Seattle Reign FC’s Post

In my Africana Studies classes the discussion would sometimes come up about the statement, “I don’t see color.” And the issue with that statement is, if you don’t see color, you don’t see me. Visibility is important, hints the quote, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”, and the saying, “Representation matters”. Both of which speak to visibility…. His response was very spot on and well put. We can’t fix issues that are not visible, and therefore are not seen. And I state both because, though some things are visible to someone, that doesn’t mean that they’re seen by everyone. #Perspective #RepresentationMatters #DEIMatters

Happy Founder's Day to all who celebrate! While I am no longer working for and with the Brothers of the Christian Schools and their partners, I am the professional I am today because of their careful guidance of my development. As an HR professional, St. John Baptist de La Salle was most certainly someone that I can look to for people management inspiration: his writings (Conduct of Schools, the Letters to the Brothers, Civility and Decorum) could be considered to be his version of employee handbooks. He spent time visiting the various schools and agencies that he sent the Brothers to, and he found himself adjudicating A LOT of employee relations issues between the Brothers. 😬 John Baptist de La Salle's engagement with the early Brothers, the families, and those who he rented space from is a good example of how nimble HR folks need to be with stakeholders. Today isn't just Founder's Day; it is also the day that Pope Leo XIII promulgated the encyclical, "Rarem Novarem," which informs our understanding of the rights of workers. At the time, it was a revolutionary document and it remains prophetic today. He said, "Hence, by degrees it has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hardheartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself." These two contributions for me as an HR professional inform how I work with employees entrusted to my care and, how I try to interact with those I partner with.

Deep Dive returns! In this episode we bring back a number of contributors to our recently concluded limited series - After America - and ask if they have hope for American democracy, or if we already past the Rubicon. Can American democracy survive the storm of voter disenfranchisement, misinformation, and rising authoritarianism? This episode promises not just a look at the challenges, but also a glimmer of hope for our democratic future. We explore the perennial struggle to uphold the ideals of equality and the essential role of our political institutions. And, you'll hear insights into how the Republican Party's transformation and Donald Trump's influence pose unique threats to American democracy. Yet, amid these daunting challenges, we find reasons for cautious optimism in the resilience of U.S. institutions and the enduring power of foundational principles like equality and justice. What would another Trump presidency mean for the United States? Through poignant personal stories and global perspectives, we highlight the immediate and structural dangers we face. This episode isn't just a wake-up call; it’s a challenge to protect the future of American democracy. Featuring: Dr. Carol Graham, Dr. Kate Starbird, Dr. Edward Watts, Dr. Alice Marwick, Dr. Tara Grove, Dr. James Robinson, Dr. Sara Benesh, Dr. Benjamin Hett, Dr. Sheri Berman, Dr. Bernard Schlager, Jason van Tatenhove, Dr. Balint Magyar, Stephen Marche #democracy #Authoritarianism #AfterAmerica #Trump #gop #Republicans #MAGA #LiberalDemocracy #america #UnitedStates #Election2024 #vote #disinformation #ChristianNationalism #Militia #Insurrection #Jan6thInsurrection https://lnkd.in/g7t9p8fS

June is the month in which Tom Skinner was born 82 years ago and passed away 30 years ago. At a time of declining civility, rising racial terror, political upheaval, and threats to democracy, there is much that people of faith and diverse races today can learn from Tom Skinner’s teaching and practice of racial healing and commitment to biblical social justice. Read the full blog on my website. https://wix.to/iy3TH2J

A closed chapter is not a disservice to the world, it is a clear path paved for future generations. Throughout history struggle has been romanticized, portraying that a journey through hardships is the ultimate mark of success... We are here to rewrite the narrative and dismental systems and practices that foster exploitation and injustice. For future generations. In this present moment, we stand against the struggles our forefathers faced in the past.

Representation matters. Did you know that only 1.5% of the places listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio relate to Black heritage? And in Cleveland—where approximately half of residents identify as Black—only 4% of National Register listings represent Black heritage. Cleveland Restoration Society is working to increase the representation of African American cultural heritage sites in the National Register. We are honored to be one of 21 recipients of an Underrepresented Communities grant from the National Park Service, which will enable us to nominate six historic Black churches to the National Register of Historic Places: Advent Evangelical Lutheran, Emmanuel Baptist, Greater Abyssinia Baptist, Greater Friendship Baptist, Nazarene Baptist, and New Life at Calvary. Read more about the Underrepresented Communities grant program and award recipients at https://lnkd.in/dHaHhraR

55 Stories, One Nation: Celebrating July 4th Nearly 250 years ago in Philadelphia, a fledgling America boldly declared independence from Britain to forge what the United States Constitution later deemed "a more perfect Union." Today, we understand that America's story isn't a single narrative but a tapestry woven from diverse histories. It encompasses the struggles and triumphs of countless individuals and communities who have shaped the nation's identity. This Fourth of July, delve into stories from every single state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, and Guam. By sharing these stories, we honor our civic duty to embrace the full spectrum of American history and preserve the places integral to our collective identity. https://ow.ly/A78350StBSb

Lifting up my relative General John Fulton Reynolds on this Memorial Day (along with the connection between the Civil War and civil rights). A respected senior commander in the Union Army, Reynolds was key in committing the Army to the Battle of Gettysburg (where he unfortunately died). Resistant to the politics of Washington, D.C., Reynolds previously declined President Abraham Lincoln’s request that he command the Army of the Potomac (the penchant to buck bureaucracy remains strong in his family). Today, you can see him standing resolutely in places throughout Pennsylvania (including in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall). Many think that the Civil War was a long ago moment in time - separate and apart from who we are today. Columbia University Professor Barbara Fields corrects this misguided notion: “I think what we need to remember, most of all, is that the Civil War is not over until we, today, have done our part in fighting it, as well as understanding what happened when the Civil War generation fought it. William Faulkner said once that history is not “was,” it’s “is,” and what we need to remember about the Civil War is that the Civil War “is,” in the present, as well as the past. The generation that fought the war, the generation that argued over the definition of the war, the generation that had to pay the price in blood, that had to pay the price in blasted hopes and a lost future also established a standard that will not mean anything until we finish the work. You can say there’s no such thing as slavery anymore, we’re all citizens. But if we’re all citizens, then we have a task to do to make sure that that, too, is not a joke. If some citizens live in houses and others live on the street, the Civil War is still going on. It’s still to be fought, and regrettably, it can still be lost.” #CivilWar #civilrights #historylives #justice #Pennsylvania

To echo some of my co-fellow's (Emiyah Watkins) thoughts, please see the video posted below for a deeper look into our journeys serving with the Americorps Lead for North Carolina Program. #Ilovegoodgovernment #Americorps #LeadforNC #UNCSOG

"Powerful transformation happens when we shift from knowing it all to being a humble learner and listeners." Discover the incredible potential of unlearning and relearning alongside Libby Hoffman. 🌟 Let's gather together to discuss peace, reconciliation, and the importance of community. As we commemorate our 50th anniversary, let's center our focus on the transformative power of peace. Witness the unfolding of a transformative circle in the link! https://bit.ly/4c82LIp