“The world has never been more polarized, and more fragmented, than it is now.”  You might have thought this recently. You might even have said it, in a sincere plea for more unity. But, the statement begs a few questions. One: Never more polarized and fragmented for WHOM? Would African descendants surviving the Middle Passage, […] The post Are You Unintentionally Hindering Generative Conversation? appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

Still in the throes of multiple pandemics, organizations thinking about, focusing on, or help with capacity building must think through the impacts each pandemic is having on capacity building. How should the delivery of capacity building tools and resources shift? How should discussions on capacity building change? How does capacity look now (in an environment […] The post Time To Revisit Your Capacity Building Programs: Questions to Ask appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

At Fifth Ward Cultural Art District’s first community meeting we were in a small circle, talking about community and art. I’d asked if we could, perhaps, reframe how art is perceived by the community. When a participant said, “Actually now that I think about it–my hair is art. My clothes are art.” And Deborah “DEEP” […] The post How Misconceptions of Art Hinder It’s Transformational Power appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

I had the privilege of talking to (and meeting) Walter Hull of US Dream Academy and I’ve been chewing on some of that convo for weeks. I know a few of ya’ll are probably sick of hearing the name, but the conversation was soooooo good! For one, I admired how freely he spoke of, and acknowledged, his […] The post Yes, But Does Your Organization Center Joy? appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

Today is the day! I’m speaking at the Champions for Change Conference on Tools for Creating Agency, Empowerment, and Ownership. The audience will primarily be collectives, collaborations, coalitions, other organizations working together as groups or backbones supporting these groups. Which makes a discussion on  agency, power, and ownership even more important.   Collectives and Backbones […] The post Working in Collectives and Backbones appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

Not only is imagination work our jam at EMPLLC, but the way I talk about imagination reflects the level of urgency I believe should surround it. The post Imagination Must Be A Priority For Your Organization appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

As the audience for conversations around racism in institutions, the unequal distribution of power, and prevalence of inequity in the US has grown in the last year so too have the number of RFPs centering equity as a concern. The increased interest in embedding and operating from a place of equity is great news. So […] The post Make Sure Your Equity-Centered RFP Isn’t Inequitable appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

Short post today, based on a few conversations we’re having around equity these days. The level of conversation and interest around DEI is really exciting. DEI partners we work with are finding themselves completely booked up, and those looking to make programming or businesses more equitable are calling us more. Still, there’s a conversation businesses need […] The post Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Alone Will Not Transform Your Business appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

Happy, happy Friday! One thing we’re keeping up with at EMPLLC is where clients are as we all collectively navigate a year of multiple pandemics. With some states *coughs ignorantly* re-opening while others roll out vaccines there’s more mentions of returning to normal coming up. But there is no “normal.” COVID-19, police violence protests, and […] The post Don’t Focus Your Organization On “Catching Up”, Attune Instead appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more

When we talk about transforming the world as it is, we’re fundamentally talking about imagination. Re-imagining what is and what can be. And because our family of origin, and the lens they give us, shape so much of how we think and see it’s so important to engage with bodies of work that challenge what […] The post March Social Impact Reading List With Social Impact appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits ..read more