I was fortunate to grow up with parents who advocated for social justice. My formative years in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin were indelibly etched cultural events of the 1960’s. Some days I awoke to a jog with my father and a trip to our local bakery for Strudel pastries that melted in our mouths. Other days I woke up to assassinations of great leaders such as JFK, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.
I watched the Vietnam war, civil rights movement and race riots unfold on the small, black and white TV that made our sun room glow with crystal blue. My father led anti-war protests from the steps of our synagogue. While still in grade school, I was part of establishing the first Earth Day events, provoked by the thousands of birds and critters killed by DDT that was fogged into our neighborhood by scary helicopters. Soon, I watched Watergate emerge, the beginning of our long generational distrust and ideological divide.
I felt a sense of purpose in those early years. My idealistic vision was to become a capitalist and fund our important causes. I studied Corporate Social Responsibility at University of Minnesota. Then, capitalism somehow overshadowed purpose. I became an expert at innovation and insights and provided brain power to help large companies prosper and evolve, albeit in fortunately high-integrity organizations, such as Levi Strauss & Co.
Now we’re at unique moment in our history that requires a new devotion to purpose.
We live in a divided society. Our families, communities, religious institutions, governing bodies, schools and friends have become polarized, especially during the most recent months. Our organizations are designed for times that no longer exist. We need tectonic shifts in how we work and relate to each other.
Today, I am announcing the co-creation of ORANGE GROVE NINE, a fresh collaboration with author and Conscious Culture leader Alicia Korten, CEO of The Culture Company, based in Washington, DC.
ORANGE GROVE NINE http://www.orangegrovenine.com will provide a methodical approach for establishing tools of Conscious Culture and Mindful Innovation to help organizations navigate these turbulent seas and develop greater unity.
Alicia is brilliant and I am honored to be collaborating with her. She’s a Fulbright Scholar, a fabulous story-teller and an author of several books including Change Philanthropy: Candid Stories of Foundations Maximizing Results through Social Justice.
I will continue leading innovation strategy and insights through the C’EST WHAT? consortium. So, ORANGE GROVE NINE, is a complementary venture that brings me closer to my roots in social and environmental justice.
Let’s begin our conversations and the important work of purpose, empathy and unity. Let’s navigate the turbulence around us, transcend and prosper in more mindful and conscious ways.