Daily Archives: March 27, 2022

SEATTLE Visit Seattle and Seattle Bank today announced a partnership to bring tourism revenue to Seattles small businesses and diverse communities. A first collaboration between the organizations, the Community Partnership Program will provide support to 20 locally owned businesses including restaurants, cafes and shops within Seattles vibrant Chinatown-International District and Central District neighborhoods.

Seattle Bank and Visit Seattle partnered with Intentionalist, the Central Area Collaborative and the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) to identify the selected businesses focusing on establishments owned by women, people of color and LGBTQ+ community members in the easily accessible Central District and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods.

Through the partnership, the 20 businesses will receive waived membership dues (funded by Seattle Bank) to join Visit Seattles partnership network. As members, each business will receive direct promotional support through Visit Seattles marketing channels (website, social, publications), access to leads and referrals from Visit Seattle to encourage leisure visitors, business travelers and conference and meeting attendees to dine and shop at their locations, and focused B2B strategies to expand business opportunities within the regional hospitality and tourism industry. In addition, Seattle Bank will offer complimentary financial consulting services to each participating business.

As we welcome back visitors to Seattle, we must think about how we can effectively invest in and increase access to the incredible, diverse businesses and neighborhoods that are fostering our economic growth and cultural vibrancy, said Rob Leslie, director of partnership and destination services for Visit Seattle. We are proud to partner with Seattle Bank to increase access and resources for these businesses to expand their presence and visibility with our visitors.

Seattle Bank a boutique bank focused on the needs of individuals, families, businesses and community organizations in the Pacific Northwest developed the business support model in partnership with Visit Seattle.

Seattles small business owners are the heart of our city and our path to recovery depends on giving them the right resources to thrive, said Mary Grace Roske, senior vice president of marketing communications and community relations for Seattle Bank. Its something we should all have a stake in. Thats why we built this cohort of mission-minded organizations to invest back in a stronger Seattle. The model weve developed with Visit Seattle will give our vibrant businesses the foundation to sustain and grow through this period of recovery and beyond.

Intentionalist, an online directory and marketplace that makes it easy to find and support local small businesses and the diverse people behind them, will also support the businesses by hosting tabs jointly funded by Seattle Bank and Visit Seattle of $250 per business. Visitors will be able enjoy a free taste of the business by putting a treat on the tab until the limit is met. Intentionalist will share tab information on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Intentionalist.com.

As travel opens back up, its important for visitors to think about how being intentional about where they eat, drink, and shop can enrich their experience and make a positive impact on the city theyre visiting, said Laura Clise, founder and CEO of Intentionalist. The 20 businesses selected offer travelers an opportunity to explore the diverse cultural fabric of our neighborhoods.

This program gives us an opportunity to share our story with a broader audience to welcome more people to experience the true origins of coffee and the rich history of coffee in Africa, said Efrem Fesaha, CEO and founder of Boon Boona Coffee, an African inspired coffee shop that prioritizes community education and engagement. Visitors may know Seattle for its coffee culture, but theres so much more to uncover and learn about much like there is with Seattles entire food scene. Were excited that Visit Seattle and Seattle Bank are putting a spotlight on our businesses and creating opportunities for visitors to go deeper into exploring our citys beautiful and diverse neighborhoods.

Were so grateful to be part of the Community Partnership Program, said Diane Ung, co-owner of Phnom Penh Noodle House, a Cambodian restaurant in the Chinatown-International District. Its giving us the opportunity to introduce our cuisine to those who are traveling from afar, and neighbors we have yet to meet. The program allows us to reach a whole new segment of guests. Thank you to Visit Seattle, Seattle Bank, and Intentionalist for prioritizing and advocating for small businesses.

The full list of recipients includes:

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Visit Seattle and Seattle Bank Announce Community Partnership Program to Support Small Business Owners and Bring Tourism Revenue to Seattle's Emerging...

Throughout the history of the United States, there has been one industry above others that seemed to be immune from recession, wars and other major national and global challenges. Were talking about youth sports activities.

That was the case until the COVID-19 pandemic, when even the youth sports industry came to a grinding halt.

For our Springfield community, we will never know the total implications of the loss of youth, high school and collegiate athletics from spring 2020. From local teams losing the ability to compete in high school state championships to collegiate national tournaments and spring sports not coming to fruition, students, parents and our community were negatively impacted emotionally, socially and economically.

In our return to normalcy, if we can borrow a term from former President Warren G. Harding, the spotlight has shone even brighter on the sports tourism industry.

According to the National Association of Sports Commissions, sports tourism is a $1.4 trillion industry worldwide. It is expected to grow to $5.72 trillion in the coming years. Within the trillion-dollar industry, the youth sports category represents $15 billion. Sports tourism is big business.

With so many issues today, why is it vital for community leaders to come to the table to realize the full potential impact of youth sports? Sports tourism is a revenue generator for a community. On average, an out-of-town visitor spends $150 per day in the community for a sporting event. This impact is felt from convenience stores to hotels and restaurants, and from city attractions to retail. Revenues generated from sports tourism can be poured back into communities to help with infrastructure needs. It also can help to fund programs that are not revenue generators but are needed services in the communities.

For example, an event that attracts 10,000 visitors with an average length of stay, a city could conservatively realize $4.8 million in visitor spending. A more traditional sports tournament over a weekend with just 70 out-of-town teams (800 participants, with about 2,000 visitors total), could generate $600,000 in visitor spending for two days. Funds generated by sports tourism can help improve local sports infrastructure as well as create recreational opportunities for the community and increase the tax base for a city or county through the spending generated by out-of-town visitors.

