Archived Newsletters
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May 2014
One of the joys I have experienced in my life is the profound and complementary ways in which my values, relationships, and work have intertwined with that of the Center for Ethical Leadership. Our annual Legacy Event honors the courageous leadership of those in the Puget Sound region who recognize the importance of collective work and practice it, regardless of how tough it might get – 'cuz it’s hard work, yo! (That’s a shout out to Richard Woo, our keynote rapper at this year’s Legacy Event.) It was an invigorating night listening to the heartfelt stories shared by these phenomenal recipients.
Linda Park’s vocation resonated with my own: “Be a model and a voice for the interconnection for all that is in our world, seen and unseen. Be a model and a voice for the sacredness of the earth and the inherent value in all species. Be a spark and a spirit behind ideas and solutions that allow human-kind to live in harmony with these truths.”
Wyking Garrett’s gently provocative reminder for us to take a look in the mirror and recognize the blind spots we have despite our beautiful intentions, elevated the importance of building sincere relationships across all boundaries to eliminate these blind spots. The principles that guide his leadership - “Inspiration, Perspiration and Expiration”- called us all to be willing to sweat through discomfort to get to what’s right.
From Tita Begashaw, I will forever marvel at the profoundness of her exuberant exclamation, “I love forgiveness!” If all I do is to aspire to have just an ounce of her formidable loving spirit, I think I’ll be good. Celebrating the stories of these remarkable community leaders is important, and every year the energy at the Legacy Event is electric. I invite you to click on the video links below and be inspired.
- Waing Waing, Associate Director
One of the joys I have experienced in my life is the profound and complementary ways in which my values, relationships, and work have intertwined with that of the Center for Ethical Leadership. Our annual Legacy Event honors the courageous leadership of those in the Puget Sound region who recognize the importance of collective work and practice it, regardless of how tough it might get – 'cuz it’s hard work, yo! (That’s a shout out to Richard Woo, our keynote rapper at this year’s Legacy Event.) It was an invigorating night listening to the heartfelt stories shared by these phenomenal recipients.
Linda Park’s vocation resonated with my own: “Be a model and a voice for the interconnection for all that is in our world, seen and unseen. Be a model and a voice for the sacredness of the earth and the inherent value in all species. Be a spark and a spirit behind ideas and solutions that allow human-kind to live in harmony with these truths.”
Wyking Garrett’s gently provocative reminder for us to take a look in the mirror and recognize the blind spots we have despite our beautiful intentions, elevated the importance of building sincere relationships across all boundaries to eliminate these blind spots. The principles that guide his leadership - “Inspiration, Perspiration and Expiration”- called us all to be willing to sweat through discomfort to get to what’s right.
From Tita Begashaw, I will forever marvel at the profoundness of her exuberant exclamation, “I love forgiveness!” If all I do is to aspire to have just an ounce of her formidable loving spirit, I think I’ll be good. Celebrating the stories of these remarkable community leaders is important, and every year the energy at the Legacy Event is electric. I invite you to click on the video links below and be inspired.
- Waing Waing, Associate Director
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Tita talks about her journey as a leader, and how she discovered the importance of laughter, forgiveness and love in her life and as a leader.
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Wyking shares his leadership journey, from participating in the occupation of Coleman School at the age of eight, to developing youth leaders in the Central District by founding the Umoja P.E.A.C.E. Center.
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Linda traces the leadership thread of her life guiding her work and beliefs toward interconnectivity and inclusivity of the world.
Linda Park from Center for Ethical Leadership on Vimeo. |
Welcome, Waing Waing!
We are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Hla Yin Yin Waing as the new Associate Director of the Center for Ethical Leadership. Known as Waing Waing, she is a long-time supporter of the work of the Center and has served on the Board of Trustees for the past 5 years.
Waing Waing is passionate about inclusion and brings a deep commitment to justice and equity. She has a strong network of connections in the Puget Sound area and understands the local community well. Together with Executive Director Dale Nienow, she will provide leadership to significant aspects of the Center that shape the strategic direction, impact and sustainability of the organization into the future. She is eager to deepen relationships and partnerships in the community to support Center programs and initiatives that focus on spreading peacemaking and healing, collective/network leadership, and Gracious Space as ways of increasing the capacity of communities and organizations to carry out change initiatives.
Waing Waing was born in Burma, raised in Botswana and likes to say that she's been maturing in the heart of Seattle. Before joining us, she was the Director of Cultural Competency at Senior Services where she led the diversity and inclusion work, strengthened relationships with under-represented communities and improved organizational capacity to meet the needs of the agency’s diverse customers with culturally appropriate, accessible and relevant services. In addition, she oversaw the agency-wide functions for community outreach, staff development and working with volunteers.
Prior to Senior Services, Waing Waing provided training and consulting services to community-based organizations and public agencies in health and human services for the Cultural Competency Training Program at the Minority Executive Directors Coalition.
She owned and operated a coffee shop that became a community hub in the Central District, and was once a techie installing public access computers in public libraries across the country for the US Library Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She has served as Co-Chair for the Non-Profit Anti-Racism Coalition, and is a former Board member at The Giddens School. Waing Waing attended The Evergreen State College for her undergraduate studies, and earned her Master’s in Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.
Please join us in welcoming Waing Waing to the Center!
We are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Hla Yin Yin Waing as the new Associate Director of the Center for Ethical Leadership. Known as Waing Waing, she is a long-time supporter of the work of the Center and has served on the Board of Trustees for the past 5 years.
