Helped Create Leadership Team, Developed Key Components of Grassroots Organizing Model
As an original Core Leadership Team member, Paths to Change helped to create the mission, scope and structure of a grassroots community group, Umoja Strategy Group (USG.) USG was a two-year project aimed at promoting dialogue and action on issues of bigotry and hatred against and within African American communities around homophobia. As Chief Process Consultant, Paths to Change facilitated the creation of self-directed Leadership Team, developed key components of grassroots organizing model, designed and co-facilitated workshop on the organizing model at two national conferences. This workshop was the hot item at the national leadership-summit meeting of the National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum, where it was estimated to have attracted more participants and higher ratings than any other workshop. The National Center for Lesbian Rights subsequently videotaped the workshop and made it available nationally — along with other tools for movement building. The Conference Director of The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force’s preeminent "Creating Change" conference invited USG and Paths to Change to offer a double session of the workshop at its annual conference, where it was well received.
Researched and Co-authored Information that Led to Action, Raised Funds, Consulted on Expansion
Paths to Change served on the Core Leadership Team of A Just Harvest (AJH), an interfaith clergy and lay-leadership organization founded in October 1998 to ensure that farm workers may live their lives with dignity, respect, and basic human rights. AJH sponsors and supports activities and organizations that promote economic and social justice for farm workers – and related social and economic causes. As Core Leadership Team member, Paths to Change participated in delegation to the fields to bear witness to farm workers’ struggles; researched and co-authored fact-sheet for faith communities on violations of farm workers’ human rights; worked with other AJH members to raise over 6,000 lbs. of food and over $8,000 in an emergency relief effort for farm workers devastated by a citrus freeze in the San Joaquin Valley; was credited with mobilizing one faith community in an unprecedented turnout for the United Farm Workers (UFW) annual César Chávez "Walk for Justice and Non-violence"; was top fund-raiser for Walk; co-authored AJH mission statement; represented AJH in press conferences,;rallied faith communities to lobby for just legislation and policies.
Founded Practice Community
Paths to Change team member co-founded SF Bay Area “sangha” (practice community) blending social change work and mindfulness practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh—Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Zen master, poet, and international peace activist whom Martin Luther King, Jr. nominated for the Nobel Peace prize, stating he knew of no one worthier to receive it. The sangha supports individuals with diverse social, political, and spiritual practices in cultivating disciplines for positive individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, social and planetary transformation. As co-founder, Paths to Change team member was active in the initial stages of facilitating a collaborative visioning process among sangha members, and collaboratively developing structures and systems for sangha.
Co-Designed and Facilitated Equity Training for Entire Employee and Management Teams
Paths to Change co-designed and co-facilitated an equity training program for one of the nation’s oldest and largest community services centers, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. As symbol of its commitment to the training program, the Center closed its operations for an entire day as its 240 employees participated in training. The Center invited Paths to Change to return in six months to facilitate a retreat for management team.
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