Posts from — July 2010

Kudos and “woo-hoos and way-to-go’s” to everyone who planned, promoted, and participated in yesterday’s very successful 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act! 

In listening to the stories of those who lobbied and labored to bring the law into existence, I was reminded of Advocacy Lesson # 3: Know your legacy. 

Our individual and corporate stories are each woven by others who brought us into the fullness of our being and told us the stories of the journeys we have joined.  It is imperative that for every movement we join, each advocacy we do, and all the justice we seek to bring that we learn, know, and are able to share the stories of those who went before us and were the first to clear the weeds and the underbrush and make the path we travel.

Know your history, folks. Study it. Be proud of it. Make some of it yourselves.

sj;

Greetings,

Happy 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!  May we each make time today to remember and to re-commit ourselves to the work still needing done to make our neighborhoods, our state, and our nation places where all are welcome, can participate, build, and thrive!

Here’s your belated Advocacy Lesson #2: Do what you say you will.

No excuses.  No “but, I….”  No cheezy sports reference…..O.K., maybe just one — I dropped the ball on this one and have spent my time on the bench and doing extra laps at practice.   I said I would do a daily blog and then… zippo.  My apologies.

Indeed, part of advocacy and part of leadership is doing what you say you are going to do.  That involves, thinking clearly about what you say before you say it and making sure you can deliver. 

Advocacy, is also admitting your “oops” and learning what happened and getting back up and starting again.   Here’s a Sally Jo “fun fact” you may not know — way, way, way back when I was a sophomore in high school taking my first public speaking course when I gave my first speech I totally and completely locked-up!  Seriously, I tensed, I could hardly speak, and I was embarrassed as only a high school kid could be in that situation.  As you know, I rebounded from that first stumble over the first hurdle….nailed the next speech….and have been talking ever since………

Look for the daily blog and more advocacy lessons. Share your comments and insights.  Indeed, we do live and learn and make the necessary adjustments.

sj;

Today, 26 July 2010, we mark 20th Anniversary of the signing into law of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Tina Calabro did an excellent piece on how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.  Check it out at:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10202/1074040-114.stm

Health plans may be raising premiums despite outsize surpluses, watchdog finds. N.C. Aizenman. The Washington Post. July 22, 2010.

Hispanic Democrats want health-care fix.  Carrie Budoff Brown.  Politico.  July 19, 2010.