Endings
A defining (for these times) speech by the Canadian Prime Minister. See video. PM Carney has walked through the rupture in the (now) old world order and declared a path to a new pattern of alliances and agreements that decenter the U.S. and draw stability from complex arrangements crafted by the “middle powers” of which he […]
Working
There are days when the world is just too much to think about and I put my head down and just do the work in front of me. It’s a family trait to carry ourselves through the world as if we can outwork every problem. Our confidence comes from having done just that on so […]
What Patriotism Looks Like
Yesterday reminded me once again that people don’t protest in countries they don’t love and believe in. I saw yesterday an outpouring of love and the still alive conviction that we can do better than what’s happening right now. A still alive rejection of any form of tyranny. Americans still prefer the imperfections and utter […]
Why Government Matters
Since the launch of the Department of Government Efficiency, I’ve been meaning to write a piece about, well, “government efficiency.” For those people who have had the privilege to work in the public sector, we know the breadth and depth of the challenges that our country faces and the commitment to service that enables public […]
Angels and Hogs
Growing older comes with nine kinds of losses. I often find myself sad. Unaccountably sad. Inexplicably sad. The rate of loss is such that I can’t quite keep up with the mourning. And then I remember. None of this was meant to last forever. I remember infinity and that there are angels amongst us. People […]
I Love Us. Still.
Waking to tragedy. Another day of epidemic of violence and destruction. This is our story. It’s not our only story, but as a species, we seem to have a lust for blood and destruction. Perpetual outbreaks. Another insane person weaponizing their personhood, tossing their soul on a pyre to take as many as possible with […]
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 […]
Resilience and Strength.
What do they mean? Houston is seen as resilient. As a city. As a feature of our identity. As I explore the ways we need to become stronger and better protect ourselves from inevitable upheaval, I ground myself in climate realities and accept the uncertainty that comes with our position on the Gulf Coast and […]
Deficit Based Systems and Determination
This is a long post – take your time or just pass by. I’m learning a new role and trying to understand how to get things done in an arena that is irrational. Cynics say a lot about government. Some think we deliberately under-resource it so it can’t be effective. Others think it’s all mediocre […]
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 […]