Leaning, Learning, Leading

My kids went back to school last week — 9th grade and 7th grade — and I can’t quite explain it, but I’m feeling renewed energy in this moment. They’re starting new years, new schools, learning (hopefully) new concepts. My daughter is learning geometry in her math class now, and she knows to go to her dad for help. Not me.

When I was in 9th grade, Sister Felicita (God rest her soul) was my geometry teacher. She was a stern nun in a full habit, which made her look very intimidating to my 14-year-old self. I struggled so badly that my mom recruited our neighbor to tutor me. It helped a little, but the truth is: Math was never going to be my strength. And that’s why I became an English major in college. 😉 I knew where I thrived.

That’s what I’ve been thinking about in this back-to-school season.

We don’t all need to be good at everything. What matters is that we bring our unique strengths to the table, and that we build support systems for the places where we struggle. Just as crucially, we can build support for those around us who may be struggling, so that everyone has the chance to thrive.

In social impact, real change happens when people bring their different strengths — ideas, skills, resources — together. We can create solutions that none of us could achieve alone.

Solutions that don’t even have to involve the Pythagorean theorem. Ha!

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

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🕒 TIME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL?

In April, after Columbia University canceled her “Race, Media & International Affairs” course at the School of International Public Affairs, Professor and Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah launched Resistance Summer School. Over the summer, she offered an independent, public version of her graduate-level class — and, earlier this week, she opened up the course again for fall enrollment.

This course, which will run from October 6 through November 21, will examine the intersection between race, national identity, and the mass media in today's global world order. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper media literacy around race and how it intersects with both national and global politics.

The class sounds AH-mazing. Check out the website for all the details.

✨ FUNDING FOR EARLY-STAGE AND START-UP NONPROFITS

Have you heard of the Sparkplug Foundation? Neither had I, until recently. Sparkplug Foundation is a family foundation that prioritizes funding for start-up nonprofits and new projects of established nonprofits led by or serving Black, Indigenous, People of Color, people with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and other marginalized groups.

Focus areas include education, community organizing, and music. The Foundation’s fall funding cycle just opened, and the LOI deadline is October 15. Spread the word…

📖 A BOOK I COULDN’T PUT DOWN

I just tore through Kate Moore’s 2016 book, The Radium Girls. I literally could not put this book down — it is that gripping and moving and I’m recommending it to you!

The scene: During WWI, young American women flocked to work in factories, painting clocks, watches, and military dials with a special luminous substance made from radium. It was a fun and lucrative job, until the women began to suffer unimaginably.

The author draws on previously unpublished diaries, letters, and interviews, and tells an infuriating and unforgettable story. Definitely, definitely read this book.

💘 NONPROFIT LOVE

The nonprofit 80,000 Hours got started in 2011 when its founders, Ben and Will, were about to graduate from Oxford and were wondering what to do with their own careers. They wanted careers that were satisfying, paid the bills, and made a worthwhile contribution to society…but they were unsure which paths would be best. They did some research, presented early ideas in a lecture, and then several people in the audience asked them to start an organization. So, they did, and 80,000 hours (the approximate amount of time you have in your working career: 40 years x 50 weeks x 40 hours) was born.

80,000 Hours provides research and support to help talented people move into careers that tackle the world’s most pressing problems. Everything the group provides is free — online career guides, a podcast, job board, and one-on-one career advice.

The organization considers itself part of the effective altruism community and its largest funder is Open Philanthropy. It’s all really so fascinating. Give their website a spin!