Category Archives: Access

Community Matters: Mack McLellan

Mack’s website, Mack’s Amazon wishlist

I asked Mack to be our first presenter because he’s game for most anything, funny, charming, and super personable (I just described every presenter I got, so I actually no longer know why I picked him first). I met Mack on August 13, 2018, after a summer of organizing to prepare for the anniversary of the events of August 2017. I wanted to be doing something proactive for community, not just reacting to the actions of White Supremacists. Mack got invited to this community meeting that I was attending, and the two of us immediately hit it off. Mack has a can do attitude that isn’t bound by following conventions of what’s been done. He just wants to make positive change. I value his perspective immensely– I remember regularly his words about all children– regardless of privilege– needing time with parents, and yet missing that critically important relationship, in wealthy families with nannies, and less affluent families where parents work 3 jobs to make ends meet. His words reminded me of universal needs, and helped shift my perspective to be more empathetic overall.

Mack McLelllan, an African American Man, speaks to a group of people sitting at dining tables.

One way Mack works is to distribute culturally competent books in area neighborhoods through his Bridging the Gap program. He’s pragmatic– what’s more likely to bring kids out– some piles of books? OR some piles of books in front of a bounce house and some ice cream?! Mack meets the community where they are, accepts and celebrates them as they are.

Some highlights from last night:

  • Mack’s description of how mindfulness puts the burden on children to change their behavior without the acknowledgement of context, or change of environment (my summary)
  • His story and picture of a proud Afghani girl wearing a hijab that matched the book’s cover picture of a girl in the same pink hijab
  • Discussion of a literature/book distribution event on grounds for young community members
  • The idea of UVA student-led book drives
  • Seeing people engaged with the event for the entirety of the 2 hours, some staying longer than they meant to, and some staying way longer than the 8:00 close.

 group of people sitting at dining tables in a restaurant. Participants are a mixture of ages -- ranging from early 20s to late 40s, present as different races and genders. They are engaged in small group conversations.

I hope to see you at the next event Tuesday, January 28 with Lisa Woolfork of Stitch Please

UVA students, register for dates in the series here. Community Members, please join us. I appreciate a message letting me know you’re coming, but spontaneity is okay too!

Guiding Questions for Improved Community Engagement

This is the work of Dolly Joseph, and should not be used without express permission and compensation.

Before Engagement

Before heading into a community– for an internship, volunteering, seeking employment, whatever, it’s a good idea to situate yourself in relationship to the new project. 

Feelings

Check in with yourself about how you are feeling– nervous, excited, timid, enthusiastic, apathetic… It’s okay to feel one or all of those feelings, and it’s also important to think about how the display of those feelings might be received by the community member(s) that you’ll be interacting with. 

  • What am I bringing to the community? 
  • How may I be received by this community? How do I feel about that? 
  • What will be challenging? What will be easy? 

Skills

It’s also a good moment to take a skills inventory of yourself. What do you feel like you know how to do well? What could stand some improvement? What skills are you hoping to practice or develop with this opportunity.

  • What am I bringing to the community? 
  • What relevant skills do I have? Is that enough? Where should I grow? 
  • What am I expecting to get out of this interaction? 
  • What am I expecting the community to get out of this interaction? 

Information

It’s important to understand the context of the community that you will be engaging with. Do you have the needed information to engage in a positive manner? Have you gathered information from trusted, accurate sources? 

  • What am I bringing to the community? 
  • How have I educated myself about the community? 
  • What assumptions have I made? Are those fair? 
  • What expertise already exists in this community? 

Resources

Resources can cut across these 3 categories– Resources can be related to access to information, time, money, emotional labor, etc. Often when we do community engagement in the form of volunteering we forget about the resources that are required to accommodate us as volunteers. It’s incredibly important to consider how resources are used when we engage with the community.

  • What am I bringing to the community? 
  • What is the balance between what I will bring to this community (skills, open-mindedness, readiness to work, etc.) and what I will take (time, energy, etc.) 
  • What is the community [giving/sacrificing/risking] by hosting/partnering with me? 

During Engagement

While you are within your community engagement, it’s important to consider how things seem to be going– both good and not-so-good. Remember, none of us are perfect. Often we get into the trap of thinking that there is no room for error. You will make mistakes, and then grow and learn from that practice. Reflecting and adjusting during your community engagement is a great way to improve your current and future experience. 

  • Am I effectively paying attention to direct and indirect communication? 
  • Am I engaging in effective, positive and/or productive interpersonal interactions? 
  • Am I using my skills in an appropriate, effective, and respectful way? 

