Drink Up

Today is my friend John’s birthday. I met John through Liberty Hill Foundation, the organization for which I’m proud to serve on the board of directors. I knew John’s wife before I knew John but hadn’t known they were married. They’re an awesome pair, together and individually. 

As I’ve navigated my way through learning how to be on a non-profit board (actually, any board) and serve on committees and play well with others in this new setting, John has been invaluable. I've gleaned tips from observing how he addresses issues in meetings and how he artfully makes his point without ever making someone feel diminished even if he completely disagrees. He also looks at challenges from angles that most of us didn’t think of and adds a depth to the debate. And, just as importantly, if he doesn't have anything to add, he stays silent. I've learned from Liberty Hill one of the most valuable components to being a team player is to ask yourself WAIT: "Why Am I Talking?"

Between John and his wife, I’m convinced there is no one they don’t know in the worlds of entertainment and politics and they are always willing to share their connections for the greater good. 

So today, John posted on Facebook about what a nice day he was having and that he looked forward to starting another year of doing his part to make the world a better place. Among the three charities he listed as his favorites were Liberty Hill, Charity Water and Oxfam America.  So today, in  John’s honor (and because I’ve already given to Liberty Hill), I’m donating to Charity Water. I met some folks from Charity Water at a great think-tank dinner John and Liz hosted and was so impressed with their singularity of their mission —”to bring clean and safe drinking water to every person on the planet”— and the creative ways Charity Water goes about reaching its goals. Scott Harrison started Charity Water in 2006 and his story—from night club and fashion event promoter to starting Charity Water —shows the difference that one person can make with a clear heart.  

Sept. 8: Charity Water

Why I started this blog

Click here to get “Causes and Effects” delivered every day to your email inbox (the subscription link now works) or enter your email in the top right corner.

Words Mean Nothing...

As I approach the 2/3rd mark on my year of giving daily, if there is one thing that has become crystal clear— with absolutely no room for doubt— is that words mean nothing, actions mean everything when it comes to helping people.

Before this year, I gave to charity, but more often than not, I wasn’t putting my money (or my time) where my mouth was (except for my time on the Liberty Hill Foundation board). I talked a lot and had a lot of empathy for those less fortunate, but, guess what? Empathy means squat when it comes to actually helping. Empathy doesn’t get one disenfranchised kid a job that needs one. Empathy doesn’t save one animal in a kill shelter. Empathy doesn’t help get laws passed that discriminate against certain sectors. It takes money and manpower to do that. In other words, it takes action: whether that comes from volunteering or writing a check or both. 

I really saw this when I volunteered during the 2012 election. I wasn’t going to say for which candidate, but it’s probably not too hard to guess that I was for Obama over Romney. I went to Las Vegas the weekend before the election and knocked on doors to encourage people to get out to vote. It was amazing how many people needed to be reminded that the election was the upcoming Tuesday and that their polling place on Tuesday would be different from where they could have voted in early voting. I have no idea what kind of difference we made in getting people to vote for Obama (although Nevada did go blue), but I know for a fact we helped a lot of people from going to the wrong polling place.  There was something deeply satisfying with talking to strangers about our right to vote and connecting with them on  that level. And, by the way, if they said they were going to vote for Romney, we didn’t try to dissuade them (much), and we made sure they still knew where to go on Tuesday. 

When I stress action, that’s not to say I don’t believe in kindness and intention. Mother Teresa said “we’ve forgotten that we belong to each other” and that’s true. We let outside markers, like sexual orientation, skin color, religious preferences, political affiliation, ethnic differences, etc., divide us when inside we are all exactly the same and we all want the same things: to be loved, respected, fed, clothed, nourished (body and soul), and given the opportunity to flourish and contribute to the best of our abilities. I know that sounds high-minded, but I really do believe that even those that society is quick to write off just need a chance to show that someone believes in them and that they can contribute. It matters that we think kindly towards others and wish them well. This past week I had a discussion with someone about the level of hate speak out there directed to politicians whose views may oppose ours. I’m distressed every day by the level of violent rhetoric that gets tossed around on Facebook about politicians. I really try to never wish anyone ill will. I’m going to get political again, but this past week, I read that President George W. Bush had a stent put in for a blocked artery. I was not very fond of Bush during his time in office, but all I did was wish him well in my mind and hope for a speedy recovery. It’s not that I don’t have horrible thoughts, I most certainly do, but I don’t want to even put them out into the universe by saying them aloud. If we really believe that good intentions and good thoughts have reverberations, then we have to believe bad ones do too... in ways we may never realize. 

This popped up on Facebook today (even though it’s been around for months) and while it’s a bit harsh in going to the extreme for the sake of making its point, the fundamental take away is: if you’re not taking some action, you’re taking up space (again, it is a might harsh in some places). It’s called “Six Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person.”   It really doesn't have much to do with what I'm writing about other than the take action part, but it makes you think...or at least, it did me. 

