Even if your nonprofit organization isn’t under direct threat, we all know a massive wave of cuts and policy changes are coming which will affect every one of us, and the communities, causes and clients we serve. More importantly, we are now seeing threats to the very nature of our democracy and the freedoms that set America apart. Below is a list of actions you can take right now, so that our sector is prepared to stand together and use our legal rights to push back on threats that would jeopardize our ability to serve our communities and uphold the freedoms… Continue reading »
TEDx Venice Beach, Surfing the Silver Tsunami
A few weeks back, I agreed to do a TEDx talk. Now, to be honest, I think the whole TEDx thing is somewhat of a saturated market, but this one was for Venice Beach, and how could I say no to that?!? Seriously…as a person raised in Southern California, few zip codes generate as much excitement and history for me at 90291-DogTown, USA – and besides that, few spots allow you to fly your freak flag quite as high and proud, so I put mine OUT for TEDx Venice Beach Anyway…thanks to some preliminary talks with groups… Continue reading »
Three Ways Hungry Seniors Can Help Build a New Food System
At this stage of my career, I’m pretty darn good at working a crowd. Between running nightclubs in DC’s musical heydays (1979-87), building D.C. Central Kitchen, pioneering social enterprise, speaking all over America about the economic role on nonprofits, and now opening the L.A. Kitchen, I can spin a darn good yarn and keep just about any audience engaged. Yet, for all that show biz / business experience, I often watch audiences – particularly young audiences – go south when I start talking about the rapidly advancing wave of older Americans. It’s not their fault;… Continue reading »
Welcome Aboard, Theresa
When you start a journey, you never know whom you’ll meet along the way. Years ago, when I launched the D.C. Central Kitchen, we began hiring graduates of the job training program to cook with us. Our first was Gertrude. Then came 5th Street Shorty…and by the time I left last year, we had over 100 men and women in our employ, and most of them were graduates. Miss Dott, Jerald, Phil, William…the list goes on and on. Some remain, some passed along the way, some relapsed, but they all helped build DCCK into what… Continue reading »
Food for Thought
I’ve been on quite a roll of late. As much as I should write a follow-up to my 2004 book, Begging for Change, I can’t help but agree when folks call asking for a blog entry or op-ed. Long story short….I keep giving away my ideas. Most recently, I agreed to help my super chum, Nell Edgington, who runs the Social Velocity blog. I adore Nell…when most “thought leaders” thought supporting nonprofit political advocacy would lead to their children being stolen in the night by a commando squad made up of agents from the IRS,… Continue reading »
