I miss graduate school. The UMASS Boston program’s training in pedagogy was excellent, but the dual degree also focused on organizational change and dialogue, which I fell in love with. The following list is a guide for managing the political aspects of effective management and community organizing. It was developed during my graduate work, and…
Category Archives: Empathy
The elegance and power of nonviolent talk
Good evening. I discovered an article written by William Powell, the author of “The Anarchist’s Cookbook.” The title is “I wrote the Anarchist Cookbook in 1969. Now I see its premise as flawed”. Powell argues for his book to taken out of publication and urges us to understand that “violence can’t be used to prevent…
Personal development as primary value
An important idea suddenly struck me. It happened just last night after a conflict-resolution process, in which I served as mediator… and only weeks after the sudden death of a person very dear to me. Last night, at the end of one of these meetings, I came to the conclusion that the essence of a healthy community is…
The arts as potent meaning-maker
Good afternoon. I’ve read this quote from Kurt Vonnegut before. The arts in my own life, of late, has been a potent meaning-maker… aside from good people and their kind acts. What I love most about my current projects is their inherent collaborative nature. Working in the studio on recordings with my co-producer is like…
Gratitude as renewable fuel
Good morning. I’m grateful for the humanity I’ve seen from a lot of good people over the past several weeks, and wanted to re-post some thoughts I posted yesterday on Facebook. I’ve noticed that people who feel genuine gratitude can’t help but to extend their well-being to others, using whatever resources at their disposal… whether…
Insights about “complicated mourning”
*Below is an excerpt from a Facebook post I wrote earlier today. Good morning. I am posting a link that explains about “complicated mourning” in the event of a sudden, accidental or traumatic death. The link: Resources for Complicated Mourning Speaking for myself, I would like people to feel comfortable bringing up this topic, and, at…
A British politician responds nonviolently to a pastor
*The following is something I posted on Facebook earlier this evening. Good evening. I don’t usually place my political/social views on Facebook, but I really have to say “wow” to this British politician’s response to a pastor’s question about gay marriage. His response was thoughtful, reasoned, respectful and complete. I wish non-violent language were practiced…
A song about compassion
Good morning. Two days ago, I finished collaborating on the mix of a song I wrote for my mother, who has been singing rhythm and blues for four decades. The song is called “The Gospel of Longfellow” and is my first attempt at R & B. The refrain in the piece is based on a…
Here’s to Oskar Schindler
Good afternoon. Just watched the Spielberg film, Schindler’s List this morning. Seen it many times, but it’s been years since I’ve seen it, and today it moved me more than ever. Oskar Schindler was a businessman who saved more than 1200 Jews in 1944, bribing Nazi officials into letting him keep his Jewish laborers for…
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