I’ve been on a bit of a social justice/social services kick lately, so today’s $10 goes to Beyond Shelter, a Los Angeles-based organization that fights chronic poverty, welfare dependency and homelessness by finding housing for the homeless first. According to its website, Beyond Shelter creates a team around a client- first finding her and her family shelter (as you know, single female, head of households are among those worst affected by the economic downturn). Once they have a roof over their heads, then the client can begin to work on job development, schooling, etc. Beyond Shelter works with its clients for at least a year to help the client and her family transition from welfare to work. (On a side note, if you’re looking for a great way to help that will really make you feel good, Beyond Shelter’s website has a link to its Kmart Gift Registry, where you can go buy a household supply for someone who has gone from homelessness to a home. It’s a wonderful way to help. Items include basics like mixing bowls, brooms, irons, plates....)

Aug. 11: Beyond Shelter  

Why I started this blog

Click here to get “Causes and Effects” delivered every day to your email inbox (the subscription link now works) or enter your email in the top right corner.

'Conscience Laundering'....

Peter Buffett wrote a powerful editorial for the New York Times earlier this week with the provocative title, “The Charitable-Industrial Complex.”

Buffett, in addition to being Warren Buffett’s son, is a musician and a very nice guy. I had some professional dealings with him a few years ago and found him to be intelligent, gracious, talented, and, like his dad seems to be, completely unpretentious.

His editorial encourages people who consider themselves philanthropists to think about the systemic issues that cause the need for the rise in non-profits to begin with, as opposed to simply giving and feeling that such an action helps “level the playing field.” Throwing money at a problem to assuage one's own guilt is never going to make the problem go away.

There two paragraphs are thought-provoking in their look at the much bigger picture:

"As more lives and communities are destroyed by the system that creates vast amounts of wealth for the few, the more heroic it sounds to “give back.” It’s what I would call “conscience laundering” — feeling better about accumulating more than any one person could possibly need to live on by sprinkling a little around as an act of charity.

But this just keeps the existing structure of inequality in place. The rich sleep better at night, while others get just enough to keep the pot from boiling over. Nearly every time someone feels better by doing good, on the other side of the world (or street), someone else is further locked into a system that will not allow the true flourishing of his or her nature or the opportunity to live a joyful and fulfilled life."

He also goes on to lambast the “return on investment” that many of us who give are looking for and how that’s not the best model for measuring success. Interestingly, I just finished Homeboy Industries founder Father Greg Boyle’s book, “Tattoos On The Heart,” about his work. He devotes a full chapter on this notion that requiring a non-profit to measure up to some quantifiable yardstick, often arbitrarily picked, is a quick way to ensure its failure (this is very different from expecting non-profits to be run in a professional and efficient manner, which is mandatory).

I don’t agree with all of Buffett’s assertions. Thank God rich people feel the need to give back. I don't necessarily question their motives because the money spends just the same no matter what they are. Plus, I really believe that Liberty Hill Foundation, the non-profit for which I’m on the board of directors, has greatly improved the lives of some of the people we fight for through our support of community organizations fighting for social and environmental justice and, therefore, are helping them to "live a joyful and fulfilled life."  But maybe I’m just feeling defensive.  

Ultimately I agree wholeheartedly with this sentence: “I’m really not calling for an end to capitalism; I’m calling for humanism.” There are many of us who believe you can have both. 

Buffett and his wife, Jennifer, oversee the NoVo Foundation, which was started with a $1 billion donation. The Foundation’s focus is on empowering girls and women through ending violence, advancing education (or “social and emotional learning,” as it is stated on the NoVo website, and investing in local sustainable economies. 

NoVo doesn’t accept donations, but I want to highlight some of its programs:  NoVo partners with Nike on The Girl Effect, a wonderful program, as well as funds a subsection of NoVo called Move To End Violence.

Today, I’m giving to  Global Fund For Women, which works with grassroots organizations, who “identify and fund solutions for issues surrounding violence against women” all over the world, according to its website. Its mission is to support the communities according to need, not as proscribed by some agenda, which Buffett also tackles. 

July 28: Global Fund for Women

Why I started this blog

Click here to get “Causes and Effects” delivered every day to your email inbox (the subscription link now works) or enter your email in the top right corner.

Flying the PFLAG for Justice and Liberty for all

 Tonight I went to see Adam Lambert play at a small private party sponsored by AT&T as part of its outreach to the LGBTQ community. Lambert had graciously donated two tickets for Liberty Hill Foundation to auction off during our annual dinner and silent auction. Liberty Hill funds organizations fighting for social and environmental justice in Los Angeles and I’m very proudly on the board. Lambert’s manager invited me and I was eager to see Lambert perform since I love how powerful his voice is, and when I’ve interviewed him, I’ve found him warm and engaging. 

As part of the outreach, AT&T made a $50,000 donation to the Trevor Project, a really wonderful organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for the LBGTQ community.

As my friend and I were waiting for Lambert to go on, I was looking around the room and I realized that I’ve never been at a predominantly gay event where I didn’t feel, as a straight woman, welcome. I hate that I know some of my gay friends can’t say the same when they are in the minority at a function.

