Advocacy & Labor Organizing

Coaching & Consulting

WHO KNEW... that so many facts, thought provoking ideas and passion can fit into 3 minutes?

My job: to convince the School Board why Special Education School Bus Drivers are valuable and worthy of pay increase.

What Does it Take to Settle a Quality Contract?

Successful organizing and contract negotiating is best done when the union leadership has neither personal agenda nor attachment to the outcome; they understand that they represent an entire team, as a unit.
Research and fact checking demonstrates to management that union leadership has respect for membership's value.
Clarity on the membership's goals directs and maintains the focus in negotiating.
Collaborating with management wherever possible and tweaking labor contracts for better quality of work life is equally as important as making the BIG asks.
Tempering passion and frustrations to meet in the middle requires humility to know when to push and when to say, "Okay".

Final offer for school bus drivers falls shortPortland Public Schools special education bus drivers may go on strike

Special ed bus drivers ratify long-delayed contract with Portland Public Schools | nwLaborPressThe new agreement raises starting pay to $18.50 an hour — up from $16.25 currently.

Hiring an advocacy and labor organizing coach as a consultant is an excellent tool for labor groups to effectively organize, educate and motivate their membership to implement plans for negotiating.

Reaching success together feels satisfying beyond words for all the time and effort that goes into finishing strong.

Advocacy for Equality and Inclusion

Can we lovingly speak truth, inspire allies to take action and better our world for all?

I believe, yes.

June 2, 2020

My niece helped organize a protest with family, neighbors and some friends on MLK.

I feel proud and moved...

I feel thankful that, even though my family and some of my friends do not experience day-to-day life as I do, or as their grandson / nephew / cousin / friend does, they make efforts to understand. I feel appreciative of those who regularly challenge their thinking and seek out ways to actively contribute to racial equality. It’s never been enough to simply know someone who is black.

I do notice those who feel that because they have friends and/or family that are black or mixed, then they consider themselves 1) not racist and 2) off the hook and don’t feel any responsibility to speak up about what’s going on. My prayer is that, soon, those of you in this category, will become aware, grow and participate in bettering our society for all.

Our racial pandemic is 24/7, 365 days a year. The stresses from experiencing discrimination, brutality and murders are not only felt in summers when school’s out or during the holidays. People attempting to get someone arrested or killed, just because they feel privileged to do so, has been happening lonnnng before NY City’s Central Park.

White people, who are supportive, it is time to actively get involved... it is time for you to do something. I know it feels uncomfortable and scary, however, things will only get worse, if you choose to remain complacent. This is not our fight. Removing the oppressors and changing policies is not something we can do on our own. We've tried for generations. We need your help, your voice.

Please educate yourselves (Google: “anti-racism”, racism in America for African, Latino, Asian & Native Americans, how you can help) and begin making a positive difference in all of our communities:

- Admit that we are in racist times.

- Please do not say, “I’m not racist.”

- Admit that you experience privilege, a.k.a. white privilege.

- Speak up - you know you don’t want your kids and family to be treated how a black person is, in this country.

- Understand that silence supports continued discrimination, violence and killing.

- Be a part of change - hire and promote black and other non-white professionals, support black and other non-white business, treat all people with respect.

- Talk to and educate your children.

- Regularly donate time and monies to organizations that directly support the black community and/or overall equality and inclusion.

Here is an article from an ally (written by a white man, not that it should matter, but...):

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/open-letter-to-white-people/

“There are only two paths: You are either fully for racial equality, or you are fully against it. There never was a middle; it is a mythical place where white moderates have been since the days of slavery. You have just been lying to yourself to avoid the hard choices you will now have to make.”

- Seth Berger

My heart feels heavy - killings and brutality, stereotyping and racial profiling, redlining and systemic racism in schools, hospitals, work places, etc. have been going on literally for decades. Even though, I want to scream when someone comments about how bad things are now, I feel thankful that more are awakening - becoming more are aware. I wonder, though, how many more will have to suffer and die before real change occurs?

Have we had enough? I pray, yes.

An open letter to white people—from a white coach with young black sonsSeth Berger makes the case for calling out white noise.

Why Advocacy Coaching?

Advocacy coaching can help those understand that the loudest most effective voices are the ones who APPEAR to be the same as the one causing the damage.

One of the more difficult (and understandably often scary) things about racial discrimination for white majority in our country to respond to, is that... change is never the fight or responsibility of those discriminated against. When those in power are the ones taking advantage of their power and privilege, then those who they represent are the ones who need to pull their coattails / hold them accountable, in order for change to be effective and lasting. Those in power are not interested in hearing the voices of the oppressed.

For myself and many, many others... we live in the midst of and interact daily with those who believe we are less than them. We know this is not true, however, we become tired of speaking up for ourselves with no lasting change.

As a coach in advocacy, as a multi-racial citizen in the United States, and as a African-American woman raised in a Caucasian home and neighborhood, and as an African-American employee in a Caucasian dominated industry, I have listened to many. I have had the privilege of sharing amazing conversations since childhood. For those who want to understand and learn how they can help, I am able to present different perspectives in a non-threatening manner, leaving people with clear ideas of how they can get involved and help.

I too have a responsibility to be an ally for those who do not look like me, act like me or practice the religion I practice.