THE FRIDAY FOLLOW-UP

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           Mission: To train, support and convene a statewide network of leaders to take courageous action on North Carolina's most pressing issues through civil dialogue and by engaging across differences to improve the lives of all North Carolinians.

 

Here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter: messages from Minda and Rachel, pictures and re-cap from the last seminar for the Class of ’14, updates on Fellows in Action, Wildacres Retreat and WLI Values statement, All Fellows Gathering 2016 Sept. 30 – Oct 2, What Fellows are Reading, Podcast link, Update on ED search, and tutorials for connecting through the website.

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MINDA SAYS. 

The events of the last month have once again lifted up a long-held desire on the part of Fellows and board members for a healthy, robust culture of conversation. Fellows want to hear from the organization. And, Fellows long for the Fellowship circle experienced at seminars, a space to speak one’s truth and hear others’. Be messy. Engage across deep differences. Accept non-closure. Disagree without shaming, blaming, or attacking. Lynette, that’s what I heard you asking for. And, James, Mary, Richard, and Winn, you responded through the website forum. Aura posted on the group Fb page. Others chose email. I recognize and appreciate each of you for engaging. Now what? How do we stay in conversation and not let fear of being misunderstood or offending, or not having enough time, or forgetting one’s password, get in the way? Imagine how your leadership might be enhanced from a culture of conversation with a diverse statewide community of courageous, civil, integral leaders. Then, “try it on” by responding to a post on the website forum. Ask a question on the Fb group page. Send an email to a Fellow mentioned in this newsletter and invite them to coffee. Pick up the phone and call a Fellow to check in. The difference it makes may far outweigh the time invested. Give it a try.

 

As you will read, Rachel is headed to graduate school. I’m thrilled for her and looking forward to seeing her continue to grow and develop and put her passion into action. Not only has she been a huge asset to the organization and community by putting out the newsletters, podcasts, managing events, and much more in between, she has also taught me a lot and pushed me to see and consider ideas and events from a different perspective. And, she made me laugh. I’ll miss her a great deal. Since the new ED will hire her replacement, the newsletter, website updates, and other communication improvements will be on hold.

 

SEMINAR VI: A RE-CAP

On June 2-5, 2016, the 2014-16 Friday Fellows gathered in Bryson City, NC for their final seminar of the two-year cycle. Exploring the far western part of the state was an important and unique learning experience for this class.  As it was the culminating seminar for the group, we used the time to solidify the integration of the skills and tools Fellows have been learning for the past 18-months. Click here to read more. 

 

  

    

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Want to know more about Fellows from the class of 2014? You can find a map of them on our website homepage.

Click on the names of the Fellows to read more about them in their profiles.

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FELLOWS IN ACTION 

Scott Holmes (’06), pairing his skills as an attorney with a passion for justice and equity, has been working to counteract arrest and sentencing disparities in Durham’s African American population. He also stepped in and joined the legal team of the family of Akiel Denkins, the man shot and killed by Raleigh police.

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Anita Brown-Graham ('95) leaves IEI, begins new chapter at UNC School of Government. She was also featured in the N&O for her work with the NC Leadership Forum.

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Katy Harriger ('95) named Wake Washington Director. 

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John Hood ('95) pens op-ed on Economic Development in NC. 

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Dr. Dan Murrey ('14), former CEO of OrthoCarolina, steps down July 1 to focus on the management company, Transformant Healthcare Solutions, that serves OrthoCarolina and other physician groups interested in  “value-based care.”

 

Below, Kathleen Crabbs Clarke and Jen Nixon ('14) spotted at Arts Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

ONE LAST MESSAGE FROM RACHEL

Two years ago, on a warm and sunny day, I was in my bedroom listening to one of my favorite bands, A Tribe Called Quest, serenade me with Can I Kick It? The music that I was streaming from my phone suddenly cut off as Minda Brooks was calling, reaching out to offer me a part time position with the Friday Fellowship. I was so excited- I accepted the position on the spot, we set a date for me to start, and hung up the phone. Tribe cut back on, and I laid on my bed with an enormous grin, and my arms behind my head. It was like a scene from a 1980’s John Hughes movie. 

But on the real, how could I have known that I’d just stumbled into one of the single most important experiences of my life?

A month after that phone call, I found myself at Wildacres, on a mountain, holding hands with strangers in a circle, and thinking about what I'd say when I was interviewed on 20/20 as the girl who accidentally joined a cult.  It would take about two years before I fully understood the magic (and legitimacy) of the Fellowship- after I’d seen a full cycle of Fellows move through the ebb and flow of difficult conversations, of self awareness and unlikely relationship building. The Friday Fellowship would also act as a prism for my own self discovery, uplifting my best attributes, allowing me to confront my shortcomings, and bringing me clarity on what my soul’s work is to be. I’m better for the powerful relationships that I was able to build with many Fellows across the state. And I’m immensely grateful to the faculty, Kathleen, Sterling, Gita and Georgann, for collectively being the Mr. Miyagi to this Karate Kid’s experience. 

