I enjoyed these updates John. Thanks for all your PFAS work. While you were doing the work, I was having PFAS nightmares from my realm of health/HIV activism. It always seems like a fight to do the most decent and relational thing. It is disheartening when leaders/lawmakers have hands (and feet and soul) in deep pockets. They often do not represent constituents. Political activism seems daunting and even futile sometimes.
A consideration when dealing with any activism is how well-received we activists are or are not based on gender and race. I appreciate you using your platform to advocate for those of us with little to no voice.
I have been thinking a lot about the definition of leadership these days and hope we can redefine what it means to us all especially during polycrisis. I bet if we take a poll, we will get thousands of definitions. I like yours- modeling seems like a great form.
Thank you, Nessa. You're so right about gender and race. I work with a lot of people in county, state, and federal agencies, all areas where women are well represented, although still overwhelmingly white. As a cis-gendered, older, white, educated, articulate, male I have a lot of priviledge, and I try to use it for the benefit of those who don't.
Thanks for your comments on leadership. We are all leaders.
In 12 Step programs, there's a saying that we use "attraction rather than promotion" to reach others. I love everything you write about here, and links to previous writings I'll go back to, but you end with this lovely zinger: "Leadership works best when people don't know you're doing it. For me, it seems, it works even better when I don't know I'm doing it either!" Attraction rather than promotion!
I'm curious about your neighboring community who has an aging infrastructure and has been boiling water for months. Our community recently finished 4 days of a BWN after 2 leak repairs, out of an abundance of caution. Our system upgrade work will begin soon but we're only able to do a fraction of what needs to be done. It's an island wide issue and it's only the tip of the iceberg.
An absolute resource! Thank you for writing this. I love, love, love your focus on community for all while also cultivating your own, so beautiful!
Thank you so much, Kate.
I enjoyed these updates John. Thanks for all your PFAS work. While you were doing the work, I was having PFAS nightmares from my realm of health/HIV activism. It always seems like a fight to do the most decent and relational thing. It is disheartening when leaders/lawmakers have hands (and feet and soul) in deep pockets. They often do not represent constituents. Political activism seems daunting and even futile sometimes.
A consideration when dealing with any activism is how well-received we activists are or are not based on gender and race. I appreciate you using your platform to advocate for those of us with little to no voice.
I have been thinking a lot about the definition of leadership these days and hope we can redefine what it means to us all especially during polycrisis. I bet if we take a poll, we will get thousands of definitions. I like yours- modeling seems like a great form.
Thank you, Nessa. You're so right about gender and race. I work with a lot of people in county, state, and federal agencies, all areas where women are well represented, although still overwhelmingly white. As a cis-gendered, older, white, educated, articulate, male I have a lot of priviledge, and I try to use it for the benefit of those who don't.
Thanks for your comments on leadership. We are all leaders.
In 12 Step programs, there's a saying that we use "attraction rather than promotion" to reach others. I love everything you write about here, and links to previous writings I'll go back to, but you end with this lovely zinger: "Leadership works best when people don't know you're doing it. For me, it seems, it works even better when I don't know I'm doing it either!" Attraction rather than promotion!
Thanks, Kirie, attraction rather than promotion is perfectly put. It also suits my neurodivergent brain and English origins better!
What a wealth of good information about how to effectively move forward on community issues. Thank you for putting this together!
Thank you, Maia.
I'm curious about your neighboring community who has an aging infrastructure and has been boiling water for months. Our community recently finished 4 days of a BWN after 2 leak repairs, out of an abundance of caution. Our system upgrade work will begin soon but we're only able to do a fraction of what needs to be done. It's an island wide issue and it's only the tip of the iceberg.
You're right there, Jaci. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about it.