Sign In / Sign Out
Navigation for Entire University
Current nonprofit sector research and recommendations for effective day-to-day practice from ASU faculty, staff, students, and the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
Illustration by Jocelyn Ruiz
|
posted by CEO/Founder, |
In junior high, I once jumped off a table Wonder Woman-style (but without bullet-proof bracelets) to defend another child from being teased. I don’t remember why I was perched on a table in art class, but I do remember the drama of leaping between this bully and his victim. Without hesitating, I knew I had the power to stop the harassment. And I did. At that moment, my nonprofit heart was born.
Although this defining incident taught me I could make a difference, I can remember always being concerned with whatever seemed unfair, inequitable, or just plain stupid: “Why do people litter? Why would people say ugly things because of the color of someone’s skin? Why are some people so rich and other people so poor? And why doesn’t my family ever go on vacation?”
“Life’s not fair,” my mother would say.
“Well, then,” I’d think, “somebody needs to get busy and make it fair!”
At some point, I decided I’d have to fix unfair stuff myself, since too many people didn’t seem to care as much as I did about world problems. At times, I’d get so mad about poverty, racism, sexism, or religious bigotry that I’d feel like punching someone. Since I was raised to be a “good girl,” punching people for prejudice didn’t follow. And as a teenager who volunteered for Special Olympics and adopted the beagle next door when his owner abandoned him, I suspected the part of me that shook my fist — or wagged my finger — at all things stupid and unfair made me no better than anyone else. Until graduate school, I didn’t have a name for “mimetic violence” (imitating what you claim to hate), but I did get the insanity (i.e. hypocrisy) of hitting people to stop the act of hitting. It just took me awhile to actually learn that lesson.
When I was a young teen, for example, my twin sister and a girlfriend would pass around a football during lunch hour. Inevitably (and happily) boys would steal our football from us. We’d pretend to be mad, but we actually loved trying to get the football back. Once, though, a large boy roughly tackled me. I’d seen him do this to others before. I’d had enough. So even though he was two times my size, I hurled myself right at him until I bounced off his giant torso. Although he must have barely felt me hit his chest, I was satisfied I’d made my point: “Don’t mess with me! And stop hurting people!”
During high school, I bought a hand-painted plaque that I proudly hung on my pink bedroom wall. It read, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” My self-righteous heart loved this in-your-face message. And yet, for all my righteousness — then and now — the young person I was genuinely longed to see more people committed to ending injustice. Not surprisingly, this naïve, youthful view was limited by my equally limited knowledge — and respect — for what other people had done, and were doing, to improve the quality of life for their fellow human beings with love, rather than hostility.
Now, as a middle-aged woman working in the nonprofit sector, I clearly see millions of people working peacefully and tirelessly at local, national, and international levels to make the world a better place for everyone. My grown-up, nonprofit heart is profoundly grateful.
Laura L. Bush, Ph.D., was formerly the Manager of Curriculum Design & Innovation for the Nonprofit Management Institute at the ASU Lodestar Center. She has served on nonprofit boards and volunteered for many nonprofit organizations, including over 10 years for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. Before shifting her career to the nonprofit sector in 2006, she taught undergraduate literature and writing courses, designed faculty development programs in learning-centered teaching, and published extensively in gender and autobiography studies. She is the CEO and founder of Peacock Proud Press.
I remember going through a real life change when I landed a summer job at nonprofit that houses special needs adults. It was an incredible experience for me, and one I'm supremely grateful to have had. I soon after became a big personal advocate of the R-Word Campaign and haven't stopped being all nonprofit-y ever since. :)
Laura, you are such a warrior! I'm always interested in people's varied paths to the nonprofit sector... I love your story about fighting injustice as a child and making a career out of your passion.
This is a GREAT blog post, Laura! It's so personal, and yet so easily generalized to any nonprofit person's experience. I didn't know about "mimetic violence," but I'm all over that phrase now! (You know me and my thing for words). Thanks for sharing!
i love this! i've found it's a fine line to skirt between doing good vs. getting frustrated when no one else seems to be helping enough. Just have to do my thing and not worry about the rest of it!
Thank you all for reading and commenting. Kayla, you make me smile with that nonprofit-y stuff; I'm so glad I could expand Travis's already enormous vocabulary (go English majors), and Jill, your comment, invited me to see I'm a "Woman Warrior"--never even thought about it that way, but I love it since I think Maxine Hong Kingston rocks! And great, Katilda, that you,too, are doing your thing out there to make the world a better place for us all.
Laura, I enjoyed your article and the comments (I call my wife-Warrior Princess). You obviously have a passion for helping and standing up for others which is very admirable. You did stir up my passion which is how to address the bullying problem in our schools and now even in the workplace. Through my coaching efforts, I am trying to help the victims of bullying and their parents (if applicable) and am also interested in helping the people who are the bullies since their low self-esteem and insecurities are the basis for their behaviors. I would be interested in any feedback or advice this group could provide.
Thanks
Rick, Thank you for reading and responding! I'm not an expert in bullying, but my sister, who is a former principle of an at-risk high school and now a counselor of a junior high should have some suggestions and resources. I believe she is working with a girls group on bullying. I'll ask.
I don't remember how I found your blog but I have been reading it for the last 45 minutes. Not a big deal except that I am supposed to be working. Anyway - thank you for the useful article. Btw - Great review
Thank you for visiting the ASU Lodestar Center website.
Please indicate how you would like to proceed.
Don't have an account? Register today!
Excellent article, Laura!
Excellent article, Laura!