Leadership as a relationship....

Among the thousands of books written on the meaning of leadership, there is grudging agreement that leadership is a process of influence between leaders and followers. What distinguishes leadership from other forms of influence is that the leader draws on some form of authority, power, or control. This does not mean that the only people who can lead must be in high-level jobs or political posts, nor that leadership is a position or role. Leadership is a relationship, in which leaders inspire or mobilise others to extend their capacity to imagine, think and act in positive new ways. We are all leaders....from single mother of two, to CEO of many.....

Monday, June 20, 2011

Live Acoustics and Slam Poetry to benefit Brookline Cultural Trust--Come support!

http://clubcafelive.com/late-show-brookline-cultural-trust-benefit-show-featuring-recycled-air-costello-and-the-cool-minors-with-special-guest-poetry-and-acoustic-artists-jan-dewitt-tera-mcintosh-zach-hudson-johann/

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Got Passion in my heart---

A few months ago I was asked to write an intro for a grant for The Pittsburgh Passion Women's Full Contact football team, whom I also play for. The grant was to help alleviate some of the field cost and travel cost. I really like the story of it...and thought I would share ;)

A five year old girl sits on a swing telling her mother to “push me higher mommy, push me higher”. As her Mom pushes her she ask, “honey, what do you want to be when you grow up”? The little girl says “a football player Mommy, a football player”. Little girls around the United States are giving different answers these days than doctors or astronauts, and it’s all because of women who are reaching beyond boundaries and daring to do different. What women have done once before is no longer enough, we are being asked to dare to do differently as we strive forward into women’s arena that has long been awaiting a greater look.
The Pittsburgh Passion has been doing different since there beginning in 2002, which has lead them to now being the most widely recognized women’s full-contact football franchise in the world. The journey was never an easy one, but a team rooted in compassion and service, linked together as they practiced under bridges in the snow using car headlights to light up the night, which later on aided them as they went on to win the 2007 National Championship, be the first women’s football team featured in Sports Illustrated and aired live on ESPN3. But those highlights don’t take away from the passion that each player carries as a member of this football team. From the very beginning, the Passion organizational mission has been to teach life lessons through sport. In 2010, we chartered the Passion For Life Foundation 501(c)(3) to further extend our abilities to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We believe in utilizing our passions in life for the betterment and greater good of others. We are committed to serving as positive role models to foster the development of dreams and proudly attend over 250 charitable community events per year.
As a team, we come from all different lifeworlds, from single Moms, to teachers; we sacrifice countless hours coming together as a family to share our own dream. We receive no paycheck, no sweet deals, no fancy rides, but what we do receive is a sense of pride as we come together to push women’s football forward. Each player has a financial responsibility to obtain sponsorships to help cover operational cost. While some players get sponsorships from businesses, others are left rallying together supportive family and friends to help cover their share. We sacrifice overtime hours, part-time jobs, and time with our families to share this dream. We pay for our own accommodations, food, and travel. By receiving this grant we will be able to better support our travel cost and alleviate some of the financial obligation that each player is required. The supplement provided for training will also help to offset the operational cost of field and practice time, again assisting the player with lessening their financial share and also allowing the team to free up other money to continue to give back to the community and to push women’s football forward into the future. This opportunity will assist us as we as a team “dare to different” in the world of women’s sports. Please consider us for your opportunity and if you have any other questions-feel free to contact us or visit our website at www.pittsburghpassion.com

Revitalization often comes with a good cup o' joe...

I apologize for my lack of "keeping up to date". Maybe football, Ph.D. Camp, and work have to do something with it.

Anyways. Nathan Mallory of Cannon Coffee, Kevin Acklin of Renew Pittsburgh and I have been working on some new projects that have recently turned into its own nonprofit.

So if your boots are buried deep in this steel city (Like mine) and your bleeding heart loves giving back (and coffee)...be sure to check it out.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Coffeehouse/173150832708100

Your friends at Project Coffeehouse...