Successful communities are intentional and collaborative when attracting events to their destination. In order to effectively lure events to a city, organizational leaders must collaborate not only in the bidding process but also in the planning, development and renovation/construction of sports infrastructure. These collaborative relationships often encompass parks departments, colleges and universities, cities, counties and other civic organizations with the support and efforts of the private industry in their community. Event organizers often select communities that have a more holistic strategy and approach for hosting their events.

It is no secret that sports tourism is big business for communities large and small. Communities that rest on their laurels are in jeopardy of losing events they have hosted, and not winning desired bids or landing that marquee event. It takes an intentional effort to build partnerships and improve venues, while also keeping an eye on emerging sports and activities, not just traditional sports. The sports tourism industry is vibrant. It is extremely visible, and it can be game changing and transformational for a community. Sports connects people to their community.

Lance Kettering is executive director of the Springfield Sports Commission, and Josh Scott is chair of its board. Scott works as athletic director for Springfield Public Schools. They can be reached at lkettering@springfieldmo.org and jescott@spsmail.org.

Read more from the original source:

Opinion: Youth sports more than just a game - Springfield Business Journal

Sam Zeff had always considered himself a pseudo-runner a guy whod go for a jog somewhat consistently but who never signed up for a race. There was always a part of him that was afraid he wouldnt be accepted among other runners. Finally, Zeff, now 31, embraced the fear head-on and joined the Philadelphia chapter of November Project, a community-oriented fitness group. Instead of rejection, Zeff found a supportive group of athletes of all levels whose hard work inspired him to finish his first marathon in 2019.

Since then, Zeff has joined other organizations based on his values: a group for men to discuss their emotions, and a virtual mentorship program where members of all ages from across the world offered insight and advice on how to live more authentically. Not only have these communities empowered him to explore different parts of himself, but he entered into a mutually beneficial relationship with people who celebrated him just as he celebrated them. I always felt like I was too much and like I was doing things to get attention, Zeff says. The people in this group have been fanning my flames rather than trying to put them out.

Now, as he plans a move across the country from Philadelphia to San Clemente, California, hes relying on his ability to find community once more. Hes reaching out to other members of his groups whove moved to California and also mining his interests, like yoga and meditation, to figure out which classes he should take in his new city. Community, he says, is proof hes an essential gear in a larger social machine. Youre part of a bigger picture that really wants to see everyone succeed, Zeff says.

As social creatures, humans need interpersonal contact to survive. These connections range from your inner circle of family and close friends to the outer rungs of your social network other pet parents at the dog park, for example and its important to have this variety. To try and count on one person to fill all of your emotional and psychological needs is not a good thing, says Gillian Sandstrom, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex. Theres research showing that you thrive more when you have lots of people to fill up various emotional needs. Becoming a member of communities helps build this social diversity. However, finding community is much different from just making friends.

According to clinical and community psychologist David McMillan, a community is defined by four criteria: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. To be part of a community, you must feel a sense of belonging (membership), feel like you make a difference to the group and that the group makes a difference to you (influence), feel like your needs will be met by other group members (integration and fulfillment of needs), and feel that you share history, similar experiences, time, and space together (shared emotional connection). High school, college, and retirement communities, McMillan says, are examples of community: In college, the world is organized around satisfying you, he says. From extracurricular activities to communal living, the entire experience centers around group collaboration and satisfaction. While a community can consist of pairs or small groups of friends and help foster those connections community members dont necessarily need to be friends.

In contrast, friendship is an invested, dedicated, platonic relationship where two people who are friends with each other are committed to the growth, the well-being, the support, the thriving of each other, explains Kat Vellos, a connection coach, speaker, and author of the book We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships.

Fellow community members can lend a hand in unique and surprising ways. A neighbor can lend you the oddly specific pan you need to try a new recipe. An older person in your book club may have valuable insight into how to handle a conflict with your in-laws. You could find the rsum proofreader youve been looking for in another student in your cooking class. When people talk about a 401(k) or insurance, community is that for your social life, says Adam Smiley Poswolsky, a workplace-belonging speaker and author of Friendship in the Age of Loneliness. Think of it as a group of people who uplift one another and form a safety net for all of lifes moments.

Crucially, community is not strictly a collection of people who have a similar affiliation, interest, or shared experience with each other, Vellos says. While fans of certain shows or musicians or even consumers of specific products, like Peloton may feel they are members of a community, they are not always invested in other members lives and well-being. (Fans or followers would be more appropriate terms for many of these groups, Vellos says.) While many communities exist online, there must be an element of reciprocity all parties contributing information and support equally for the group to thrive.

Finding and becoming ingrained in a community doesnt need to be an arduous task, but it does require time and self-reflection. Vox spoke with four experts who provided tips on how to identify and find your place in a community.

One of the easiest ways to find a group youd mesh with is to figure out where you wouldnt mind spending a few hours of your time. Consider your talents and interests or a skill youd like to learn, and seek out places to do those activities. If you love dancing, do some Googling to find dance clubs, studios, or meetup dance groups in your town. Maybe youve always wanted to learn to throw clay; a pottery class will put you in contact with others who value art, working with their hands, or learning a new skill and you could specifically seek out a studio that hosts social events or otherwise attempts to facilitate wider connections.

Poswolsky suggests seeking out groups that create together; the act of making something as a group facilitates closeness and brings you into contact with people of different ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. Whether its a performance or a neighborhood coat drive, anything youre creating together is a beautiful way to build community, Poswolsky says.

