Whose Story Do We Tell?

Don’t you just love a good story? I do. Ever since I was little, I loved getting lost in a book. Right now, I am reading The Other Einstein, by Marie Benedict. It’s the story of Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Marić, a fellow student and the only woman at the time studying at the Zürich Polytechnic. Until fairly recently no one knew her story and there is still a lot we don’t know about her. Scholars debate her role in the development of his early work including the Annus Mirabilis papers.

The book has me thinking about whose stories we tell. Or whose story do we listen to?

When we are working in the community, who do we speak to? Who do we invite to our board, our workgroup, our coalition, or collaborative?

If the people you engage do not look like or represent the people you are trying to serve, I invite you to do some deep thinking.

It is something I am pondering myself. To whom do I collaborate? Mentor?

On Community Possibilities, I am making a concerted effort to invite lots of different people to join me in talking about the hard work of community change. People who do not look like me. In the latest episode of the podcast, I speak with my friend Dr. Folami Prescott- Adams. Folami is hands-down the best facilitator I have ever seen. She has a calm spirit that creates a space where people can have hard conversations about racism and equity. I hope you will give the episode a listen and learn more about Listening 4 Justice.

Take care-

Ann