Justice for all

Please take a moment to read a guest post I have written for The Take Action Leaders Blog, which aims to provide insight from leaders into social issues and solutions, with a focus on youth leadership in social change. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute my thoughts about social change to their blog! You can read my guest post - Walking together towards social justice - here. Here’s an excerpt:

“If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you recognize that your liberation and mine are bound up together, we can walk together.” -Lila Watson

Are you involved in any public service or volunteer work? Have you worked with non-profit organizations is the past? Have you participated in rallies, demonstrations, or other activist movements? At the very least, do you donate to non-profits occasionally? I suspect the answer is yes — especially since you’re reading this blog.

If you have any interest in social change, take note of the above quote. There’s a difference between seeing the beneficiaries of any philanthropy, volunteer work, or non-profit services as “charity cases” and seeing them as simply - human beings. There’s a difference between wanting to help someone through feelings of pity or compassion, and wanting to do the right thing because of a feeling of empathy, because you truly understand their struggle.

Do you see the poor, the abused, the marginalized as people you have to help? Do you ever think the poor are weak, helpless? If you do, you’re seeing yourself as a savior, and seeing the poor as people who need to be saved.

Such a viewpoint is not simply inaccurate, but actively harmful. By thinking of yourself as a savior, you’re building a barrier that separates yourself from the poor. The “savior complex” means that you start to think of the poor as the “other.”

Please click here to read the rest of the guest post over at the Take Action Leaders blog, to read about my personal experiences, and to learn how you can shift your mindset to one of togetherness, empowerment, and working together towards social change. Thank you!

I’ve recently been finding a lot of new blogs that center around social justice and non-profit issues, and I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you! Some of these blogs are new; others have been around for years. Regardless of which category they fall into, I’d say that many are a worthwhile addition to your google reader. Without further ado, please check out:

Bites of News

is a new blog providing commentary on current events and recent news, with a focus on politics, social justice, feminism, and other issues related to social change and activism. The blog is easy to read, frequently updated, and quite simply — makes the news fun! What makes it unique is the enthusiasm and passion that comes across in each post, as well as the fact that it is co-authored by two best friends, Pragya and Valeriya, students at GWU and Columbia respectively. Follow for summaries of the news - often with a controversial, humorous, or opinionated twist!

Blogging for Branding

is a new, but already extremely popular blog created by non-profit professional and social change leader Rosetta Thurman. The blog includes daily posts with valuable and vital tips on improving your blog’s design and content that are helpful for blogging novices and old timers alike. I’ve joined her 31 days challenge and I’d encourage you to do the same if you’re interested in bettering your blog! While Blogging for Branding doesn’t focus exclusively on non-profits, the great advice she gives can be very helpful for anyone who wants to land a position with a non-profit or expand a blog about social change issues.

Cherita Smith - social media + social change

is a consistently interesting blog that discusses - you guessed it - social media and social change. All of Cherita’s posts are well written and interesting, and I’m fascinated by the topics she discusses related to social media for social good. The advice she has is very relevant to anyone wanting to use the social web to market non-profits or raise awareness of an issue. Always a good read!

Medicine for Change

is another recently created blog by University of Chicago first year medical student Emily Lu, who has also worked for a non-profit foundation prior to medical school. Emily provides a look into a very unique career path - that of a medical student who wants to pursue a career in community-based health serving poor communities in the U.S. Emily’s posts are a mixture of the medical, non-profit, and social media fields and it’s fascinating to follow her as she strives to define her career path and her role in social change as a med student! She provides a much-needed perspective which I don’t see too often in the blogosphere.

My Nonprofit Experience

is yet another fledgling blog by Madelyn, Director of Development of Kentucky Habitat for Humanity. Her passion for the non-profit field, Habitat for Humanity, her job, and the issue of homelessness is absolutely infectious. Her posts chronicle her development as a young non-profit professional and also discuss the social change issues she cares about and works towards. Her blog is easy to relate to and always interesting.

PhilanTopic

is an older and well established blog that I found recently and really enjoy reading now. The blog is a project of the Philanthropy News Digest, and is run by a number of contributors. PhilanTopic discusses a range of philanthropy issues: aid and development, fundraising, disaster relief, generation Y and social change, social innovation, non-profit tech, marketing/communications, and much more! They cover the gamut of non-profit issues you might be interested in and I find that each post and link on their blog is relevant and interesting. Definitely worth subscribing to.