Neighborhood associations, religious and spiritual groups, and charitable organizations typically hold frequent meetings you can attend to learn about the groups mission, meet others, and volunteer at future events. Knowing what your values are is crucial to finding a community where you truly fit, Poswolsky says, and that can take work and soul-searching. If youre not religious but have strong political views, joining a political organization can help you find a community where you and others are working to promote change that aligns with your collective values.

While its easier to join an already established group, you could also start one yourself based on your interests. If you want to build a community around hiking, for example, McMillan suggests posting online (say in a neighborhood Facebook group or retirement community portal) mentioning youll be hiking in a nearby park on Saturday if anyone would like to join. Others looking to make connections and get outside may take you up on the offer. Start small: Your budding community doesnt have to be hundreds deep. Real nurturing community starts in small groups, McMillan says. It doesnt start with 100 people, it happens with a few. Finding those people and cultivating their interests and your interests thats harder in a big group. And dont panic if the first people who show up differ from you in terms of age, background, or ability. Part of the beauty of community is its ability to draw people from varying stages of life who can help open your eyes to new points of view and wisdom.

To forge a true connection with the group and vice versa youll need to continually show up and add value. Youll develop closeness more quickly if you have that regularity and you dont have to agonize over scheduling, Vellos says. Immediately add the next meeting date to your calendar and make it a point to consistently attend. Coming early with a snack or staying late to stack the chairs shows youre invested in the community.

Humans have more positive feelings toward familiar people, so seeing the same people on a repeated basis helps you both ingratiate with an already established group and with people you see regularly in your day-to-day life. Even if you dont interact with the baristas or other patrons at your neighborhood coffee shop, there is an unspoken sense of camaraderie. You can feel like you know someone even if youve never talked to them if youve seen them enough times, Sandstrom says. Focusing on your already established routines and the people you encounter while doing them like walking the dog can be the basis for community. If you go at the same time to the same place, youre going to see the same people over and over again, Sandstrom says. Even learning the names of fellow dog walkers and striking up a casual conversation can be enough to improve your mood.

Because communities are made up of lots of people with varying opinions and life experiences, being an active member means regularly interacting with others in the group. But dont expect other members to immediately support you in your endeavors, want to do you a favor, or even engage in conversation with you. Forging these connections takes time and effort, and you risk rejection, McMillan notes but to fully integrate into a community, you cant be a wallflower. Its my job to put energy into other people and not just wait for them to put energy into me, he says.

When Sandstrom joined a community orchestra, she made a point of talking to a different person each time the group took a break in order to ease her way into the group. Shes also a fan of eavesdropping. Its okay to admit that you overheard people talking, she says. If you catch a few people at yoga class discussing your favorite podcast, take that as an opportunity to jump into the conversation and meet a few people in the process.

Poswolsky suggests identifying one or two community members youre interested in getting to know better and asking if theyd like to have coffee. Those simple gestures of reaching out create intention, they put out what youre looking for, and they dont overwhelm you, he says. Suddenly, other people are going to be inviting you to things because youre saying, Im going to take the time to have a conversation with someone.

You dont need to join a dozen clubs or societies or introduce yourself to every neighbor on the block to have a community. Consider the time youre able to commit and how much energy youre able to bring to each meeting. Maybe becoming the organizer of a weekly canoeing group is too great a responsibility, but a monthly movie club where you can sit back and watch and discuss films is more your speed.

Each new person you meet at your local mutual aid organization might not blossom into a deep friendship and thats okay. The goal of community building isnt necessarily to make new friends (though that definitely can happen), but to build a network. The people who are a part of that network can remain acquaintances, Sandstrom says.

This is Sam Zeffs approach as he considers his community-building plan in California: focusing his energy toward worthy people and causes. The rest will come naturally. Im not married to having to be everyones friend, he says. Im going to be intentional with my time and make sure that the people that I am investing my time with are the individuals that I see as part of my future who can not only help me grow, but people who are willing to be helped as well.

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How to find your community as an adult and why it matters - Vox.com

Ill begin with a story: One day, the venerable Ananda, the Buddhas first cousin and beloved attendant, sat by the Buddhas side beholding all that was before them. Ananda said to the Blessed One, This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.The Buddha replied, Dont say that, Ananda. Dont say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When one has admirable people as friends, companions, & colleagues, they can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path the path leading to the release from suffering.

From the Buddhas perspective, spiritual friendship is the whole of the holy life. What are the implications of this?

First off, I want to take a moment to tease myself about the images that come to mind when I hear the word holy. It has no doubt been shaped by many Christian influences the word can evoke images of angels, halos, priests, monks, & nuns in prayer, the clouds parting and a beam of sunlight shining down upon a particularly pious person Its interesting to notice how foreign it can feel to me to even consider my own life as holy.

I mean, come on I like to swear. I fart. I am not pure. I can have mean and sometimes violent thoughts. Mother Teresa, I aint.

But in writing this talk and reflecting on the automatic associations I have with the word, my understanding of the holy life shifted. To me, all life is sacred. It is also messy and painful. Perhaps living a holy life is more about a commitment to trying to recognize and remember the sacredness, the emptiness, the Buddha nature that pervades the whole universe, existing right here and now in ourselves and all beings. And of course, falling short, again and again. And then returning, again and again, to that commitment.

From this perspective, its easier for me to think that yeah, maybe this very Mo, this very life, as messy and imperfect as it might be as many mistakes as I make maybe this is a holy life, farts and all.

And maintaining this aspiration and commitment to living in an upright and compassionate way definitely requires help. No one else can do it for us, but we also cant do it alone.

