Helping.

Ukraine. The Texas Trans community. And still (always?) abortion.

Mar 01, 2022

Helping.

There are so many things that need our help these days, but I’m going to focus on two today. These resources comes from people and organizations who I know and who have vetted them.

Help Ukraine

It didn’t take long for the world to snap out of it that the unthinkable, the unbelievable, was now simply the reality. And it didn’t take long for the world to almost universally join in the condemnation of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. It seems that the world is pitching in at an almost unprecedented rate.

I think it’s worth discussing why the world reacted so differently to military actions against and a crisis within a European country that is perceived as very white, vs. military actions and humanitarian crises that take place in, for example, Syria or Yemen. Yes, I’m sure there are a multitude of non-ethnicity-oriented reasons, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t also an ethnicity-oriented reason.

Two things can always be true, and meanwhile the geo-political ramifications of the current situation are very intense, so we can want to question the world’s motives (or lack of motive in other cases) and still desperately want to help and do our part to avoid a true WWIII. So, here are some resources:

I always suggest GlobalGiving as a great resource for helping during any global disaster, crisis, or needful situation. They partner with local organizations with feet on the street to bring them more funding to do their work. Here’s their Ukraine-specific campaign.

If you want to join any of the global marches, protests, and vigils for peace happening, here is a link to find one near you. In addition to marching, this is an opportunity to tell your Congresspeople and our President that you want the US to act in direct strong support of Ukraine. If your Congressperson is one of those GOP members who seem conflicted on whether to support democracy or a sociopathic dictator, let them know what you prefer.

Here is a working document listing organizations trying to help in Ukraine. The organization putting the doc together is reputable, but I do think a list like this, being managed in the heat of this moment, is such that I would do a little of my own research on an organization mentioned before deciding to support.

Here are additional resources straight from my uber-connected friend and colleague, Susan McPherson. Susan is on the board of the UNHCR (the arm of the UN focused on refugees) and very plugged in to global resources:

“Help Ukraine - List of local charities compiled by Ukrainians
Nova Ukraine - Nova Ukraine is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about Ukraine in the US and throughout the world and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
IRC - International Rescue Committee
USA for UNHCR - Over 100,000 Ukrainians have already fled the country. More will join them.
The Ukrainan Red Cross
International Medical Corps - This U.S.-based organization is providing emergency relief to those affected by conflict, disaster, and disease. After a crisis has ended, they then provide long-term medical support and training. They are on the ground in Ukraine.
UNICEF Ukraine - Many activities include trucking safe water to conflict-affected areas; prepositioning health, hygiene, and emergency education supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact; and working with local civil agencies to ensure there is immediate help for children and families who are struggling.
Care International - CARE International is working with with People in Need to distribute urgently needed emergency supplies such as food, water, hygiene kits and cash to cover daily needs
Committee to Protect Journalists - Journalists, freelancers and translators are taking huge risks to bear witness. They need our protection and support.

And for your local-to-Ukraine news, try: The Kiev Independent - Updating coverage around the clock from the ground throughout Ukraine.”

Help the Texas trans community, especially kids

Texas and its governor, Greg Abbott, continue to be thirsty to win the title Most Oppressive State in the Union, this time by targeting children. Abbott, without much legal precedent or authority, wants any treatment or accommodations for trans kids to be the equivalent of child abuse. And he wants to turn mandatory reporters of actual abuse into mandatory reporters of this fake “abuse.” To those of us not parenting trans kids it sounds unhinged; it sounds outrageous; it sounds disgusting; it sounds dangerous; it sounds insulting to the kids out there who are dealing with actual abuse, and the adults who grew up in such situations. I’ll just add that to those who are parenting trans kids, it is also absolutely terrifying.