After Engagement

Even if your most recent community engagement was a “one off” commitment, you will have another experience in your future. It’s important to reflect on how things went so that you can be more effective next time. 

  • How do I know if my interaction was a positive experience for the community? 
  • How did my expectations differ from what happened? 
  • What should I do to have a positive and productive experience next time? 
  • What skills or resources should I access to improve my effectiveness?

DART: Developing Anti-Racist Techniques

A 5-week course for white people to develop their skillset of anti-racist techniques for use in a variety of contexts, from interpersonal relationships to institutional change. Sessions are March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 and 9 from 5:30-7:00 at a downtown location. This course is for people who are committed to incorporating Anti-Racist Actions into their lives.  The course is $100.

Participants will:

  • Identify and lower individual barriers to performing anti-racist actions
  • Integrate more anti-racist actions into their day-to-day life

Participants will engage in goal-setting, facilitated discussion, observation and practice during the week, and debriefing. 

Topics to include:

  • Lowering Barriers through Identifying Risk.
  • Analyzing Resources
  • Inventorying Relationships
  • Putting Ideals into Practice

To begin registration: complete this Google Form.

Dolly Joseph, a white woman, wearing a black t-shirt is on the left. Toni Barskile, a Black woman, wearing a white t-shirt are pictured. Both are smiling.
Your facilitators: Dolly Joseph and Toni Barskile

Toni Barskile has been Black for 58 years in which she has attended prep schools in New Jersey, mastered White-approved “standard” English, figured out how to be perceived as “non-threatening” to members of the White establishment and teaching survival/ computer/ critical-thinking skills to Westhaven residents. Toni also works with the dialogue on race subcommittee on media relations, attends White Feather presentations sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church, and provides web development/design assistance to the Truth Commission Ad Hoc Planning Group of the University and Community Action for Racial Equality. 

Dolly Joseph has been White and lived in Central VA all of her life. Her ancestors colonized landsof the Moneton and Cherokee peoples in the Appalachian Mountains; her family’s generational wealth comes from the exploitation of Enslaved People of African descendants near Calypso, North Carolina. Dolly is an educator and community builder and was once named one of the “4 under 40” women leaders in Charlottesville. Now that she’s no longer under 40, she’s petitioning for a new honor of “5 under 50” to be started. 

Toni’s superpowers include being able to call White people out on their ish without making them cry and the ability to identify structural racism in everyday situations and ways to dismantle it. Dolly’s superpowers include slicing to the heart of the problem, finding order and pattern in chaos, and getting people to do the thing they didn’t even know they wanted to do. Together, they will facilitate so that we will collectively be more ready to smash white supremacy.

BE is Dead. Long Live BE.