Waing Waing is passionate about inclusion and brings a deep commitment to justice and equity. She has a strong network of connections in the Puget Sound area and understands the local community well. Together with Executive Director Dale Nienow, she will provide leadership to significant aspects of the Center that shape the strategic direction, impact and sustainability of the organization into the future. She is eager to deepen relationships and partnerships in the community to support Center programs and initiatives that focus on spreading peacemaking and healing, collective/network leadership, and Gracious Space as ways of increasing the capacity of communities and organizations to carry out change initiatives.
Waing Waing was born in Burma, raised in Botswana and likes to say that she's been maturing in the heart of Seattle. Before joining us, she was the Director of Cultural Competency at Senior Services where she led the diversity and inclusion work, strengthened relationships with under-represented communities and improved organizational capacity to meet the needs of the agency’s diverse customers with culturally appropriate, accessible and relevant services. In addition, she oversaw the agency-wide functions for community outreach, staff development and working with volunteers.
Prior to Senior Services, Waing Waing provided training and consulting services to community-based organizations and public agencies in health and human services for the Cultural Competency Training Program at the Minority Executive Directors Coalition.
She owned and operated a coffee shop that became a community hub in the Central District, and was once a techie installing public access computers in public libraries across the country for the US Library Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She has served as Co-Chair for the Non-Profit Anti-Racism Coalition, and is a former Board member at The Giddens School. Waing Waing attended The Evergreen State College for her undergraduate studies, and earned her Master’s in Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.
Please join us in welcoming Waing Waing to the Center!
Peacemaking: Start With Yourself
by Dale Nienow
The Dalai Lama has talked about the challenge of creating a more compassionate world in the midst of violence and harm that people do to each other. He proclaimed that “…we need inner disarmament of anger, jealousy, suspicion, and fear.” When we hold onto any of these strong feelings, we can easily pass them on to others in our relationships. This passes on pain and harm to others. It is also nearly impossible to improve the community when we lead primarily from our negative emotions. The Dalai Lama teaches that if we want the world to be different, we have to lead differently.
Effective leaders are peacemakers. Peacemakers work to build trust and deep relationship in communities. They help restore relationships and sense of community damaged by harm or ongoing injustice. But to be useful, peacemakers first need to do their own work of making peace with themselves and their past experiences. Our peacemaking circles create the safe space to tell stories hear truth. As we do this, we can let go of our painful narratives and find our stories of strength and gifts.
When I was growing up, one of my biggest struggles was dealing with a father, who though loving, was very dominant and directive. While I wanted independence and to make my own decisions, I felt most choices were shaped for me. Even as I headed off to college, I experienced his strong controlling presence in the choice of major – ultimately selecting economics as he wanted me to go into business with him. It was a hard journey because I felt boxed in and trapped by his choices and plans. The story I had about the relationship with my father had a strong hold over me.
I had to learn to reclaim my personal power. But I had to let go of the story that held me in place. When I did let go, new possibilities opened up. I ultimately broke away, moved across country, and created my own path. This opened up a lifetime of work to advance the common good. And something else happened as I let down the old story – I developed a new relationship with my father that was much more life giving.
This process of letting go of whatever pain has a hold on our lives while opening up to new possibility and relationship, is at the heart of peacemaking work of the Center. The issue is not only what we experienced growing up, but what we experience in our daily lives now. What are the pains we carry from how we have been treated in our communities?
To make peace, we need to find ways to transform our pain, anger, and frustration into positive ways to engage that open up possibilities. This is very difficult work and requires a community that will honor people and hold them sacred. This is the work of our peacemaking circles. This is what will make healthy, inclusive communities possible. What is your work in peacemaking?
by Dale Nienow
The Dalai Lama has talked about the challenge of creating a more compassionate world in the midst of violence and harm that people do to each other. He proclaimed that “…we need inner disarmament of anger, jealousy, suspicion, and fear.” When we hold onto any of these strong feelings, we can easily pass them on to others in our relationships. This passes on pain and harm to others. It is also nearly impossible to improve the community when we lead primarily from our negative emotions. The Dalai Lama teaches that if we want the world to be different, we have to lead differently.
Effective leaders are peacemakers. Peacemakers work to build trust and deep relationship in communities. They help restore relationships and sense of community damaged by harm or ongoing injustice. But to be useful, peacemakers first need to do their own work of making peace with themselves and their past experiences. Our peacemaking circles create the safe space to tell stories hear truth. As we do this, we can let go of our painful narratives and find our stories of strength and gifts.
When I was growing up, one of my biggest struggles was dealing with a father, who though loving, was very dominant and directive. While I wanted independence and to make my own decisions, I felt most choices were shaped for me. Even as I headed off to college, I experienced his strong controlling presence in the choice of major – ultimately selecting economics as he wanted me to go into business with him. It was a hard journey because I felt boxed in and trapped by his choices and plans. The story I had about the relationship with my father had a strong hold over me.
I had to learn to reclaim my personal power. But I had to let go of the story that held me in place. When I did let go, new possibilities opened up. I ultimately broke away, moved across country, and created my own path. This opened up a lifetime of work to advance the common good. And something else happened as I let down the old story – I developed a new relationship with my father that was much more life giving.
This process of letting go of whatever pain has a hold on our lives while opening up to new possibility and relationship, is at the heart of peacemaking work of the Center. The issue is not only what we experienced growing up, but what we experience in our daily lives now. What are the pains we carry from how we have been treated in our communities?
To make peace, we need to find ways to transform our pain, anger, and frustration into positive ways to engage that open up possibilities. This is very difficult work and requires a community that will honor people and hold them sacred. This is the work of our peacemaking circles. This is what will make healthy, inclusive communities possible. What is your work in peacemaking?