Serving Houston
Dear Social Sector Leaders, I have stopped calling you “nonprofit” leaders because what kind of nonsense category is that? I am going to “out” you right now. Not by name. But here’s what you say over the late night calls, or after a glass of wine, or when you are so worn out you can’t […]
Statewide Flood Plan
Dear Social Sector Leaders, I have stopped calling you “nonprofit” leaders because what kind of nonsense category is that? I am going to “out” you right now. Not by name. But here’s what you say over the late night calls, or after a glass of wine, or when you are so worn out you can’t […]
Pause. Reflect. Reset.
Dear Social Sector Leaders,I have stopped calling you “nonprofit” leaders because what kind of nonsense category is that? I am going to “out” you right now. Not by name. But here’s what you say over the late night calls, or after a glass of wine, or when you are so worn out you can’t censor any […]
Power, Influence, and Resilience
We can always use power* to make people do things. Or, we can use education and influence to make them want to — one of these works better and lasts much longer. As I contemplate my new role and challenge I’m mindful that I’m operating in an arena where the focus is on power. How […]
Please Continue Active Caring
This is day 5. We are moving into “this is unbearable and it must be someone’s fault”. Blame and criticism are the weapons we have to deal with our frustrations. Disasters by definition exceed the ability of our systems to function. We prepare by staging and calling up additional resources when a disaster strikes. It’s […]
Blame and Responsibility
This is day 5. We are moving into “this is unbearable and it must be someone’s fault”. Blame and criticism are the weapons we have to deal with our frustrations. Disasters by definition exceed the ability of our systems to function. We prepare by staging and calling up additional resources when a disaster strikes. It’s […]
Be An Encourager
Some Highlights – long post of praise for good work. Since April, Houston government, nonprofit and private sector leaders have been in the interesting posture of preparing for hurricane season, responding to floods and derecho, while anticipating impact of tropical storm Alberto. Mayor Whitmire’s press conference this weekend highlighted new City of Houston rescue and […]
Disaster Reminders
There is no such thing as a single sector recovery. Public, private and philanthropic sectors must connect and work together to pull off an effective response. We have too many good examples of this in Houston to name here. Seeing government, corporations and nonprofits pull together, each doing what they do best is pure gold. […]
We Do Good Work
Most of us make some sort of one sided bargain with the universe. We will do good work and … we will be rewarded with a desired outcome. One aspect of what we view as civilized society is this predictability of reward for effort. If rewards are fair and shared in some rationalized way, we […]
War is Personal
As I continue each day to write about disaster and displacement, and how we go on after the unthinkable, I watch as millions more people worldwide are added to the rolls of those made rootless, stateless, homeless by war and weather. Those of us who try to care and help can’t work fast enough to […]