That African Girl

is written by two friends, Makafui and Adey, recent college graduates - one born and raised in Togo, the other Ethiopian-American. Their unique experiences living in Africa and America shapes their passions, interests, and perspectives. The blog address cultural issues, social change topics like human rights and development, the experiences of African immigrants, and highlights African and American leaders. The tagline describes it best - “Learning to live between worlds.” Most recently, That African Girl has begun a series called “The Chronicles of the African Childhood,” a number of posts written by African immigrants to the U.S. The blog quotes it best:

Since people started immigrating to the United States, they’ve had stories to tell. Stories of the life prior to the journey, stories of the journey and stories of their lives after the journey. What I find most fascinating are the stories of the children. Confronted with a new reality, they often grow up with unique stories of blending both cultures, both identities and both perspectives.

It’s in the spirit of capturing some of these stories that we bring you, The Chronicles of the African Childhood…Some people are first-generation African and consider themselves both African and American. Some are “half-generation, born somewhere else, growing up somewhere else. Some consider themselves simply African. Despite these differences, their stories are as unique as they are similar, full of hope, sadness, laughter, reflection and everything in between.

The South Asian Philanthropy Project

(last, but not least!) is a blog which aims to inspire South Asians to become more involved in philanthropy and volunteering. The Project highlights efforts of charities, non-profits, and other organizations led by South Asians or contributing to change for South Asians and the diaspora. The project (and blog) hopes to increase South Asian’s involvement in donating, volunteering, and serving on non-profit boards. The blog discusses issues like human rights, international development, disaster relief, non-profit issues, and domestic violence — all from the South Asian lens. As a South Asian person myself, I know how important this mission is. Indians, for instance, are less involved in philanthropy than Americans, Canadians and other Western countries, and this needs to change.

That’s it!

I hope you enjoyed this list and added a bunch of new bloggers to your Google Readers, and to all the bloggers on this list: keep on writing with passion and I know you’ll do great things as part of the movement for social change! My thanks to all of you

Throughout my life, a lot of people have advised me to “Make money now, and do good later.” I am often told to find a lucrative job at a prestigious firm and focus on building skill sets and wealth in the short term. In the long run, many say, I can do something that makes a greater impact in the world.

While this career path may be fulfilling to some individuals, it is not so to others. I tend to fall in the latter category. While I do acknowledge that there is merit to the idea of obtaining a position of power and prestige within society, and then using that power, wealth and influence to make a difference in the world, I don’t think it’s something I could do. Certainly, I don’t deny that the entrepreneurs, politicians, and powerful CEOs of the Fortune 500 - like Bill Gates, Jeff Skoll, Bill Clinton, Warren Buffett - are making a significant impact in the world of social justice and philanthropy today - I just don’t think I could follow such a path. And I think there are many others out there who share my sentiments.

Why not? Primarily, I feel like working for the greater good and towards social change has to start now, not later. Attempting to get a job at a top corporate firm or investment bank would force me to focus on only one thing - myself. In the short run, I might be making money, gaining valuable skills, and rising to a position of social power and influence by taking up such a position, but ultimately such a career path would mean that I would spend years simply attempting to attain prestige, power, and wealth for…myself. And at the end of the day, I simply don’t think I could spend years focused on my own personal advancement. That strikes me as a diversion from my ultimate goals, and perhaps even a bit selfish.

Second, taking a job primarily for the wealth or power the position would afford most likely would mean that I’m not very passionate about that job. If I’m not passionate about something, I simply can’t do it well. I wouldn’t be able to focus on a job position that I didn’t care about, and I probably wouldn’t perform very well as a consequence. I wouldn’t be motivated enough to push myself to achieve greater success at a position which simply served to increase my own wealth and power. I’m usually most motivated when doing work I know is making a difference and is serving to further causes I strongly support. By going the “corporate route,” I’d be setting aside my passion for social change - and as a result, I doubt I’d be motivated enough to rise in the ranks of whatever company I was a part of. As a result, I likely wouldn’t gain the level of influence needed to become a major philanthropist.

