Resources and Reflections after the Election
We are a woman immigrant owned, and queer, woman, and disabled led company and the outcome of the recent election was, well, the worst. Leaders are now empowered to create a world centered on the exact opposite of what it is that we fight for. However, this means that it’s now our job to continue the good work, the compassionate work, the demanding work–not alone –but with all of you.
First, we’ve compiled some resources:
> Take action today: H.R. 9495 is a bill that would grant the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to strip the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit by designating them a “terrorist-supporting organization”– without requiring any evidence. While it failed to pass the House of Representatives last week when a two-thirds vote was required, 52 Democrats voted for it. If passed, H.R. 9495 dramatically undermines our right to Free Speech and would serve to neutralize nonprofits that take any actions to protest the incoming government’s authoritarian agenda. Take a few seconds to sign this petition or visit this link to see which Democrats you need to call and urge them to vote NO this Thursday.
> “10 Ways to be Prepared and Grounded Now that Trump has Won” – This piece from Waging Nonviolence lists tangible things all of us can do. “The key to taking effective action in a Trump world is to avoid perpetuating the autocrat’s goals of fear, isolation, exhaustion and disorientation.” Read it here.
> Books! Read more of them. Read banned books. Support independently published books, creative writing, thought leaders, and poetry. Local bookstores are community spaces and resources. We have our own online Bookshop for you with a curated selection of our go-tos, and all proceeds go to independent bookstores.
> Indivisible has created a “Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink.” Check it out to learn more about strategies, tactics, and tips that everyday Americans can use to fight back together wherever we may live.
> Connect with the Social Enterprise Alliance, a national organization squarely focused on supporting the growth and sustainability of social enterprises. It’s a great resource and Prospera Partners is proud to be a member and offer support to SEA members through blog posts, workshops, and open office hours.
> Read Nonprofit Quarterly, a publication with the mission “to advance conversations and practice in civil society—as manifested in nonprofits, social movements, and philanthropy.” You can find my articles in NPQ here.
> Providing supportive spaces and work policies is key right now. In New Mexico? Family Friendly Policies is a great resource for good and consistent policies and practices that support community via supporting family.
> My friend, localist, and economist, Michael Shuman publishes the Main Street Journal in support of all things local business, local investing, and localism and shares many snippets of hope. In his latest newsletter he writes, “the JOBS Act of 2012 . . . legalized investment crowdfunding. Initial support came from House Republicans, and gradually, Senate Democrats came around. If history repeats itself, the new Republican government might help re-energize our efforts to further reduce barriers to local investment, local funds, local stock exchanges, and local pension funds.”
> Our BIG Blog offers over a decade’s worth of resources and thoughtful reading on dozens of topics – everything from advice when on the roller coaster that is owning a small business to how to work with multiple truths. Use the search tool to find what you are looking for.
> If you want to connect with us in more personal ways, Eileen Everett and I have our own Substack newsletters exploring creative thought leadership around environmental issues and social impact. Here are links to follow Eileen or to follow me.
And finally, if you are in the New Mexico nonprofit sector, please join us for a free, and now needed more than ever, conversation next month on what it will take to disrupt the path in New Mexico’s social sector and collectively answer the question “What will it take to change New Mexico’s social sector to be more equitable, rooted in justice, and have a larger impact for communities?” Find more info on that, here.
I started Prospera Partners nearly 13 years ago to better and more directly serve social impact – the ideas, the leaders, the organizations, the enterprises. Pivoting in times like these is critical to make sure that social impact and communities are at the center. In 2020 we solidified our mission by expanding our consulting and facilitation services. We believe the path forward is centering community. We know the important work you do whether you are in a nonprofit organization, a small business owner, or social enterprise is making a difference in communities across this country. And, we know you might need a little help in these very troubling times. You are on the frontlines of serving communities – with social impact, just and equitable programs, products, and services.
Let us now serve you.
If you are struggling to gather your teams of employees or volunteers, or partners to have difficult conversations or hold space for these things, we are here for you. We know that sometimes you want to facilitate your own conversations and might have great facilitators on your staff, but consider this – those who facilitate others often cannot fully participate in the conversations themselves. Our facilitation models guide everyone to have a voice, to listen actively, to participate in constructive and meaningful conversations. Let us hold that for you. Board meetings, staff meetings, community conversations – you name it, we’ve facilitated it with productive results.
Now is the time to reassess and amplify your values. Our Ways Of Being are a reminder of who we are and why we do this work. If you take time to follow that link and read it, we hope it inspires you to create your own, or reach out to us for a facilitated conversation to cement your values and create messaging that matters.
We can help with facilitating difficult conversations, making equitable decisions, conflict resolution, consensus building, partnering with purpose, always guiding your teams through strategic thinking to better serve the moment and your community. Our team has the tools to help you have productive and honest conversations right now – and right now it seems more important than ever.
In solidarity,
Vicki