According to the Buddha, spiritual friendship is the whole of the holy life. Friendships like these are regularly seen in sanghas. Sangha is a Sanskrit term that means community, and originally referred to the Buddhas ordained followers. In fact, the Sutra of the Wheel of Dharma tells us that after the Buddhas enlightenment, his very first public teaching about the four noble truths was to 5 former friends ascetics he had studied alongside for many years, who then became the first Buddhist monks and members of the first sangha.

As Buddhism has spread to the west, the word sangha has evolved to refer to Buddhist communities as a whole, lay and ordained alike. Fellow walkers of The Way, now with vastly more householders, forming communities of spiritual friends.

This is where we can find people who are learning and studying and practicing the Buddhas teachings people who have perhaps clarified some things in their lives, who continually seek a deeper and more intimate understanding, and who can help guide others.

Fellow walkers of The Way who make compassion and ethical living an active and intentional practice.

And while this can sound somewhat ideal, much like my original associations with the word holy, do not be fooled every sangha filled with great people is still very much human, still 100% subject to grappling with greed, anger, ignorance, distraction, ego, miscommunication, and mistakes. Good people who can still fuck up and hurt each other.

And it is for this very reason that I believe the Buddhas words to be true: Admirable friendship, companionship, and camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. Because its not just about our relationships when things seem to be going well importantly, critically, its also about how we navigate conflict and difficulty.

I used to collect rocks growing up, and one year I got a rock tumbler as a birthday gift. It was this small drum-like bucket that I put some of the stones Id collected into; added a bit of water, closed the bucket, turned on the little motor, and the tumbler would turn the drum round and round, knocking the rocks into each other over and over again. In time, the rocks eventually became smoother and more polished; they were still very much the same ol rocks, but through the process different qualities were brought forth. This was only possible because they tumbled together, knocking into one another and helping to smooth out each others rough edges.

I did not grow up with a strong understanding of community. While I was very close with my immediate family, we lived over 500 miles away from our nearest relatives; 800 miles away from my nearest grandparents; and almost 1,200 miles from my nearest cousins. I had friends in my neighborhood, but there was no real sense of community. I went to an Episcopal church and Sunday school as a child, but there was no strong sense of community there either it was just something my parents made us do on Sundays until middle school, when they got divorced. The closest experience I had to feeling like part of a community back then was at my high school.

Thankfully I learned about Buddhism during these years, and met people who claimed to be Buddhist, but really Zen was just conceptual at the time. Lots of fascinating ideas, but it was definitely not a verb not something I understood or knew how to do. It wasnt until I met Tom our freshman year of college (and who is now my husband, also a senior dharma teacher in Empty Moon), that I first encountered an authentic practitioner who studied and sat zazen. I didnt at all understand the scope or importance at the time, but among many other things, meeting Tom completely altered the course of my spiritual life. Hes the one who really introduced me to the Buddhadharma and Zen practice one of many things I am endlessly grateful to him for.

So to become a Zen Buddhist, one must receive and uphold the precepts, and take refuge in the three jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. Tom really introduced me to the first two, and of these three jewels, I came to sangha last many years later.

I want to pause here and unpack what it means to take refuge for a moment.

Taking refuge means to find a place of shelter and protection from some kind of danger. In Zen, we seek refuge from the many passions that jerk us around; from our cravings and aversions; from feeling distressed, broken, fearful from suffering at large. We seek shelter from the wheel of samsara, the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

But how can we find any measure of safety and security in this inherently unsafe and unstable world? What solid ground is there to be found?

You might recognize this from chanting The Three Refuges: Buddham Saranam Gacchmi, which means I take refuge in Buddha. The literal translation of those Pali words is not I take refuge in Buddha however the literal translation is, I will undertake to find my home in the Buddha.

To take refuge in Buddha is to accept that we can realize and awaken to our true buddha-nature, just as the man Siddhartha Gautama did. Buddha was not his name, after all; it was a title he received after his enlightenment, meaning One who is awake or the Awakened One.

Taking refuge in Buddha means we will undertake to find our home in Awakening.

To take refuge in the Dharma is to undertake finding our home in the teachings the Four Noble Truths, and practicing the Eightfold Path. Its a commitment to seeing things as they really are, an intricate web of connections beyond all concepts of Self and Other; an awakened way of seeing the world that leads us out of suffering and to the opening of the heart.

And taking refuge in Sangha, the jewel that I came to last? Here, we undertake to find our home among spiritual friends. Here, we vow to look for and offer support, inspiration, and guidance among those who practice the Eightfold Path fellow walkers of The Way.

When we practice living our lives like this an aspirational way of living that we are sure to fail in, again and again what were really saying is, I promise to do all I can to uphold and embody these teachings, to live with an open heart.

Tom was my first true spiritual friend in Zen, and for many years I studied and practiced with few others. My spiritual life was very much a personal practice, not one that I wanted to share with a wider community.

Years later this completely changed when I was introduced first to the Zen Peacemakers, then to the Boundless Way sangha (where we first met James, Jan, and Ed), and now these past 6 years with Empty Moon, meeting Janine and Chris, and practicing with all of you in this vibrant sangha. These communities have had a profound impact on my life, shaking the ground of a practice that at first Id held quite close to my chest.

In a way, discovering the jewel of Sangha has been like moving into technicolor the experience of regularly sitting zazen with other people; having interviews with teachers; engaging in koan practice; participating in precept and study groups; learning how to chant and do kinhin; the humbling experience of learning how to bow; finding opportunities to contribute and learning to receive (not easy); joining and serving in retreats, both in-person and virtual; and above all, forming friendships with other beautifully flawed practitioners.