Lambert brought up and cheered DOMA’s repeal (before going into a very cool version of Tears For Fears’ “Shout”), but otherwise, focused on the music. 

My mind was also on a heartbreaking piece making the rounds today that I’d read just before I went out tonight on Huffington Post called “Just Because He Breathes: Learning To Truly Love Our Gay Son.”  I’m not going to be able to do it justice by explaining it, but it’s one woman’s journey to accepting her son’s lifestyle in light of her initial belief that in order to follow Jesus, her son had to denounce his own sexuality. You can read the piece here. 

This was all tied into my friend and I having a long conversation at dinner about what it means to be a Christian and why does it seem so confusing. He’d been going to a church that denounced same sex marriage and, intuitively, he felt that was the wrong message. He’s questioning and I have a feeling I made it sound like I had it figured out way more than I actually do, when all I think I know for sure is God is love....and even then, I’m not so sure what I mean by “God.”  I really try to focus on “love one another” and “help one another” and figure that’s really all I’m commanded to do, but who knows?  What does it mean to be a good person? 

I know this is rambling and I apologize for that, but it just seems like there’s something going on from today’s confluence of events—the Huffington Post article that I just stumbled upon, my friend’s questioning, and tonight’s concert — that is all of one piece. But I have no idea what it all means, if anything. I’m just thankful that I grew up in a home that taught me to be tolerant and accepting, but also allowed me to question and figure things out on my own. 

I’ve already given to both Trevor Project and Liberty Hill Foundation, but I found an organization called PFLAG that seems perfect for today. It stands for Parents, Families, Friends, and Allies United with LGBT to move equality forward. That’s a mouthful-- no wonder they call it PFLAG.

According to the webite, PFLAG was founded in 1972 by a mother who wanted to publicly support her gay son. PFLAG now has 350 chapters across the US, all united in their goal for parents, friends and straight allies to unite with the LGBT community to advance equality. I love its vision statement: “We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively.”  Makes sense to me. 

July 3: PFLAG

http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=194

Why I started this blog

Click here to get “Causes and Effects” delivered every day to your email inbox (the subscription link now works) or enter your email in the top right corner.

I’m hijacking today’s Chooseday Tuesday. Tonight is Liberty Hill Foundation’s Upton Sinclair Dinner. 

Liberty Hill Foundation is a Los Angeles-based non-profit that provides grant money and training to community organizers and their organizations fighting for social, environmental and LGBT justice in the City of Angels.

It’s fair to say that Liberty Hill has changed my life (and that I would not be writing this blog and giving money away in this fashion if not for Liberty Hill). My friend Gary brought me in by inviting me on a van tour seven years ago. The Liberty Hill board and donors and invited guests, like me, drove around in a van as we heard one of the community organizers that we fund talk about the incredible work they were doing in Venice and Mar Vista, including revamping the entire Los Angeles United School District’s menu because certain schools in low-income areas were serving children rotten meat and spoiled milk and refused to change until this group staged protests and changed the system. 

That organization, POWER, and the others Liberty Hill funds, provide voices for people that corporations and big businesses generally want to silence (I am in no way saying all businesses want to do this). Liberty Hill funds groups that challenge big corporations and tell them that they can’t put toxic dumps in their neighborhoods that cause cancer; that they can't ignore laws that insist they provide low-income housing.

 One of our current campaigns is working its way through the city’s legislative process that would ensure that local businesses receive financial and technical assistance to modernize and reduce toxic impacts in the communities where asthma, heart disease and respiratory distress are spiraling because of these business’s practices. Liberty Hill helped fight for California’s ban on BPA in babies’ bottles and sippy cups. We helped get $20 million in affordable housing from USC as part of the university’s expansion plans.

I’m now a very proud and humbled member of the board of directors for Liberty Hill. No work in my life has helped me see that we are all in this together more than my work with Liberty Hill. Los Angeles is such a segregated town, so much more than New York, you don't even have to try to turn a blind eye to others' suffering. It's much more of a benign neglect, but neglect just the same. It is very possible to spend your days never coming across someone who is disenfranchised and suffering horribly from laws that are not being enforced or policies that target the poor and those least able to defend themselves. 

Tonight at Liberty Hill we’re honoring Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon, the creators of “Homeland,” for their commitment to social justice; Charles F. Johnson, producer of “NCIS,” “Jag,” “Red Tails” and more, for his efforts to create equal opportunities for people of color in the entertainment business, and political strategists/fundraisers Alison Morgan and Parke Shelton.

But we’re really honoring the more than 40 Los Angeles organizations that we fund and the fearless leaders and community organizers from these organizations and countless others who are out there every day fighting David Vs. Goliath battles... and winning.

April 23: Liberty Hill Foundation

Why I started this blog.

Click here to get “Causes and Effects” delivered every day to your email inbox (the subscription link now works) or enter your email in the top right corner.

113 down, 252 to go