BE Hiking
Since 2014, BE has been magic. We’ve worked with over 260 young adults and children, including a core group of about 30. Two hundred community members have been involved. The entire model of BE has been based upon authentic connections, honest communication, and responsiveness to needs of all participants. We’ve worked to break down hierarchical models, and lockstep programming; we’ve formed an authentic community of mutual support and achievement.
BE Together: Batula and Frances
My life has been in major transition in the past year as my beloved mom, Frances, was in her final illness and died in July. During this time two tendrils worked together: the energy I had for BE was less, and the need for weekly gatherings for our high school and college age peeps was less as students graduated and moved to 4 year colleges and grad school out of the area. My focus has shifted; I want to support other people as they create their own communities and own work. I’ve reminded so many that you don’t have to have permission to do work, and you don’t have to have structures to do work. With that in mind, BE will not be continuing our Joint Partnership of Work with VO. This means is that we will not be soliciting tax deductible contributions. 
BE at the Diner
Even while we shift, the work of BE continues in so many forms. Laura and the Blue Moon Diner, our spiritual home, will be hosting community talks on Tuesdays beginning on January 21. These interactive sessions– open to you, our community– will highlight the work of community members that are building their own works. Ellen provides her mental health work both by providing free informal consultations and referrals to counselors who fit the needs of community members– including the ever-present financial piece. 
BE Swimming
BE is woven into our existence. Batula and I claimed each other as mother and daughter– even while she’s at JMU, my home is her home. When kids are in crisis, they call or text or visit us. Their friends and siblings fuss at them until they reach out. One of our younger members, Marissa, has begun her own nonprofit– Donor Diapers– and reaches out as she needs advice with her own thriving project. As I travel the state with Raven and his haiku slams, BE students join us in every city that we go to. It’s so great to drive to Richmond and see Onai and Bakar– to go to Roanoke and see Breyanna and Kimani. I run into delightful junior members like Phin, Sam, Janiya, and Juliet and their youth and energy almost trick me into doing regular events again. Cliche and I worked on a project around community members’ interactions with the police. Zongwe and I work together most Mondays beating back kudzu and other invasive weeds. These connections are genuine and long-lasting and don’t require a fiscal model to continue. 
BE at King's Dominion
There’s work to do, fun to be had, news to hear: Elie emailed from France and needs a cover letter edited. Zaw texted from Indiana, wanting to create a program to help Thai and Burmese folks access support. Dilara and Gouzal want a visit in NOVA. I dream of traveling to see Jackie in Hawaii and Thet in Myanmar. Corey reports to me how well Kadija is doing at her new job at the Montessori School. Valeria texts to tell me her semester grades. Htoogay continues with her studies. Jean updates me on his work life, and we discuss further goals. Bakar reports on his promotions at work. 
BE at BMD
Our young adult members are growing into adulthood. I could not be prouder of them. As I update my notes, I type “4 year school”, “graduated college”, and “grad school” again and again. These are Black and Brown kids, 1st generation college kids, 1st generation Americans, Young Women in the Sciences… While we never viewed the kids through the lens of their underserved identities, the reality is that they face more barriers than they should. 
BE Fancy
We will continue to amplify the work of others who are creating community and breaking down barriers. Donor DiapersBlack Women StitchSouthern Gothicc Futurist Haiku SlamsBridging the Gap, and Culinary Concepts AB are all works that we’ve supported this past year. We will continue to amplify the needs of our community. Redistribution of resources, reparations, and smashing hierarchical structures of discrimination and inequity are central to BE philosophies. 
BE Thankful
In the coming year, I will continue to support and consult on projects, particularly those led by Black people. If you would like to support me and my individual work, You can send payments to PayPal paypal.me/dollyjoseph and Venmo @dollyjoseph. I will also be launching a Patreon which will show my creative work, and writing about community building and activism. https://www.patreon.com/dollyofchange
BE CLAW
I appreciate your support over the years. The work that we’ve done with BE is one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. BE could not exist without the Steering Committee in its various shapes: Laura, Ellen, Davina, Toni, Mia, Batula, Marissa, Thet, and Jackie. The Donors and Advocates: Adam, Michele, Pat, Virginia, Ryan, Brandon, Bruce, Kim, Jim and Linda, Jennifer, Janet, Ceri, Tay, Bekah, Laura, Laura, and many more. And of course all the young people.See y’all soon.

Cville Digest June 30

A12 Survivor

There is non-activist African American young woman who was badly injured on A12 and has been incapacitated since. I will be asking for specific needs for her through this digest. I would also like to help build up her community (gently) because she has felt isolated because of her traumatic injuries.
Current need: She has a small yard that needs mowing. She lives near Lowe’s. If you are able to mow her yard, or to contribute to a lawn service, that would be greatly appreciated. I know nothing about lawn services.

Laptop for College
From a friend: My friend lives in Westhaven and just graduated CHS. He’s headed to PVCC in the Fall, and is dreaming of some sort of Macbook/Apple laptop.  Do you know anyone in town who either would help sponsor such a thing for him, or anyone getting rid of a used one, or do you have any ideas on how we could get him a free/discounted one?
Financial Aid Information
I need someone who can answer very specific questions about financial aid and assets. A student wants to know what the implications of co-signing a mortgage with his father would be on his financial aid eligibility. Help?
Summer Travel
Thank you to those who supported my friend’s summer travel. She hasn’t met her goal yet. If you are interested in helping an African American woman does not have the money to travel home for a needed trip to reconnect to family and friends, please contact me and I can direct you to her paypal.
Local EXCELLENT downtown business is Hiring for retail/customer service
Has need of 2 people to fill 2 positions 30 hours/week Contact me for more information.
Updates
I got a VERY long email from the Compassion Fund explaining why there is such a delay in distributing money and promising faster action. If you are interested, let me know and I will forward on to you.
Articles
Kessler’s Free Speech Claims are a Ruse
Uh Wut?
 
A12-18

Cville Digest June 26

Follow up on the information about the attorney’s trip to Casa Padre to work with immigrant children. From Warren Binford: Here is the GoFundMe campaign we set up yesterday to help pay for volunteer’s travel expenses. I appreciate your support of our work on behalf of these children and their families!  — Many thanks to Tara for following up!

