A Monumental Time for Project CHANGE- April 15th
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u might live in a big city that tourists pay a lot of money to come see, and not ever do what the tourists do. Such was the case today when Project CHANGE took time out to visit the Lincoln Memorial, and walk through to the MLK and FDR memorials to end at the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin. For some members, though they are locals, this was their first visit.
We stood on the spot where Martin Luther King Jnr gave his defining ‘I have a Dream” speech, and then traveled to the new MLK memorial that embodies a phrase from that 1963 speech,”Out of the Mountain of Despair we will carve a Stone of Hope.”
To spend time in such inspiring places was in keeping with the mission of Project CHANGE. These great statues were first built to remember history, but then become places where new history is also made. The stories that matter are ones that keep growing new chapters. Of course, the CHANGE team don’t see themselves in the same class as these great heroes, but nevertheless, they are part of that unfolding story of leadership through service of something greater than oneself. Well Done Project CHANGE.
Do the One Thing that will make all the other things easier or unnecessary
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me management is such a challenge for us all, but especially for Project CHANGE members who have to juggle their service hours with study or family or other part time job commitments to make ends meet. Sometimes, the demands can feel overwhelming. One member recently had to give up shift work because it was just too much. He was simply not allowing himself time to sleep! How does one work out some sense of priorities when everything feels urgent and there does not seem to be enough of you or your time to go around?
The work of Gary Klein is one possible answer. He wrote an amazing work called The One Thing, and members at our training were each given a copy. The book claims that we suffer from delusions about multi-tasking and will power and how we usually go about determining the tasks of our day. He says the brain is built to focus on ONE thing, not Two or Three. He uses the example of a brain surgeon or an airline pilot landing a plane in a storm. He says we all expect the surgeon or the pilot to be totally focused on the ONE thing that matters- saving a life or landing safely. So, in our normal lives, he recommends that we ask the clearing question.
“What is the ONE thing that I can do here that will make all the other things easier or even unnecessary?”
We can use the same idea for a host of other areas in our lives that are in danger of being cluttered up with more demands than time.
“What is the ONE thing that I need to do to be more effective at my service site that will make all the other things easier or even unnecessary?”
“What is the ONE thing that I need to do to be more satisfied with my relationships that will make all the other things easier or even unnecessary?”
The team were asked to experiment and to try the question in their work. At our next meeting, we might ask how it all went.
The Story of Saturday School- April 22nd
Today the Project CHANGE team met to hear the story of George B Thomas Snr. and how he started the Saturday School, the 6th day of learning for disadvantaged students in Montgomery County. It is a remarkable story.
Born to a family in the south that suffered directly from the ravages of racism, George knew very early on that his education mattered more than anything. Encouraged by his mother, he strove to be the best, even when his schooling was deficient and he had to teach himself. He served in leadership roles in the Montgomery County school system and served as president of a famous black college. His life is full of firsts, including the first African American to earn his PhD from GWU.
For the members of CHANGE dedicated to improving student engagement, the work of Saturday School resonates so clearly and deeply. We have much to learn from George B Thomas and much to be grateful for. At 85, George should be relaxing enjoying his legacy, but he is as relentless at 85 as he was at 55. Some people never grow old.