Ive been continually gobsmacked by the ways that Sangha breathes life into the other jewels, Buddha and Dharma. This has brought a wholeness to my practice that I didnt even know I was missing in those early years. And not because its all sunshine and lollipops even among spiritual friends, people are still people: they can be as encouraging and inspiring as they are frustrating and disappointing. But thats part of our agreement as a community to lean into discomfort and difficulty together, and to support each other in our mutual aspiration and commitment to living in an upright and compassionate way.

Practicing together, in this community of spiritual friends, is precious. And pretty incredible that weve achieved this while anchoring ourselves as a primarily virtual community these past couple of years. Each one of us contributes to the life of our sangha in a meaningful way. We are mirrors, encouraging and challenging each other, always aiming to deepen our practice and our intimacy with just this even when just this aint so pretty. We explore what it means to be human together, returning again and again to curiosity, compassion, and to our breath.

No one else can do this for us, yet we cannot do it alone. Please, reflect on the implications of this; do not take it, or each other, for granted. Together, we seek to find the perfection of the wise heart. We make our way through this one continuous mistake, tumbling together and smoothing out each others rough edges, while navigating the many passions that jerk us around. Together, we practice.

Our sangha, our spiritual friendships it is here that we find not half, but the whole of this sacred and holy life, farts and all where we undertake to find our home in Awakening. How can we be anything but grateful?

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The Holy Life, Farts & All | James Ford - Patheos

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2022 Call For Kindness Partners

2022 Call For Kindness Partners

NEW YORK, March 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Top companies, organizations, and individuals across the country are proudly united in support of Riley's Way Foundation's 2022 Call For Kindness (#CallForKindness). The Call For Kindness offers young people (between the ages of 13 and 22) the chance to participate in a dynamic leadership development fellowship and win up to $3,000 in funding for a project of their own that inspires kindness and strengthens their local, national, or global communities.

A kindness movement led by young people is, for many, a welcome break from all that's going on in the nation and world today. Leading companies, organizations, and groups seem to agree and are eagerly amplifying their collective voices to support the next generation of young people who are leading through the lens of kindness and empathy by signing Riley's Way's Partnership Pledge.

"Kindness is paramount to envisioning a more just and equitable world," said Dr. Christine O'Connell, Executive Director of Riley's Way Foundation. "We are grateful for those who have already signed and now invite you to add your voice to the Call For Kindness Partnership Pledge and embrace kindness, empathy, and inclusivity as essential leadership traits."

At Riley's Way, countless acts of kindness in local and global communities are the norm against the backdrop of a nation and world facing political and socio-economic turmoil. The Call For Kindness supports young people determined to make a meaningful difference in their communities by leading with intentional kindness. Young leaders are invited to share ideas on ways to effectively tackle equity and social justice issues and build meaningful connections within their school or community. As many as 35 youth-led projects will receive awards, up to 10 of which will focus specifically on mental health, the Call For Kindness 2022 special category. The deadline to apply is fast-approaching: April 1, 2022. Visit CallForKindness.org to learn more.

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"DoSomething is committed to joining Riley's Way Foundation because we know that relationships matter," shared Valeria Villarroel, Director of Marketing at DoSomething.org. "We strive to create an inclusive space that fuels young people to take action on the issues most pressing to them. We know at the core this starts with kindness and compassion for your neighbor, empathy for those with different lived experiences, and a desire to build stronger and more joyful communities, especially in the wake of a global pandemic. This is why are eager to join the #CallForKindness."

Visit CallForKindness-partnership-pledge.org to see the complete list of groups voicing their support for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity around the nation and the world.

Contact:Shonda SmithDirector of Communicationsssmith@rileysandler.org917.589.4688

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Logos of the companies and organizations who have signed the Call For Kindness Partnership Pledge

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Top Companies and Organizations Nationwide Join the Call For Kindness - Yahoo Finance

Asheville, NC March 22, 2022 | Asheville City and Buncombe County residents are invited to participate in what is expected to be the first in a series of Community Conversations designed to solicit feedback in achieving a community-wide shared goal: By 2035, ALL Asheville City and Buncombe County students graduate from high school ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams.

This goal was developed by United for Youth, a growing multi-generational, cross-sector cradle-to-career partnership built on the principle that Equity and Educational Excellence are Inseparable. The purpose of these conversations is to listen to, learn from, and work with the community; building the necessary relationships that allow all voices to be heard in creating solutions that elevate student success, support families, and engage communities throughout Buncombe County. They provide a safe place where residents can come together to talk about their concerns and future aspirations for their communities.

Building relationships and partnerships with those most impacted by our work are key components to our success. Weve been in this community for 100 years, providing support with our work, and now we are being more intentional about expanding and centering community voices. When I was tasked with building United Ways Community Engagement Department, I knew that if we were to truly have a positive impact on our community, we needed to co-create innovative solutions and create space for our community to participate. Thats what these Community Conversations are all about, stepping aside and providing a space for residents to be part of the solution. stated Aisha Shepherd, United Ways Vice President of Community Engagement.

What: Community Conversations will gather community input on what it will take to support youth to be ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams, and also what it will take for our community to be ready for them to pursue those goals and dreams here, in our own community.

When:

April 2, 12 pm-1:30 pmBlack WallStreet: 8 River Arts Place, Asheville, NC 28801

April 5, 6:00 pm-7:30 pmEdington Center: 133 Livingston Street, Asheville, NC 28801

April 7, 11:00 am-12:30 pmCIMA/LaMilpa: 610 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806

How:

For more information and to register, visit unitedwayabc.org/community-conversations.