New Events
Reception and Private Viewing of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln

The Smith Galleries of Monticello’s David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center
Friday, July 6 6:00-7:30 PM  Let me know if you ASAP if you would like to go– there is a limited number of invites. Let me know by this Friday noon.

June Bouquet: New Works by Veronica Haunani Fitzhugh and Aerial Perkins
The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative hosts June Bouquet, a photography and poetry pop-up exhibition running June 29 through July 1. The exhibition opens with a reception on June 29 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

Call for action for A11/12
https://itsgoingdown.org/remembering-charlottesville-august-11-12-2018-call-for-a-weekend-of-international-solidarity/

Upcoming events
An inexhaustive list of events you may want to go to — mostly to support, some to oppose or keep an eye on

June
Wednesday, June 27, Ebenezer Baptist Church 6:30-8:00

Forum on August 11/12 plans

Welcome to Mandela Fellows- Young Leaders from Africa

Thursday, June 28, 6:00-7:30 Common House

Let me know if you would like to attend and I’ll connect you to host.

Thursday, June 28, Washington DC, Mass Civil Disobedience  https://www.endfamilyseparation.us/

Saturday, June 30 Washington DC

https://www.facebook.com/events/401815953659712/

Bus info (needs 40 reservations to go)
http://rallybus.net/families-belong-together-dc/

July
Sunday, July 1 ICE Detention Protest — Farmville, VA
https://www.facebook.com/events/208487209772661/

Saturday, July 7 8am soil collection at Woods Crossing, the original site of the John Henry James James’ murder by lynching and now property owned by Farmington Country Club.

Saturday, July  11-2pm 

Community Conversation about Lynching. An Outrage: A Documentary about Lynching in the American south, by filmmakers Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren and discussion. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center

Advanced Bleeding Control Course
Tuesday, July 10; Monday, August 27; Thursday, September 13
UVA Life Support Learning Center | 1222 Jefferson Park Ave.
This American Safety & Health Institute course teaches people who have a greater than average chance of witnessing an injury with heavy bleeding how to control external bleeding. Register and learn more.

Women Writers and Wine Tasting

Thursday, July 12, 6:00-7:30 Market St Wine

https://www.facebook.com/events/183199619033935/

Taste of Africa- Featuring Ghana & Kenya 

Thursday, July 26, 6:30-8:30 at Carver Rec Center

https://www.facebook.com/events/144446329755056/.

Chihamba presents Ladies Night
Friday, July 27 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Carver Rec
https://www.facebook.com/events/546182352443345

African American Cultural Arts Festival  

Sat., July 28  at Washington Park

https://www.facebook.com/events/181204596053729/

September 

One Year After Charlottesville: Replacing the Resurgence of Racism With Reconciliation
Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 27-29, 2018 UVA School of Law
https://t.e2ma.net/click/gth81/wpl9nm/cej85i

Other calendars or lists of events:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1998348383639035/

https://www.togethercville.net/events/

https://solidaritycville.wordpress.com/category/week-in-review/

Cville Digest June 25

Needs
A good friend of mine who has health issues and is African American does not have the money to travel home for a needed trip to reconnect to family and friends. She needs money for travel and expenses. Her goal is $500. If you are able to financially support her trip, please contact me and I can direct you to her paypal.

A12 Planning
June 27 forum at Ebenezer Baptist Church  
(I have received this notice from UCares, I am not sure of the sponsor(s))
The June 27 forum at Ebenezer Baptist Church is an opportunity to share questions that you have about preparations, events and activities involving racial equity and justice this summer and beyond in Central Virginia. These may include community health and safety, commemorations for Aug. 11 and 12, music and art, and anything else of interest to you. Multiple community leaders have been invited  to be prepared to answer your questions. The event begins with an informal buffet gathering in the lower Fellowship Hall from 5:30 to 6:15, followed by the meeting in the Sanctuary from 6:30 to 8.–