Finally, Minda. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the last two years crammed into an 8x8 office with anyone else but Minda Brooks. On any given day I reference something Minda has taught me, whether it be about Bell Hooks, or how to neatly pack a suitcase, how to not get a headache when I run or even just how to do a mail merge. Because of her, I truly know the power of being able to say that my boss is the best person I know. Most importantly, she’s helped me to self-actualize what is next.

This Fall, I will be starting a graduate program in Neuroepidemiology at the University of Texas. I will be studying neurological heath and well being disparities within the population of our incarcerated brothers across the country. 

Despite the fact that I’m transitioning into a new endeavor, I’d love to hear from you outside of the capacity of harassing you for news updates. You can find me at my personal email if you want to know more about the work that I’m doing.

 

VALUES STATEMENT 

In June, Wildacres Retreat and Wildacres Leadership Initiative released a Values Statement. Read it here.

 

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

 

All Fellows Gathering 2016 is right around the corner!

By now, you’ve marked your calendar for Sept 30- Oct 2. If not, go do that right now! We’ll be in Chapel Hill and we’re working out the details to open registration very soon. We’ll be focusing on connecting with one another, sharing and learning from you and your leadership across the state, networking around issues that are important to you, grappling with the challenges happening in our state and the country. We’ll try on something new. Play charades. Move together. You won’t want to miss it!

 

WHAT FELLOWS ARE READING

What have you read recently that you’d recommend to other Fellows? In 250 – 500 words tell us what you found to be provocative, challenging, engaging, disturbing, or intriguing and we’ll include it in this new addition to the newsletter.   

Anita Brown-Graham shares one of her latest book adventures below!

"I decided this summer that I had read all of the books on global economy and management theory that I could stand. Instead I was going to go back to reading novels. And my ambition was to read novels that you would never keep on your bookshelf because your friends wouldn’t think you were very thoughtful if you had been reading those. It turns out that the first one I picked up in an airport a few weeks ago is called Arthur’s Ashes by Frank McCord. And I’d heard of the book but had no idea what it was about. I loved it, and its going to be on my bookshelf for a very long time. It focuses on a family of immigrants to America from Ireland, and they go back to Ireland and grow up in real abject poverty, but it is one of those books where the character development is just brilliant. And it helps you to get an insight into what might on the surface seem like completely irrational behavior, except when you put yourself in the person's shoes, you understand why its not irrational. Its just a fantastic book. Its interesting because you can learn so much from art, from literature. So much about the human spirit. And this book is actually an autobiography, so its not fiction, but it could well have been, and still have offered a chance to just understand humanity in a different way."

 

 

GIVE US A LISTEN!

Recently, we began recording a podcast called "Fellows on the Fly:15 minutes of a Friday Fellow." It has proven to be an engaging medium and we hope that you'll take some time to meet some members of our community. Interviews include:

          Kel Landis ('95) of Plexis Capital, John Drescher ('95) of the News and Observer and Erik Ortega ('08) of The Center for Community Transitions.

FELLOWS ON THE FLY  

   

    

JOB NOTICE 

Job Notice: Executive Director

Wildacres Leadership Initiative (WLI) seeks an experienced Executive Director to lead the organization and build on its mission to train, support, and convene a statewide network of leaders to take courageous action on North Carolina’s most pressing issues through civil dialogue and by engaging across differences to improve the lives of all North Carolinians. >> Click to read more.

 

Note: the deadline for applications is July 22. The search is on schedule with phone interviews planned for the beginning of August and an offer made by the end of the month. The Search Committee is chaired by Greg Walker Wilson, and includes Gita Gulati-Partee, Amy Hertel, Rebekah Hughey, Denisa Leach, and Michelle Pearson. Minda Brooks is participating in the process, as well.

 

 

Want to connect with other Fellows? Here's how!

"LOG IN" Directions

Your username: Email us if you don't remember
Original password: FridayFellow2012
Both case-sensitive. 

 

SENDING AN EMAIL

1. Sign in to www.fridayfellowship.org
2. Click on "My Profile"
3. Click "Groups"
4. Click the wrench icon next to your class and select "Email all group members".
5. Compose email. Preview. Send!

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Participating in the Forum

1. Sign in to your profile on our website.

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2. Click Forum tab on the left rail of the website's homepage.

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3.  Add a new forum, add a new topic or reply to the topic that is already there!

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 And, don't forget to "Subscribe to Instant Updates" under Forum Actions so when a new post is added an email alert will be sent to your Inbox. 

 

 

 

 

Not a part of the private Facebook group? Email Minda!

 

 

 THANK YOU FOR BEING A PARTNER IN OUR WORK TO ADVANCE

HUMAN RELATIONS IN THE STATE