Resources working locally in Texas:

Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) is a trans/PoC-led organization
Equality Texas is the statewide LGBTQ equality org, led by Ricardo Martinez
ACLU Texas is and will be very active on the legal aspects of this situation
Lambda Legal is also active on this

How to FIGHT THIS EVERYWHERE, because just like with abortion, there are people in other conservative states looking to replicate what Texas does. Here’s more direct from my colleague Jessica Shortall:

“Heritage Foundation and anti-LGBTQ group ADF and Family Policy Alliance have spent the past couple of years researching, poll testing, writing model bills to copy and paste, and recruiting lawmakers. It's all out in the open - and includes them trying to erase LGBTQ identities from classrooms and libraries. You can see their plan here: https://promisetoamericaschildren.org/the-promise/
If you live in a red state, chances are there are bills targeting queer kids in your state legislature right now. Some are moving very quickly. And in blue states, too. They're filing this shit EVERYWHERE. It's a flood the zone strategy to normalize this stuff and get some of it through, a year at a time. You can see bills filed in your state here: https://freedomforallamericans.org/legislative-tracker/
Contact your state house rep and state senator and governor. If you don't know who those people are, type "who represents me" and your state name into google and a lookup should come up. Call. Daily if you have time. Dem or Republican. They work for you. Don't yell at them; appeal to their humanity. Tell them personal stories. Ask them to focus on the issues they ran on to get elected. If they are allies, ask them what their plan is and whether they're speaking up about this.
You can also look up your state's statewide equality org (most states have one) here: https://www.equalityfederation.org/federation-members - and get on their action alert texts and/or emails. They will direct you to legislative and other action when it's needed most.”

And BTW: Call your Senators TODAY about passing the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) so we can have some respite from these draconian anti-abortion efforts state-by-state. Congress Switchboard: 1-202-224-3121

Whew. I know that’s a lot. But that’s 2022’s energy apparently.

Tell me what I missed

Last week-ish

Episode 74 of The Op-Ed Page podcast features a longtime friend, colleague and, really, role model: Sloane Davidson, the Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor. Sloane is one of the most #RoadMap4Revs stories ever:

She got interested in and passionate about a topic (refugees resettling in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA)
She did the leg work to ask around, not only to see what others were doing in the space, but to see what was really needed…was there a gap she could fill?
Upon identifying the gap and thinking about how she could be most helpful she jus got started. And she started with a pretty specific focus and then as she succeeded in making a difference in that specific area, she was able to expand and grow to take on more. That means she thought about impact, but she also thought about sustainability.

Plus, because I ask every local hero about their “origin story” I got to learn about “little Sloane.” Sloane sounds like she was ana amazing kid…everyone likes to talk about how GenZ is the most activated and engaged generation, but Sloane was clearly ahead of her time!

I hope you’ll check it out, learn her story, help her organization (and if so moved help me by sharing, subscribing, rating and reviewing my podcast)!

Listen now

Yesterday was the last day of my editor-in-residence gig with The Rosie Report. Three more pieces are slated to go live in March, so I’ll share those when they publish, but in the meantime, here are the latest pieces that went live in the past few weeks:

Where are all the funny women at work? by Kathy Klotz-Guest
the case for humor being an essential component of positive culture and leadership.

Overcoming screening bias against non-linear career development by Tamara Rasberry
Highlighting how bias can get baked into HR solutions for recruiting, and how to be on guard against it.

And last but not least: What work is: Technology, poetry, and art by Betsy Aoki, featuring two poems from her newly-released collection, Breakpoint (for which I wrote a nice inside cover blurb!)

Check it out!

Coming this week-ish

If you’re a Clubhouse user (I haven’t been on the app in months, but this is pulling me back) TED is hosting a conversation between Adam Grant and, wait for it, DOLLY PARTON!, this Thursday at 11:15AM PT. I know I’m not going to miss it. (Link)

Also starting this week: The Silicon Valley Council of Non-Profits is hosting a three-week seminar series on our local housing issues and policy. This is the local issue I’ve most wanted to learn about and focus on in these past couple of years, so I am all signed up. But even if you’re not from my area, I think the topics and issues sound pretty interesting and useful, AND I bet that in your area this is exactly this kind of organization. Look for your local Consortiums and Councils and aggregators of advocacy groups around the topics you care most about. I guarantee you there are people doing work that you care about and might even want to join in your area. Find them, jon them, learn from them, help them!

A little further out: On March 22, 2022 I’ll interview Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Vice Media’s Chief People Officer, about her new book Inclusion Revolution, and why achieving inclusion results is just table stakes for modern leadership for every leader. Register here.

Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on any or all of the above. This is basically my blog now! And as always I appreciate a share of this newsletter or my podcast.

This Week-ish with ElisaCP

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