Immigration
I have seen this posted. I cannot vouch for it, but Warren Binford seems to check out.
ATTENTION ATTORNEYS AND INTERPRETERS:
We are being given access to the children at Casa Padre in Brownsville, Texas, on July 12-13 and need massive help. Approximately 1,000 children are being held there and we have the right to interview every single one of them under Flores, but we will only have two days and 9-12 hours per day to do so. Every interview takes approximately one hour, which means that we will need approximately sixty attorneys, plus interpreters. We need some interpreters to speak indigenous Central American languages as well as Spanish and other languages around the world (last week our team was looking for a Punjabi speaker while interviewing a child at one of the Border Patrol stations). We also are seeking volunteer pediatric medical and therapeutic professionals who can volunteer to provide support onsite both days.
Almost no private citizens are allowed to meet with these children, but a limited number of attorneys can under Flores and we need more volunteer attorneys on our team in light of the current crisis. If you go to Brownsville (or one of the other sites where children are being held), you can document who and where these children are, who their parents are, and as much as the children can recall of where and when they were separated from their parents so that we can provide that information to the court and seek their prompt reunification with their families.
There is no travel funding available and all work done is on a volunteer basis. If you cannot help with the visit at Casa Padre on July 12-13, we also will probably need volunteers for visits to the ORR/Southwest Key facilities once those dates are set.
If you are willing and able to volunteer, please contact me at wbinford@willamette.edu and I will help you with paperwork to get your background check started and the introductions you need to possibly be added to the Flores team.”

Cville Digest June 24

Needs
Still looking for any information about people doing oral histories around A12 events. Please contact me if you know of anyone doing this.

Articles/Posts of Interest

Denial of Service in Lexington
Context for Red Hen’s denial of service of SHS
Brennan Gould’s comments at CACF annual luncheon
I’ve gotten to know Brennan over the past year, and was delighted when I heard that she was selected as the CEO and President of the CACF. This is a game changer for the giving community of Cville.
Transcript
Unmasking Cville

A diverse panel of young, changemaking, Charlottesville natives will explore how race and racism have shaped the City’s past, impact its present reality, and influence its future. Panelists include:
Niya Bates, Public Historian of Slavery & African American Life at Monticello
Zyahna Bryant, student activist, co-founder & chair of the Charlottesville High School Black Student Union
Nikuyah Walker, Mayor of Charlottesville
Jordy Yager, independent journalist

FB livestream:
https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaHumanities/videos/1959207137463158/?fref=mentions

 
Upcoming events
An inexhaustive list of events you may want to go to — mostly to support, some to oppose or keep an eye on

June

Welcome to Mandela Fellows- Young Leaders from Africa
Thursday, June 28, 6:00-7:30 Common House
Let me know if you would like to attend and I’ll connect you to host.
Thursday, June 28, Washington DC, Mass Civil Disobedience
Saturday, June 30 Washington DC
Bus info (needs 40 reservations to go)
July
Sunday, July 1 ICE Detention Protest — Farmville, VA
 
Advanced Bleeding Control Course
Tuesday, July 10Monday, August 27Thursday, September 13
UVA Life Support Learning Center | 1222 Jefferson Park Ave.
This American Safety & Health Institute course teaches people who have a greater than average chance of witnessing an injury with heavy bleeding how to control external bleeding. Register and learn more.
Women Writers and Wine Tasting
Thursday, July 12, 6:00-7:30 Market St Wine
Taste of Africa- Featuring Ghana & Kenya 
Thursday, July 26, 6:30-8:30 at Carver Rec Center

Chihamba presents Ladies Night
Friday, July 27 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Carver Rec
https://www.facebook.com/events/546182352443345

 
African American Cultural Arts Festival  
Sat., July 28  at Washington Park
September 

One Year After Charlottesville: Replacing the Resurgence of Racism With Reconciliation
Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 27-29, 2018 UVA School of Law
https://t.e2ma.net/click/gth81/wpl9nm/cej85i

Other calendars or lists of events:

https://solidaritycville.wordpress.com/category/week-in-review/

Cville Digest June 22

Needs and Opportunities
Oral Histories
Does anyone know of anyone doing oral histories of last summer’s events? Please send along any information of anyone doing this, or perhaps interested in doing so.
Free trip for Charlottesville public school teachers for the civil rights pilgrimage 
A 6-day, 5-night, all-expense paid trip through civil rights movement sites. The destination is the new lynching memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, where our 100-person Charlottesville delegation (which includes Mayor Nikuyah Walker and Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer) will deliver soil from our local lynching site.
https://www.facebook.com/events/218407802088746/ Interested Charlottesville public school teachers should email: memorialtolynching@gmail.com in order to sign up for this opportunity. Please forward to any of your public school colleagues.
 
