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Join the Zone In: City Core community meeting to review the proposed rezoning plans, share community feedback, and learn the next steps in rezoning your neighborhood. Reconnect with the Zone In: City Core Leadership Circle and invite your neighbors! Learn more at bit.ly/zicc_zoning_draft.

The 2024 Wise Stewards Seminar is now one for the books and a great one it was. With board leaders and presidents like these, theological education in North America is in good hands.

The housing crisis isn't just an urban issue. Rural areas face their own housing struggles, affecting families and communities alike. Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group and partners like HAC are addressing this head-on. Discover valuable resources and advocacy efforts for rural housing development, including innovative solutions like manufactured housing. Plus, programs like the California Coalition for Rural Housing's leadership training are paving the way for young professionals to make a difference. Join the conversation and explore Aspen CSG's resources for stronger rural communities: https://lnkd.in/eqZHyDvr

People find out I'm an actor and either immediately think one of two things; "that's why public speaking is easy for you" or "so you must love being front and center" and I'm here to dispel both. The thing that folks don't realize, is that when I'm acting, it's not me onstage. I'm not putting ME out there to be raw and vulnerable and open to the public and all of their perceptions and opinions. Public speaking makes my heart rate rise, my hands shake and my stomach turn. Being in front of a crowd, being in front of the room, and having all eyes and attention on me makes me want to hide. I'm left thinking, every single time, of all the people who are more qualified, more articulate, and certainly more interesting, who could be occupying my space. So, that's exactly how I felt when Brian Sano asked me to be a part of this amazing campaign of National Grid's, a Love Letter to Albany. And the truth is, that there are. There are so many more qualified, more articulate, and more interesting people in this beautiful place we call home. People who are inspiring and motivating sustainable change to build stronger communities where ALL can thrive. This is our goal, every single day, as a part of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region but this is a common goal that we share with National Grid and Project C. This is also the common goal of the 26 organizations working out of our for-impact coworking community, The Blake Annex. Whether the focus is youth development, immigration rights, healthcare advocacy, legal services, housing equity, and more, we can all agree on this; we want a more just Capital Region Community, one that is more equitable, more diverse, and more inclusive, for all. So, for that reason, I will never stop saying yes when you all call me. Because while I may not be my own first choice (or second, or third), I do know that I have a responsibility to use this gift and use it not only to entertain but to mobilize, to organize and to advocate. It is a privilege to get to be here. It is a privilege to get to be heard. It is a privilege to take up this space and if I can use this privilege to keep telling YOUR stories then I can be sure that you all are heard. And really, that's what I'm in it for. Thank you, Brian Sano and National Grid for letting me be a part of this campaign. I really love Albany and I really love all of you. We have so much work to do, but we CAN do it, if we choose to go at it, together.

I spent years convincing decision makers to adopt policies. I'd turn up at the Minister's office, present a new report and talk through how they could get it through the Treasury. The new initiative would get announced. We'd celebrate. Surely this time we'd crack the problem. But then the grand plan wouldn't lead to the outcomes we wanted. And we were back to the drawing board. So I started to think differently, guided by brilliant people like Neil Crowther Patrick Watt and Nana Taona Kuo who I have been fortunate to call my boss. People who belived in dignity, justice and equity. Whose policy toolkit was about evidence, creativity and partnership. People who put people at the heart of policy making and built movements to deliver the change. Today I'm working with organisations who live that philosophy, like Impetus - Backing the best who invest in social leaders and their teams over the long term to deliver benchmark beating outcomes, Shelter whose commitment to deeply listening to lived expereince defines their direction, and now The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP) whose dedication to foster sustained impact by collaboratively influencing the underlying dynamics that contribute to societal issues, breaks every rule in the policy playbook. It is - as they say - a journey. But a better, more inclusive, respectful way of making policy. One that works.

I’m thrilled to kick off HPGM’s training series. As we dive into the world of boards, I’ll be introducing Board Basics while sharing valuable insights. 🗣️ Share Your Story: What was your first board service experience like? Did you have any memorable moments or lessons learned? Drop a comment below!👇 #BoardTraining #InclusiveLeadership

Announcing 🗣 Who better than our Featured Panel Expert, Juancarlos (JC) Soto to speak on the use of the term "Latine" from an inclusive language lens? I am honored that he's agreed to participate in next week's panel to give us some insights. There is still time to register so you too can get some key takeaways from this important conversation! https://lnkd.in/emDmiWrE See you next week!

🚀 Exciting News! It's been an incredible journey being a part of @ConnectFutures' full 360-degree rebrand! From contributing to our sleek new logo to shaping the revamped website, every step has been a thrilling experience. 🌟 Please checkout out new website and leave a comment! 🔗 https://bit.ly/49OBuKg 🔗 #ConnectFutures #BrandRevamp #NewLook #InnovationInAction #RebrandingJourney"

Check out this article about our West CEO, Eric Green!