That Time is Now

I was inspired this week thinking about the new direction of our nation and the impact it will have on the continuing evolution of philanthropy. There has been a momentous shift in philosophy; by embracing integrity and hope for our future, we are setting a long term vision and becoming individually active in realizing our potential. As Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt movement in Kenya, has stated, “In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.” 

People are ready for this movement. It is palpable in the language being used by local newspapers, national broadcasts and in day to day interactions. It is encouraging to see our leadership so visibly and vibrantly embrace community action and service as the foundation to greatness; a greatness we can only realize for ourselves when we work to bring it about for the rest of the world. This kind of leadership encourages others to find the solutions that are right for them. I have been overjoyed watching a nation moved so deeply by the stirring of a power they already have within them. Do you feel it? It is the subtle shift to knowing for yourself what you need to do. 

This type of leadership is similar to philanthropy … providing the tools and access to the tools is the way to lead people toward realizing their potential. At the heart of any good philanthropist is a good leader. They know how to follow those they are trying to direct. They know how to be with people, to learn from and work with them to accomplish goals. In doing so the goals are achieved by the people, for the people; they are goals that will be sustainable over time, goals that breed increased desire for building community assets. This type of transformation in leadership results in individual choice and participation. It changes our expectations of what we can get or what we are given. Leading from behind asks for input from every individual and demands that we all take an active role in creating together. In the short term it is much easier to set a course and tell people what to do. Leadership of hope is messy, but it provides long term success. The leadership we are experiencing today, like philanthropy, enables the purest form of civic engagement. We are witnessing history. The time to shed our fear and give hope to each other is now.