PHAR is hiring

The Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) is hiring a full-time (40 hours/week) Internship Program Coordinator and Community Organizer. http://www.pharcville.org/2018/05/18/join-phars-staff-intern-coordinator-organizer/

Community Resolve
TOMORROW, June 23, A conversation around “What do we do next?” 2pm Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Immigration Rallies in the next 10 days:
Sunday, June 24, Shenandoah Juvenile Detention Center, Staunton
Thursday, June 28, Washington DC, Mass Civil Disobedience
Saturday, June 30 Washington DC
Bus info (needs 40 reservations to go)
Sunday, July 1 ICE Detention Protest — Farmville, VA
Upcoming events
An inexhaustive list of events you may want to go to — mostly to support, some to oppose or keep an eye on

June

Welcome to Mandela Fellows- Young Leaders from Africa
Thursday, June 28, 6:00-7:30 Common House
Let me know if you would like to attend and I’ll connect you to host.
July
Advanced Bleeding Control Course
Tuesday, July 10Monday, August 27Thursday, September 13
UVA Life Support Learning Center | 1222 Jefferson Park Ave.
This American Safety & Health Institute course teaches people who have a greater than average chance of witnessing an injury with heavy bleeding how to control external bleeding. Register and learn more.
Women Writers and Wine Tasting
Thursday, July 12, 6:00-7:30 Market St Wine
Taste of Africa- Featuring Ghana & Kenya 
Thursday, July 26, 6:30-8:30 at Carver Rec Center

African American Cultural Arts Festival  
Sat., July 28  at Washington Park
September 

One Year After Charlottesville: Replacing the Resurgence of Racism With Reconciliation
Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 27-29, 2018 UVA School of Law
https://t.e2ma.net/click/gth81/wpl9nm/cej85i

Other calendars or lists of events:

https://solidaritycville.wordpress.com/category/week-in-review/

Open Letter to College Students

I’ll be honest here. I’ve been a bit frustrated with some of my college-aged young adults recently. While I tell them that I am happy to edit papers at the 11th hour if the alternative is no editing at all, reading some of these last minute papers that they’ve admittedly rushed through push me into haranguing mode.

So here’s the tricky part. I don’t want to come off like I’m being insensitive to my students’ realities. Here is what I know. These young people are often:

  • juggling very busy schedules, replete with school, jobs, sports, and family obligations,
  • Dealing with challenging living situations, often with a great deal of transition,
  • Without a role model in the family who has completed college (or even high school) themselves.

So, with that noted, I remain annoyed.

Here are some challenges I throw down for my students.

  • Be your absolute best. If you’re going to college, and paying thousands of dollars, and likely mortgaging your future, you’d better make it worth your while. Demand the best out of yourself. Turn off the TV. Go talk to your professor. Stop taking selfies of yourself. Get out your agenda book and write down the due dates. If you don’t want to do these kinda small things, stop paying the college you and your parent’s hard earned cash, and start looking for more hours at your job.
  • Demand more from your college and your professors. You say your classes are boring. First ask yourself: Am I doing the readings? Am I participating in discussion? Am I doing the homework? If the answer is yes to all those questions, and you’re still bored, then talk to your professor, talk to your chair, and demand better classes. Are your texts racist? Probably. Does it promote a world view that you disagree with? Probably. Then supply some thoughtful, research-driven alternative work to your professor to supplement your reading list. But don’t be intellectually lazy. You’d better be reading or watching something other than TMZ.
  • Develop your skills. Nobody is interested in hiring someone who has been rubber-stamped through a degree. Here’s what you need to be effective in the larger world:
    • Communication skills. Know how to communicate with others using a variety of media– this includes face to face, email and social media. This skill is so that you can persuade people to do stuff for and with you.
    • Prioritizing. There is no question that the students that I work with know how to work hard. But increasingly I see them working hard at things that don’t make sense in the long game. It’s not “don’t have fun”; It’s don’t get stuck on social media for 12 hours and then tell me you don’t have time to fill out a scholarship.
    • Follow-through. From sending a thank you note to checking in with your professor about a test score, following up and following through makes you memorable, and shows that you know to how to see something through to the end.
    • Connecting. During college you have the ability to connect with other people– from the secretaries filing your paperwork, to the professors who are grading you, to your fellow classmates who can support you now and in the future. Figure out how to connect those people– using the skills listed above. Your connections make the difference in the world you will be making for yourself.

Here’s a secret. You don’t need to finish college to learn these skills. But you need these skills to finish college. You’re going to need these skills regardless of what you are going to be. And here’s what you’re going to be:

  • Business owners,
  • Lawyers,
  • Web designers,
  • IT specialists,
  • Prosecuting Attorneys,
  • Chefs,
  • Radicals,
  • Leaders,
  • Wonderful.