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Asheville and Buncombe County residents invited to share their perspectives in support of an equitable future For youth - Mountain Xpress

A few months ago, I wrote about my experience of falling into complacency over the 2021 summer break. Upon leaving the Catholic communities at BC for the summer, I had to be more intentional about cultivating my faith, as making the effort to drive to daily Mass at home required more discipline than walking three minutes from Roncalli Hall to St. Joseph Chapel. Needless to say, I got lazy and did not muster the necessary discipline to do so.

Returning home for winter break in December, I knew I would have to face the same challenge. As a way to combat the discipline problem from the summer, and as a way to pray along with the liturgical calendar even if I miss Mass on a particular weekday, I decided to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office. I resolved to pray Morning Prayer, the Office of Readings, at least one of either Midmorning, Midday, or Midafternoon Prayer, then Evening Prayer and Night Prayer each day. I had tried to do similarly a few months prior, but that pursuit only lasted a few days. I figured that this time, since I did not have classes, it would be easier to establish the habit.

I can now confirm this effort bore fruit, as I have been successful in praying the Divine Office daily from December 28the Feast of the Holy Innocentsthrough today, aside from maybe two missed Night Prayers in that span. But this alone is not evidence of fruitful prayerit would mean nothing if I were simply reciting words instead of truly praying with the Office.

I have found that the Divine Office provides a rather effective way to receive as full an understanding of praying the Psalms as one can. Praising the Lord in the morning, meditating on Gods laws and precepts in the midst of the weekday struggle, giving thanks in the evening, and beseeching God for his assistance and forgiveness before bed, the character of each Psalm fits especially the needs particularly relevant to the time of day.

The Divine Office also has helped me approach St. Pauls exhortation to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). I had this in mind even as I started that failed attempt in the fall, interestingly enough inspired by the Islamic proscription to pray five times daily. Studying Islam in Peter Kreefts Philosophy of World Religions class, I read about the Muslim story of Muhammad bargaining with God to require prayer five times daily, as it would be too much to ask man to literally pray without ceasing. I immediately connected this to the Church, knowing that we already had an official, daily prayer broken into five hours (or seven if considering the Daytime Prayers of Midmorning, Midday, and Midafternoon Prayers separately) in the Office. From my experience so far, I can confirm that I am aware of Gods presence more often during the day than I was before starting to pray the Office.

While the Divine Office is only mandatory for priests and religious, I highly recommend anyone looking to increase their awareness of Gods presence throughout the day to consider praying the Hours, even if just a handful each day. A good way to start is with the major Hours of Lauds and VespersMorning and Evening Prayer, respectivelyand work in other hours as they become ingrained in habit. ComplineNight Prayeris also a very approachable prayer to pray, as it takes about five minutes right before sleeping. As well as approachable, it is fruitful, as it offers an opportunity to examine your conscience to evaluate how well you performed Gods will throughout the day, as well as an opportunity to ask for Gods protection through the night and into the next day. While being the longest Hour to pray, the Office of Readings is a great way to expand your knowledge of Scripture and the lives of the saints, as it offers scriptural commentary from Church Fathers and saints, and on feast days, commentaries on that particular saints life. The readings in the Office of Readings also break a longer biblical passage across multiple days, which helps contextualize Scripture passages.

As one who often is lost for words, God, through the Church, helps provide me with words with which to pray through the Divine Office. As said in Midday Prayer on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought (Rom. 8:26).

Editor-In-ChiefAdam is a junior from Columbus, Ohio. He previously served as Campus News and Culture Editor, and boasts the title of least cultured to ever serve as the latter. Holding a minor in Biology, he recently converted from STEM and now majors in Philosophy. He currently leads Una Voce, the Latin Mass society at BC, and sings with the University Chorale of Boston College, the Chorale Chamber Singers, and the BC Madrigal Singers. He enjoys Gregorian Chant, relearning the clarinet, and is an unabashed Ohio apologist.

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Discovering the Liturgy of the Hours The Torch | Boston College's Catholic Newspaper - The Torch

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An organization led by startup founders and investors aims to grow the presence of successful, diverse-led ventures and advance civic leadership in Michigans entrepreneurial ecosystem

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Michigan Founders Fund (MFF), announced its newly established 501(c)3 nonprofit to serve the needs of entrepreneurial growth and community impact across the state of Michigan. Established as a standalone organization in December 2021, MFF was previously serving the community as the Ann Arbor Entrepreneurs Fund, an initiative of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

There has never been a better time to be a founder in Michigan, or an investor, explains Trista Van Tine, Executive Director and co-founder of Michigan Founders Fund. We are at an inflection point for high-growth entrepreneurship and its long-term impact in our state. At Michigan Founders Fund, we are leaning into this momentum because we know the significant economic, social and cultural gains that come from successful tech ecosystems. Our approach to this work is about helping founders find fellowship with other founders and find their voice in the communities where they live and operate - founders for founders and founders for community.

According to data from Pitchbook, in 2020 alone, more than 60 new ventures launched in the state looking to revolutionize industries from financial services, to the future of the workforce, to healthcare and mobility. Michigan is the fastest growing state for VC investment (886% growth between 2016 - 2020, according to Crunchbase) and in recent years, Michigan has seen its cities ranked at the top of multiple lists showcasing innovation hubs. From companies that were launched since 2010, there are more than 675 active, venture-backed startups in operation representing thousands of advanced sector jobs.

Michigan Founders Fund provides startup leaders with programming and company-building support, culture-building tools, data, and a simple mechanism for philanthropic giving designed to create stronger, more inclusive communities across the state. MFF members - tech founders and investors - have pledged 1% of equity, carry or profit into a fund for Michigan-based grantmaking.

