Category: impact

Shirley Chisholm broke barriers by running for Congress, but Baryard Rustin trailblazed behind the scenes. Rustin, the focus of a movie bearing his name, was the organizer of the March on Washington in 1963. It was his premise that the Civil Rights Movement needed to do something dramatic to hold the legislature accountable for passing civil rights legislation — and it also needed to help the Blacks discover they were not alone in their struggle. Rustin believed a peaceful march on the National Mall could accomplish both goals.

Think about the challenge of organizing a national event — before the internet or social media — to bring 100,000 people from across the country to Washington, D.C. — and raise the funds to do so — and pull all this off without the initial support of the NAACP. And this needed to happen in an 8-week window before Congress resumed!

Rustin accomplished what he called “the most improbable yet most essential endeavor” by being a master organizer, volunteer motivator, passionate advocate, and exemplary communicator. For example, all possible providers of transportation were told to call “Michelle Harwood.” There was no Michelle, but it signaled that the call was about transportation and could be immediately transferred to volunteers in that area. Rustin was right there in the trenches with his volunteers, including picking up trash after the event, and setting the example that “the details matter.”

Even though most people thought the goal of 100,000 was an impossible stretch, 250,000 actually attended. Nine months later, the Civil Rights Act was passed. Fifty years after the March, Rustin was awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work.

Everyone associates Martin Luther King, Jr. with the March on Washington, but the event would have never happened without Bayard Rustin. Follow his example and make your mark organizing the platform for others.

I watched the movie Shirley, a documentary about Shirley Chisholm’s foray into politics and her audacious run to be president of the United States in 1972. Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the US Congress. At the time (1968), there were only 11 women in the chambers and 5 Black members. Think of the fortitude required for her to step up and attempt to run for any seat. I’m sure the pushback she endured was horrendous.

But Shirley’s endurance paved the way for others to see themselves as elected officials. Today, there are 126 women in the House, and 25 in the US Senate, comprising 28% of the total, with 57 identifying as non-White (37%).

It’s hard to imagine yourself in a position that no one like you has had before, but if you persist you may personally benefit in addition to breaking down barriers for others. Where are you brave enough to be a trailblazer?

Among the most requested items by unhomed people are underwear and socks. No one wants to wear used underwear and people usually wear their socks until they are in no condition to be donated, leaving gaps in the supply of these two essentials.

In 2010, Brad Montague was working in a homeless shelter in Tennessee and decided he could do something about socks. He engaged his network and ended up with a carload of foot coverings—and a fun name for his effort: Socktober. Just as the weather was turning cooler and the demand increased, the sock drive began…

…and in the 14 years since, it has spread to every state and several foreign countries. Montague estimates that over a million pairs of socks have been donated to shelters. What a great example of how one person can ignite a movement and make an impact in the world.

If you’re interested in starting your own Socktober, Montague offers tips for spreading the word, but an individual contribution of a few pairs would always be welcome at your local shelter. Your effort doesn’t have to be lofty to make a difference for someone.

I watched the new documentary The Greatest Night in Pop about the USA for Africa/We Are the World recording in 1985. It could be a case study in project management — going from need (famine in Ethiopia), to brainstormed solutions (maybe a concert like had just been done with Live Aid), to logistics (in the pre-technology era: physical copies on cassettes of the demo and sending them by Federal Express courier to artists), to implementation (47 artists recording after the American Music Awards show), to impact (radio stations around the world playing it simultaneously and raising over $80 million).

But my main takeaway was inspiration from Lionel Richie. It was impressive enough that he co-wrote the song, arranged for many of the performers, and handled the studio arrangements. But then — in one night — he first HOSTED the American Music Awards show, received six awards, performed two songs — THEN went to the studio until 5 a.m. and marshaled the collection of egos into a legacy recording!

How easy would it have been to bow out of USA for Africa — or just be a performer — or just write the song — since he was the host of a national awards show that same evening? Instead, he went all in.

Take a lesson from Lionel. There is always time to do what really matters to you.

Source: The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix, 2024

So much for living according to your values (dot #4133).

In a disappointing reversal, those seemingly principled University of Wisconsin regents flip-flopped on their position, just days after their initial vote. It’s not as if they did not know there would be disapproval and pressure as a result of their initial decision, but it took less than a week for them to cave.

Flip-flopping is worse than taking a hard stand in the beginning. If you’re going to give in, do it right away and save the extra layer of angst that an about-face creates.

Some of the best advice I’ve heard is in the realm of manners — if you’re going to say no, do it quickly. (I think that meant on the first vote.) Giving in to threats, intimidation, and power plays is bad for everyone involved.