The Under-Belly of White Privilege

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009  at the National Art Gallery/Ottawa

How do we discriminate?

Let's examine the Under-Belly

"It all starts with uncertainty...not be resolved until we can listen to people's experience of things like racism and sexism-just listening without trying to defend ourselves...." - Margaret Wheatley

Provocative???

"I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege.

I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious n each day.

White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks."

Peggy McIntosh is Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research for Women.  This essay is excerpted from her working paper. “White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women’s Studies.”

Do we have your attention yet?  Confederation College's Frances Trousse will be presenting "White Privilege" at our next CLD.  Be ready to launch into a dialogue which, for many of us, will be the first time we have seen our own reflections in the spider web of myths about discrimination and racism.

The full text is here: 

 http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf

Your assignment...

Keep a "white priviledge" diary for 1 week...

chat with your family, friends and co-workers (ask "appreciative inquiry questions)...

wonder "conciously" about how your views of our community might be changed through this lens...

Yours in leadership,

Maggie

Special Message for Current Class: FYI

Dear Alumni of Leadership Thunder Bay,




My name is Herpreet Lamba and I am the incoming President of Leadership Thunder Bay for the 2009-2010 year. I have been involved with the organization for many years now and I am really excited about the year ahead for the organization.



The purpose of my email is to inspire our alumni to support our wonderful organization as we approach our annual AGM on November 10th, 2009. Over the years our alumni has been instrumental in the success of our program as most of our new participants into the program come by way of referral from former graduates, and I thank you all for the continued support.



My goal is to have 100% of our alumni (currently 126) become financial supporters of our organization. Achieving this status would significantly assist us in our efforts to secure donations and sponsorships from other community members. This goal of 100% is a significant challenge.



In an effort to help us achieve this goal, I pledge to donate $7.00 for every alumnus who donates to our organization before November 6th (why this date - it is 4 days before our AGM and I would like to announce our support at that event).



Please note, this is a per person match. Therefore, it does not matter if you donate $1, or $1,000, each donation will count the same. As we all learned in our classes, it's not the dollar amount that matters, but whether you are participating. I respect the fact that even the most modest donation may be a financial strain for some, so I have not tied this pledge to dollars, but rather to people. This is as much about participation as it is about fundraising.



So I ask that you consider accepting this challenge and consider supporting Leadership Thunder Bay. I look forward to being able to announce 100% alumni support at this year's AGM on November 10th, and to having you celebrate this achievement with us.



If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me directly.



Sincerely,



Herp Lamba



herp.lamba@investorsgroup.com







Applications now being accepted for the 2010-2011 program year. Space is limited so apply early!







Applications now being accepted for the 2010-2011 program year. Space is limited so apply early!



For more information visit our website at www.leadershiptb.com

Dig A Little Deeper & Paddle A Little Harder

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Why is it that we know so little about our own backyard?

Anna Gibbon, Aboriginal Liaison with the City of Thunder Bay, spoke about a number of significant historical and current events. I’m challenging you to dig a little deeper... here are the links to Anna’s “homework” for you:


1. What happened in 1850?

http://www.northernontarioregion.com/default.asp?pgid=112

(search Robinson Superior Treaty)


2. Metis? Aboriginal? What’s the difference? In 1982... Metis finally recognized!
http://cupe.ca/aboriginal/An_act_for_assimilat

(search CUPE site for more background)



3. Again, 1982 a significant year for Canada.

Our Constitution’s Section 35: we deal “Government to Government”, so what does this really mean?

http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/foundation_gr6/blms/6-3-2c.pdf

(Search Constitution Section 35)



We were encouraged to “Go Visiting”, and so we will at the next CLD. Check out our November host and sponsor NAN here: http://www.nan.on.ca/



Anna invited us to the Community Feast (November 17, 2009). Here’s what happened last year at the very First Feast:
October 22, 2008 – Mayor Lynn Peterson today hosted a traditional Aboriginal Fall Feast at the Métis Nation on May Street to introduce the City's new Aboriginal Liaison, Anna Gibbon to the community and Aboriginal organizations. The establishment of the Aboriginal Liaison Office is strategic initiative number 42 under Council's strategic priorities to provide a high quality of life to all citizens.