On why he is a co-founder of Michigan Founders Fund and actively involved in the network, Dug Song, Chief Strategy Officer, Cisco and co-founder of Duo Security shares, Technology is a great equalizer. To generate wealth via technology, you dont need to have come from money. You dont need to have land. You dont need to have factories, raw materials, or natural resources. But to generate community wealth, tech founders and their companies need to be intentional about building a larger success that benefits all. The growing impact of Michigans tech sector gives us the opportunity to build an innovation economy where all belong, and I couldnt be prouder of the founders and teams who have committed to building a more inclusive future for all.

Looking at the combined resources throughout the state, Michigan has all the makings of a thriving tech hub. Now is the time to amplify the Michigan story, states Adrian Fortino, Board Treasurer and Managing Director of Mercury Fund. For us, the earlier in the startup lifecycle that we can support founders and get them connected to one another, the more we can drive density and inclusivity. This drives capital and talent attraction, necessitating a broader cultural shift in how our economic development entities and regulators view this sector in the state.

Adds Van Tine, Our work is designed to further equity, inclusion and a give where you live ethos, meaning more founders will be empowered and equipped to financially support their communities and address key issues our state struggles with.

One MFF program driving equity and inclusion practices in the tech ecosystem is the MFF Future Founders Program, a DEI-focused internship program to provide underrepresented students with a pathway into the startup industry and to help companies develop or strengthen their DEI initiatives and access local and diverse talent pools. In 2021, over 75 students applied from colleges across the state and 12 students were hired for different startup companies, of which 58% identified as female and 92% BIPOC. Now in its second year, 20 companies from Grand Rapids, Detroit and Ann Arbor have signed on to offer paid internships to underrepresented, Michigan-based undergraduate students and over 145 students have applied. Bank of Ann Arbor has also signed on to provide multi-year financial support to the program.

Bank of Ann Arbor is excited to announce a multi-year lead-sponsorship commitment to support the Future Founders Internship Program, comments Michael Cole, President, Technology Industry Group, Bank of Ann Arbor. As a community working to build a foundation for Michigans next generation economy, we have much to be proud of over the past two decades. However, there is no greater area of need than the development of a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable base of talent to provide the type of leadership needed in the 21st century. Michigan Founders Fund has designed the Future Founders Internship program for this purpose. At Bank of Ann Arbor, we are honored to participate and look forward to meeting and working with the future leaders in this program.

Joining the organization to lead community engagement and manage the Future Founders Program, is Sarah Craft, formerly Detroit Director for Venture for America.

Michigan Founders Fund has appointed a new Board of Directors, co-chaired by Dug Song, Chief Strategy Officer, Cisco and co-founder of Duo Security, co-chaired by Bhushan Kulkarni, co-founder and CEO of InfoReady, with Adrian Fortino, Managing Director, Mercury Fund as Treasurer. The organization will continue to build out a small, diverse executive board through 2022.

The organization has also appointed a new 12-person Advisory Council composed of prominent founders, VCs and ecosystem builders to accelerate its founder network and support programs.

For more information about the unique opportunities available to entrepreneurs through the Michigan Founders Fund and how to become a member, please visit http://www.MichiganFoundersFund.org.

About Michigan Founders Fund

Michigan Founders Fund is the states founder community. Together, we are committed to fellowship, cultural intention, and funding solutions that uplift communities across the state where we live and operate. By equipping startup leaders with founder-first programming and company-building support, diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused initiatives, culture-building tools, and a simple mechanism for philanthropic giving, we empower each other to accelerate economic development and collectively serve Michigan. The MFF network of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists have pledged 1% of equity, profit or investment carry from their businesses into a fund for state-based grantmaking. Michigan Founders Fund is a spin-off of the Ann Arbor Entrepreneurs Fund, an initiative of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation that was launched in 2019 with a focus on Washtenaw County. The newly established and re-structured organization is dedicated to serving the needs of communities throughout the state of Michigan and all its high-growth founders and already has 40 pledged members.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220324005955/en/

Trista Van Tinetrista@michiganfoundersfund.org

Source: Michigan Founders Fund

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Michigan Founders Fund Launches to Support High-Growth Entrepreneurs and Local Communities Throughout the State of Michigan - StreetInsider.com

A wave of baby boomer retirements is sweeping across the leadership ranks in Twin Cities suburbs, where at least a dozen city managers or administrators have announced plans to step down in the past year.

Many of those who are retiring said they delayed their plans until they could see their cities through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now they're ready to move on.

And from White Bear Lake to Ramsey to Shoreview, the job their successors will fill has changed, recruiters and local government leaders say. As local politics have grown increasingly tense during the pandemic and racial reckoning after George Floyd's murder, city leaders who are used to being behind the scenes have to put extra emphasis on communication, talking to the public while still providing information to the City Council and staff to run the city. The turnover also opens the door for more women and diverse candidates in a profession long dominated by men.

"It is time for someone else to step in ... even though the job is great. I had a blast doing it," said Tom McCarty, 67, who retired as Stillwater's city administrator in March.

The city manager or administrator job is sometimes described as the city's CEO.

Decades ago, many city managers and administrators had backgrounds in engineering because they were literally responsible for building their communities, said Heidi Voorhees, president and co-owner of GovHR USA, a firm that recruits candidates for local government positions and helped with recent city manager searches in Minnetonka and St. Louis Park.

But the ability to work with the community not just people within City Hall has become increasingly important.

"The job has over the years evolved tremendously into one that is highly collaborative, very communicative with both organizations and the community," Voorhees said.

