Meaningful Moment

I was just in the elevator of my building with other young Black people who were talking about where they went to high school. One said she went to an area Catholic school, and so I shared that I work at another Catholic school in the area. Her immediate response when she heard what school was, "They were so good. I really wanted to go there!" It made me feel such a rush of pride for my school. I love my school so much that it's always nice to hear that other people admire it too. I feel fortunate to be a part of something special.

Madeleine Albright Luncheon

I had the honor of attending the National Democratic Institute's Madeleine Albright Luncheon this month. There were many thoughtful speakers. 

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, an MP in Kosovo, shared that in her experience, doing the right thing is not enough for politicians - they also need to talk about doing the right thing. She also said, "You keep throwing stones at me, I'll keep paving roads with them." 

Seyi Akiwowo, a councillor in the UK, discussed the significance of the distinction between robust debate and silencing when people disagree. She also talked about the importance of representation. 

Madeleine Albright talked about how women should not be looked at as victims. She said that she wants to build upon the slogan, "If you see something, say something;" she believes that we also need DO something. And she concluded by saying that women are not asking for our rights, we were born with them.

Madeleine Albright herself is not universally admired, but I think she represents the complexities that politicians face. There are no perfect politicians because there are no perfect people and there are rarely perfect solutions to the challenges they are trying to address. I believe that Madeleine Albright followed her conscience. I may disagree with some of her choices and language along the way, but my sense is that she continues to learn and grow. That is my greatest hope for all of us.

Teaching Empathy

The article 8 Ways to Teach Kids to See the Best in Others has led me to reflect on just how much of my job includes the work of empathy building. From my Genocide Studies class, to the service and social justice work I lead, to the conversations in my office, teaching empathy is a constant in each day. And honestly, it is my work of which I am proud.

Reverend Barber calls us to conscience

I loved reading this article in Sojourners about the Poor People's Campaign because it is reflective of my experience of Reverend Barber. The beginning of the article tells a story of Rev. Barber sternly asking people at a Poor People's Campaign gathering to take a knee instead of gleefully celebrating at the event. Similarly, on a Skype call for the movement a few weeks ago, Rev. Barber reminded people that as joyful as we may be about coming together to do justice, we must also hold in our hearts are pain of the bombs we had dropped on Syria the night before. It was a moment that will stick with me because I do relish in opportunities to do justice. Rev. Barber reminds us that we must decenter ourselves in the work and center those on the margins, those whose experience is decidedly less joyful. Last night I had the honor of hearing him preach at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the church that President Lincoln attended and that was at the heart of the original Poor People's Campaign. Rev. Barber preached from the same pulpit that Dr. King had preached from fifty years ago. What a powerful reminder that we are picking up the baton; the work we do matters. We must take it, though not necessarily ourselves, very seriously.