What are my motivations?

I began writing this text on the one-year anniversary of the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The dramatic and tragic event is a fitting backdrop to a text on community and organizational change. It is also fitting that I am currently quarantining with one of my family members who tested positive for COVID a few days earlier; as these are some of the intense stressors of our times.

The anniversary has been sharing the headlines all week with COVID-related news which has been focused on the Omicron variant and spike in cases. It feels like around the globe we have been in a slow-moving storm for the past two years, which has shown minor signs of letting up but is constantly in the atmosphere above us. As I peruse the daily print and online news, the headlines are focused on multiple storylines that have dominated the news for over a year.

So, I am primarily motivated by the urgent and complex problems that are dominating the headlines and getting my attention.

I am also motivated by the value of Ubuntu, which I was first introduced to by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1999) in No Future without Forgiveness^[1].  He says, “A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are (pg. 31).” The value of ubuntu expresses our connected humanity, and serves as an inspiration and motivation to me in my life and work. If my neighbors are suffering then I cannot be thriving.

Today’s urgent problems I am paying attention to

The current problems are wicked and vexing, which demands innovation and collaboration. That makes me excited; and slightly overwhelmed.  Most of us could identify some of the most critical problems of our day and likely come up with similar lists. We may use different terminology but the problems would likely be similar.

So, here are some of what I consider the top problems of today that seem to dominate the headlines, our conversations, the meetings I go to, and my thoughts. You may not share the same observations of current issues but it is important that I share mine.

• Climate crises and weather catastrophes impacting communities across the globe and causing unprecedented migration
• Mental health and substance abuse crises, particularly with youth and young adults who are languishing and feeling disconnected
• Housing instability and income and wealth inequality, which are rooted in pervasive systemic racism and capitalism
• Unfettered criminal justice system and need for police reform
• Policy discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans and gender-nonconforming youth
• Land and water rights, Indigenous rights, and food sovereignty
• Voting rights and challenges to foundations of democracy
• Healthcare access, especially for reproductive health
• Lack of opportunities for people with differing abilities to live as independently as possibly

What are the problems that dominate YOUR thoughts? What are the problems that motivate YOU toward change?