A changing profession

The city manager and administrator roles are important, even though many people don't know what they are, said Luke Fischer, deputy director of the League of Minnesota Cities. While a city council sets policy, the city manager carries it out and is responsible for day-to-day operations.

That's part of the reason why New Hope City Manager Kirk McDonald, 70, has delayed his retirement.

"I actually didn't feel I could retire in the middle of the pandemic because I wanted to try to guide the city through it," said McDonald, who will retire in June.

The city manager is typically the highest paid city employee. In Minnesota, salaries start at $60,000 and top out at $192,000, the state salary cap for public employees. That cap can make it difficult to lure job candidates from other states, Fischer said, because some neighboring states don't limit what a city manager can earn.

The next generation of city leaders must navigate a climate where "things have become a lot more charged and a lot more partisan," Fischer said.

Marcia Glick, 63, Robbinsdale's city manager, plans to retire in May or June. She said Robbinsdale leaders are trying to be "more intentional about engagement," especially with groups they weren't reaching before, in part because of people's distrust of government.

That includes trying new tools, including an app that sends out notices about such events as snow emergencies, she said.

"We really, really try to put everything out there," she said.

The profession has changed, McDonald said, over the past 20 years and he believes for the better. He noted he attends watershed association meetings in a local park and mingles with the public on "Food Truck Fridays" at City Hall.

"You have to be out in the community engaging with people," he said. "It's not just a sit-behind-the-desk job."

More women in the ranks

Recruiters who work with cities to hire administrators say the pool of candidates is smaller than it used be but now includes more women.

Fischer said about 30% of city managers and administrators in the metro area are women compared with just under 20% nationally.

There are three women among the dozen retiring city managers or administrators, and so far, four of the new hires are women and five are men.

Glick said her City Council has narrowed the applicant pool to four candidates. The larger pool included women, but the final candidates are all men. Glick recalled that Robbinsdale city manager searches in the '90s before she got the job didn't include any women.

"I really enjoy my job, but I'm ready to do different things," she said. "It's time for someone else to have the opportunity to work in Robbinsdale."

Originally posted here:

Twin Cities suburbs see wave of city manager retirements - Star Tribune

Looking back at how the workforce and workplace have evolved over the last few years, what we do has not changed as much as how and why we do it. Increasingly, employees are looking for jobs that are more personally fulfilling. The call to action for many businesses, then, is the creation of a new set of working standards that put purpose and people first in the workforce.

People want to feel that they are connected and contributing to an organization that places value on cause, culture, collaboration, compassion, and creation. These concepts are critical to helping enterprises accomplish their commitments, promote growth, and increase profitability.

"When an organization's business model is driven by a holistic purpose, alignment between its brand identity and sustained commitment to all stakeholders happens organically," says Kim Christfort, National Managing Director of Deloitte Greenhouse. "Employees, suppliers, communities, and shareholders all feel a greater sense of meaning through the good and the bad times, and therefore are able to tackle challenges with greater ease and resilience."

I connected with Christfort to understand how organizations have evolved in pandemic times and what they're doing to put purpose at the forefront of their growth strategy.

Celebrate Cause

Although many people work to earn a living, they also want a career that contributes to something larger than themselves. Companies will need to establish a clear mission and express their values to both current and potential employees, ensuring that purpose is at the forefront of conversations. "Sharing a clear, compelling vision for the future while rooting it in the organization's purpose - why we do what we do - is critical for attracting and retaining top talent," said Christfort. "Regularly reporting out on progress towards that vision can also create a greater sense of camaraderie, accomplishment, and pride for the work that is done daily."

Reframe Culture

Group norms, policies, rituals and celebrations, and shared language (such as Deloitte's Business Chemistry framework) all contribute to an organization's culture, according to MIT Sloan professor emeritus Edgar Schein. In the face of long-term hybrid work, employers will need to be more intentional about how they show and share what their values and expectations are.

Leaders have an opportunity to reshape culture holistically through providing cross-functional learning opportunities and creating time for bonding or networking. "Open dialogue across all departments on what's working and what's not within hybrid work is essential for optimizing the hybrid work model and reimagining the organization's culture," said Christfort.

Design Collaboration

By bringing more people to the table, virtual work leveled the playing field people for many and opened conversations around inclusion, but it also presents new challenges to equitable workforce experiences. Historically, equity has been considered in the context of diversity and inclusion, but in the return-to-work context, the definition considers different workplace preferences of hybrid, virtual, and in-person.

To mitigate potential inequities, hybrid organizations need to highlight the potential for in-group/out-group bias and work to train employees to design more inclusive meetings regardless of where individuals are working.

Cultivate Compassion

With the increase in flexibility in how and when individuals work, people are reporting higher levels of burnout and difficulty in finding work-life balance. Indeed, the job aggregator site, conducted a survey that found over half (52%) of survey respondents experienced burnout in 2021--up from the 43% who said the same in a pre-Covid-19 survey.

To combat this, leaders and employees alike will have to focus on increasing their empathic social skills such as active listening and information sharing. Tactical changes such as reducing meetings or addressing Zoom fatigue will continue in earnest.

Enhance Creation

The shift to hybrid work is also fundamentally changing the way employees generate innovative ideas. New technology allows for better brainstorming sessions regardless of whether individuals are in person or not. Leaders should also recognize that some of the best ideas come from unexpected parts of the organization, fostering new ways to draw out innovative suggestions.

The hybrid working model will remain top of mind when considering what is needed for sustainable growth and profits. Fostering communities that put an emphasis on cause, culture, collaboration, compassion, and creation will be the driving force in determining success for years to come.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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