Finally, I don’t believe that working in a non-profit or on social change issues is incompatible with power and influence in society. I just don’t buy this excuse! I believe that being an Executive Director of a non-profit carries a whole lot of weight within one’s own community and even nationally or internationally - based on the reach of the organization. Becoming the Director of a project at the ACLU or Human Rights Watch carries a lot of weight. Spearheading major initiatives and cases on controversial and important issues within the U.S. or abroad can put you in the spotlight and even make you a media darling. Starting your own non-profit and bringing it to a prominent position can make you an incredibly powerful player within the world of philanthropy. Obtaining grants from social entrepreneurship foundations like the Skoll Foundation, Ashoka, or Echoing Green can be tremendously prestigious. Climbing the professional ladder within international organizations like the World Bank or the United Nations puts you in a position to influence world leaders and policymakers. There are thousands of non-profits and governmental organizations that allow one to do good and simultaneously achieve social power and influence. Moreover, while starting salaries for these types of positions can be low, as one rises in one’s career, the salaries rise too. With professional success come well-paying speaking and publishing opportunities as well (although most of these revenues should go to your non-profit if you’re any respectable non-profit leader…). You can certainly live a comfortable (if not extravagant) life while also working at a non-profit.

Becoming wealthy, starting a foundation and donating millions of dollars to charity is not the only way to make a difference. Certainly, we need wealthy businesspeople, CEOs, and managing partners to donate their money to worthy causes. At the same time, we need smart and talented people to run the non-profits receiving these donations, to ensure that this money is being used efficiently and effectively to solve the social problem at hand. Even if we all decided to follow the path of “make money and then do good,” social problems wouldn’t be magically solved. Unless we have effective non-profit leaders, all the money in the world isn’t going to end poverty, human rights violations, animal abuse, or environmental damage.

That’s why I won’t choose the path of “make money now, do good later.” I would be betraying my passion and also would be ignoring the need for effective leaders in the non-profit field.

So to all those who tell your children, relatives, or friends to make money now and change the world later, I’m here to tell you to think again. Becoming a wealthy philanthropist/donor is not the only way to make a difference. Joining the non-profit field also doesn’t at all prevent one from having a successful career, a prestigious and powerful position in society, or a comfortable lifestyle.

Instead, if your relative or friend seems to be interested in working with non-profits, encourage him or her to follow this passion! We’re always going to have tons of entrepreneurs and corporate executives who want to strike it rich or become famous. Many such individuals will go on to invest some time and money into philanthropy. But I strongly believe that we need many more people to dedicate their lives to the other side - to join the “business” of social change and social justice now…not later.

Check out this incredible video, created by the Roosevelt Institute, a student group that aims to get young people involved in policymaking and progressive activism. They have created an incredible campaign called “Think 2040: A Blueprint for Millennial America.” It’s focused on what we envision our future to be - and how we can get there. This video is a part of the campaign, so take a few minutes to listen and be inspired.

Roosevelt Campus Network: “Think 2040″ from Roosevelt Institute on Vimeo.

Take a moment to think about it. What world do you want to see in 2040? What world do you want to help create and make a reality? How can we change things in the long run? What kind of world do you want your children to be born into?

We’re all in this together. To make such a vision become a reality, we’re all going to have to put in effort to achieve positive social change. What role are you going to play in all of this?

This quarter, as I approached the end of my time here at Northwestern, I found out about LIFT, a national movement to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people here in the U.S. I immediately applied to become a volunteer, but I only wish I had found out about the organization earlier. LIFT provides incredible opportunities for college students to make a positive impact, and provides great services to low-income individuals.

At LIFT, I volunteer for a few hours every week. I work one-on-one with clients, who are generally (but not always) low-income individuals. Anyone can come in, and I have often had highly skilled and well educated individuals come in for assistance. I work with each client for 50 minutes (sometimes 2 hours, depending on the situation) and provide them with any assistance they may need. Usually, people want help with typing, emailing, other computer skills, resume and cover letter writing, and the job hunt. These are the most common reasons for appointments. However, many clients also come in with questions about finding affordable housing, legal dilemmas, and a number of other challenges they encounter.