"Today is a day of `firsts'," said Mayor Lynn Peterson. "This is the first time the City has ever hosted a fall feast and the first time the Corporation and representatives of its various departments have come to meet the Anishnawbek, Métis, and Urban Aboriginal communities enmass. I am proud to introduce the new Aboriginal Liaison and begin building stronger relationships with the Aboriginal communities. These relationships will be rooted in respectful and meaningful dialogue to share ideas, resources and opportunities that will contribute to a higher quality of life for all residents."


The 16' x 32' mural, "Métis Voyageurs", was designed by artists Chris Rantala and Brian Cronk and depicts Fort William on the Kaministiqua River. "Murals as public art are a wonderful way to tell our stories as a multi-cultural community," said Mayor Lynn Peterson. "The colourful stories being told in this work will go a long way in beautifying the neighbourhood, bringing members of the community together, and inspiring pride for our history and culture across Thunder Bay."


"The Voyageur Canoe paddling past Fort William is a true depiction of the rich Métis culture that lives deep within the Thunder Bay community."

-

More homework...

John Hannam recommended a basic source on Governments in Canada. For an abbreviated version, go here:


http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/local-government-canada-organization-amp-basic-institutions

(Search Tindal & Tindal)

Your READINGS for November:

1. This week, read some interesting notes on Sacred Directions: http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.html



2. Whole Brain Business Book: Chapter 2



3. Your CAP Book Choice: Include excerpts for your CAP Presentation.

This Week's Leadership Tidbit:

So, what’s “mandatory” reading and what’s not? It’s up to you...

Each week, I post links and information for the upcoming Learning Day. The more you read, the more you ‘ll appreciate the program. My goal is to “get you more curious”. (And besides, if you check out the fine print, you might just win something cool.)

I did some research about  Why Leaders Read... (to try to convince some of  you to start...is that a lost cause?) 

It’s not about the knowledge...reading trains your mind to “think Better”...meet great leaders (almost) face to face - what are they thinking and how do they express their thoughts? ... diversify and get out of their own thinking “ruts”. There’s some interesting dialogue about whether “scanning” is as effective as active reading. What do you think?


This week’s Fine Print: Where is this mural in the photo? First correct response (go to http://www.xowhat.blogspot.com/ and click on “comment”) wins a coffee break with dessert.

Enjoy your week!

- Maggie

Let's See...What's Visionary?

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

The Visionary Leadership Style: Key Leadership Skill

~ moves people toward shared dreams

~ has a strong positive impact on climate / culture

~ is appropriate when change requires a new vision,

or when a clear direction is needed

Any leader would be wise to grab for the "visionary golf club" more often than not. It may not guarantee a hole in one, but it certainly helps with the long drive.

Visionaries need to be competent, transparent, and emotionally intelligent.

However... the Visionary Style does not work in every situation. It fails, for instance, when a leader is working with a team of experts or peers who are more experienced than he, and who might view a leader expounding a great vision as out of step with the agenda at hand.

This can cause cynicism,which is a breeding ground for poor performance.

Another limitation: If a visionary becomes over-bearing, she can undermine the spirit of team-based leadership.

Source: Daniel Goleman, Primal Leadership

Remember the "art of asking great questions - Appreciative Inquiry?

How "VISIONARY" is our current City Council?

What is your vision of our City's transformation?

What are you willing to invest to make it happen?

See you at City Hall on Thursday!

PS: Where was this week's photo taken? First correct answer wins a prize!

Do-Be-Do-Be-Do?

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

How busy are you these days?

If you're into a connectivity with everyone else -

to the degree

that you don't have time to connect with -

YOU

what's your message as a leader?

Do Do Do? No time to BE?

This U-Tube "REFLECTION" only takes 1 hour 12 minutes...

learn about the power of using your mind - you too may win a rowing race...a Nobel Prize... peace, purpose, clues to who you really are...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nwwKbM_vJc

PS: If you're saying, I don't have time for that right now...

find an hour soon to invest in your creativity...

whenever you're ready to explore.

Zenfully yours,

Maggie