Terms and Conditions
Today’s challenging question: what’s the right disaster recovery coordinating structure in an arena that stretches across multiple counties and jurisdictions? I think as disasters grow in their destructive impact, it becomes increasingly hard to create any sort of balance between local input and/versus state and federal level involvement. The first stage is so necessarily […]
Season of Storms
What’s on my mind: The number of social enterprises (nonprofits) in some sort of financial crisis due to massive funding shifts. And the extent to which we rely upon them in this region without reassessing their capacity. The mental health of their leaders as they try to manage unreasonable expectations… The season of storm threats […]
Sacred Ground
Before you speak, ask yourself – will this in any way ease pain or lighten the load carried by those closest to this tragedy. We all have the obligation to treat heartbroken people and their excruciating losses and grief as sacred ground. Do not set a single critical, judgmental, opportunistic foot upon it. Note that […]
Service and Survivors Guilt
I was recently in Buncombe County invited by those leaders and community members working hard on recovery from Helene. When your world has been turned upside down, this is an especially hard time of year. One woman in Swananoa talked about what it was like to have one of the few livable houses on her […]
Beyond Here There Be Dragons
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 […]
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 […]
After the Storm Has Passed
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 […]