My time at LIFT has been amazing. For the first time ever, despite my years and years of volunteering, I feel like I’ve made a concrete difference in someone’s life. This past Friday, one of my clients didn’t show up for our meeting, so I gave him a call to find out if something was wrong. Turns out that I couldn’t have heard better news. He found a temporary job that he had already begun this week, and had also had a great interview for another longer-term position that he was really excited about. On the phone, he was so genuinely happy that I couldn’t help but smile. He thanked me over and over again for helping him with the job applications. I was thrilled, and couldn’t help but feel amazed that in some small part, I had been able to help him find a job. My second client of the day was a young immigrant, and his sincerity and willingness to work hard struck me. I found myself getting attached and hoping, deeply, for his success. As I was leaving, another client told me that his day was so much better after his visit to LIFT; he too thanked me for volunteering, even though I hadn’t even been the one to help him. I left the office SO happy that I almost screamed out in excitement; fortunately, I was able to restrain myself.

For the first time ever, I feel useful. And I realize how much I love working with people one-on-one. I’m hooked, and I know now that I want to directly represent low-income individuals in some capacity in the future. Although I have tried all forms of volunteering - like working at soup kitchens and homeless shelters, tutoring at after-school centers, working at hospitals, packaging food through Campus Kitchens, and interning at at least 4 different human rights and development non-profit organizations - I have never felt like I’ve actually made any difference. Now, I have found that elusive feeling of usefulness - at last. I love the personal connection, and I love getting to know individual’s stories and feeling invested in their lives and their progress. Social change is incredibly difficult, but for once, I feel like it is possible. Until now, I was almost resigned to the notion that I’d try and try my whole life without feeling like I’ve achieved much. Now, I feel that if it is possible to make a difference in the life of one individual — then anything is possible. I feel encouraged. Empowered. Like the sky’s the limit.

My time at LIFT, though short, has also shown me how valuable public interest and legal aid lawyers can be. I have seen or heard of many clients embroiled in legal problems; juvenile justice issues with their kids, insurance problems, and landlord-tenant issues, among them. It strikes me that a lawyer can make all the difference and can reassure clients, provide them with hope, and stand behind them although the rest of the system may be against them, especially when they encounter complex legal issues they cannot hope to confront alone. My work has made me want to pursue public interest law and some sort of direct representation more than ever, whether it is in the fields of criminal law, immigration/refugee law, or civil legal aid. I cherish the personal connection with a client. These are people struggling to make a living and to succeed, just like you and I. The difference is that the system is completely against them, and that they must struggle far more than we must if they are to achieve the same things. What they need is someone to listen to them and advocate on their behalf; they need someone to simply believe in them, and assist them in reaching their greatest potential. Someone to turn the system on its head and level the playing field.

But in thinking of my own role in this entire process of ’social change’ or ‘combating poverty,’ I wonder if I just enjoy taking on the role of the ‘giver.’ Tales From the Hood wrote in his blog recently that Americans tend to love being the giver; this ideology makes providing aid or assistance all about the donor. It’s not about the poor, but ultimately about the people doing the giving: the rich. That’s clearly an example of misplaced priorities. Although I may be biased, I do try to be critical of myself. And looking at my own actions through this objective lens, I do conclude that I enjoy feeling like I’m helping another individual. Doesn’t everyone? Such sentiments, however, are not inherently bad in themselves. They are bad, however, if the donor / volunteer does not think about who’s on the receiving end and whether they are truly benefiting. In this case, I am constantly searching for ways in which I know I’m making a tangible, unabashedly positive impact. If I ever feel like my actions are not helping others, and if they are in any way harming others, I would stop those actions immediately and move on to a project or organization I perceive to be better. Of course, the main problem here is that my perception is not 100% accurate; there have been times when I have thought that a project I’ve been working with has been beneficial, when in reality there may have been reason to doubt its impact. So it’s a continuous work in progress - I am constantly striving to learn how to be more critical, more realistic, and better informed about the consequences of my actions and of the programs I support. However, I do feel that my work with LIFT and the organization’s model in general is a positive one. I do think that there are crucial ways in which LIFT can be improved to better serve the poor, but the model is inherently strong.

Ultimately, if you are constantly critical of your actions and their consequences, it is possible to not only feel good about helping but to actually make a positive difference in this world. There’s nothing wrong with wanting that warm, fuzzy feeling inside when you help others — but make sure that you ARE actually helping others in the process. Social change is possible — as long as you don’t allow your desire to be the “giver” take precedence over the needs of your beneficiaries, who are the important ones in the picture.