | Monkey Business.

Oh no! Is facebook becoming my blog?

February 23, 2010 By Collaboration 15 Comments

For about a year now I have been cross posting twitter updates and blog posts from here (Parking Lot) to my facebook page.  I have started noticing that people comment much more on facebook than here, with almost every post receiving a comment or a “like.”

What concerns me a little, is that the great conversations that happen on facebook don’t happen here on Parking Lot, and that if you want to read them and take part on facebook, you need to be friended by me in the big blue walled compound.  So I am wondering how to import the conversations from facebook here and vice versa, so I don’t have two things going on at once and so that everyone can play.

Thoughts?

Permaculture principles, learning and graphic recording

February 19, 2010 By Art of Harvesting, Learning 3 Comments

This is my friend Colleen Stevenson, a lovely graphic recorder that I work with whenever I can.  Here she is talking about permaculture principles, something which she knows a lot about, and talking about this large shart she drew to capture and start conversations on how these principles work in learning.

Just some good wisdom

February 18, 2010 By Being, First Nations

From a man I have long loved and admired, Chief Robert Joseph, who spoke these words on receiving an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of British Columbia in 2003.  He is a leader in advocating for the rights and dignity of residential school survivors and a deep and passionate advocate of the work many many people are doing to decolonize the child welfare system here in British Columbia.  Here is some very good advice from him:

I have traveled far and climbed many mountains in my life’s journey. I have seen the darkness of my own abyss. From the depths of my utter despair and hopelessness I saw a miraculous vision. Through this vision I have seen the universe, one whole, one connectedness, one balance!

As I stood in awe of the wonder in my own supernatural moment, I came to know my place and part in this timeless symphony of life and creation. Before that, I was forced to relinquish my own reality for a while. I was taught to dismiss all that was prior to the coming of the first settlers. It was too high a price to exact for my education, for anyone’s education.

I say to all you graduates beware that the price of your education does not become too high. Be true to yourselves. Maintain that balance between heart and soul and do not give away to intelligence only. Do not ever lose sight of who you are, for it is a gift from the creator that will lead you to your higher purpose. Do not give way to racism and intolerance. Do not give way to ignorance and apathy. Hold true to the creed that all persons are born equal and deserve dignity and respect. The quality of life for many may depend on you. Go and make a difference. The whole world waits for you.

via Chief Robert Joseph Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society.

In BC we are blessed to have Elders whose message, teachings and ability to hold compassion and promote peace rivals the Dalai Lama.  So few British Columbians know about these Elders but they are national treasures.  Bobby Joseph is one of these people.