Mar 17, 2021This is not ok.I thought about telling this story as a thread on Twitter, but you should read this whole story in one unbroken glance of horror. About 7 or 8 years ago, I was in north Texas at a wedding. I did not know the wedding party well, and was someone else’s…Racism4 min readRacism4 min read
Dec 29, 2020The Perpetual Delusion of Culture VulturesThis is a very unpolished reaction piece to the Hilaria Baldwin kerfuffle. This weekend, I fell down a Twitter rabbit hole of jokes about a woman named Hilaria (Hillary?) Baldwin. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Cool, let’s just dive right in. Hilaria Baldwin (née Hillary Hayward-Thomas) is a white…Call Out Culture10 min readCall Out Culture10 min read
Jul 14, 2017The 3 Things I Learned From OrganizingI’m taking a break from organizing, and I want to share why I’m taking a step back. I’ve been delaying a sabbatical for 2 years. (I unexpectedly got a job with Netroots Nation and New Media Mentors.) Previous plans for the sabbatical were to write a manual on negotiation technique and get my health in order. I’d been dealing with some health issues that I’ve since gotten…Life Lessons4 min readLife Lessons4 min read
Jan 31, 2017Why Modern Protests MatterThe on-ramp to civic engagement starts with showing up. There are a few posts circulating where authors claim that protests don’t matter. I disagree. Here are three reasons modern protests matter: 1.Protests can be an organizing tool that generates resources. Modern protests (in at least the last 10 years) are not only…Politics7 min readPolitics7 min read
Jan 6, 2017I am not a nice person.But I choose to be one. I have a confession, of sorts. I am not naturally a nice person. I actually prefer to avoid people. I wish my life consisted of a small nucleus of work and life, and being the indulgent guardian of my two cats and dog. I…Life Lessons4 min readLife Lessons4 min read
Oct 30, 2016Stubborn LoveHow I learned about healing from my rescue cats. I have two cats, a grey tabby and a black one. They are about 3 years apart — Bisu is three years and Peanut is the baby, not yet even one. Personality-wise, they are total opposites. The grey tabby — Bisu — is generally cranky and would rather be left alone. I’m…Cats7 min readCats7 min read
Oct 27, 2016The Power of MentorshipA tiny adjustment can unleash your full potential in an instant. Twenty years ago, I first saw the transformative power of a mentor. The relationship was brief — really, it was one conversation that almost instantly helped me unleash an ability I didn’t even know I had. I was warming…Leadership4 min readLeadership4 min read
Published inNetroots-Nation·Aug 24, 2016Rebooting Engagement“Engagement” is a popular term right now, but what does it really mean?While the definition can vary widely, engagement is really the cornerstone of movement building. Engagement IS organizing. Engagement, whether it’s digital or face-to-face, is about conversations that move people to take action. That action might be online. It might be a…Activism3 min readActivism3 min read
Published inNetroots-Nation·Jul 6, 20165 Must-Have Conference Survival ItemsOnly *you* can support Hanger Management, and other health hacks. It’s summer CONVENTION SEASON! Wall-to-wall speeches inside large convention halls, panel discussions in hotel rooms, and hours walking, standing, waiting or generally moving around buildings filled with amazing people and lots of recirculated air conditioning. How do we stay healthy…Travel3 min readTravel3 min read
Apr 19, 2016Chaining the X’sThe 3 C’s of building a consistent habit. In a world of fitness apps gone amok, it’s hard to figure out what small handful of metrics really drives change. We’re fixated on measuring things and collecting data, but as my mentor in grad school often reminded us, quoting Albert Einstein: “Not everything that counts can be counted; and…Productivity6 min readProductivity6 min read
