Words of Wisdom: What I've Learned So Far

Looking ahead to November 18th. Just over four months to go and using this time to take a step back, assess what I've done and learned and regroup to get to the next level. This is really just a list for me to take stock, but it may have some useful tips, especially for folks struggling with professional development.

1. You can't know if you can do something yourself until you do it. Especially apparent when you see someone else doing it not as good as you think you can.
2. Inviting someone personally to your event is more efficient and effective than sending out 1,000 emails.
3. Use a variety of methods to outreach an event: in person, over the phone, email lists, personal emails, snail mail, social media. Follow up & follow up again.
4. Share stressful feelings sooner rather than later (useful in many areas of life).
5. Use checking in and meeting up in person to keep on track and stay accountable. It's easy to hide behind an email.
6. Embrace organizational change to stay ahead of the game and stay relevant. These things happen all the damn time.
7. Visual organization helps mental organization. Tidy up the desk! Put business cards in one place!
8. Planning events effectively always takes more time than you think.
9. Share what you know, what you've learned. Ask for what you need, seek out people who have skills & connections that can help you.
10. Speak up for communities you don't see represented in research, in meetings, etc.
11. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They may not know what you are talking about or be aware of your perspective. They may be afraid of speaking from a place of ignorance. They may just be having a bad day.
12. Listen.
13. Emails can always be shorter. Less text on that flier is better.
14. A good presentation means a lot.
15. Having that tough conversation clears the air.
16. Say out loud when things should be kept in confidence and get acknowledgement.
17. Real change takes time, but much can be done now.

It's official!

I am writing this blog from my new cube at the Regional Internship Center on the South Side.

I started work here on Tuesday and since then:

I've gotten a run down on all the various social media outlets we use,
I've drafted my project plan and started thinking about how to get it really specific,
I've attended my first all-staff meeting of Coro Pittsburgh,
I've been introduced,
I've made small-talk,
I've tacked up my 2011 calendar,
I've commuted across the Smithfield Bridge in the gray morning and seen the frozen chunks of the river floating on top,
I've been thinking really big,
I've been thinking about how huge Coro's network really is,
I've posted my first entry on the Regional Internship Center's blog

So, probably after one more draft I'll post some of my project plan up here so you, dear reader, may get an idea of what I'll actually actually be doing. A lot of people have been asking me things like, "So tell me...what will you be, uh, doing?" And I can see how that is really a valid question. It's kind of a theme around here at the RIC to need a moderate amount of time to explain just what is it that we do. Explaining what the ITL is takes more time, and then if I have to come out on top of that, well...But, really, I think it's a good thing we'd really have to have a discussion to understand what we do here. It's hard to measure human interaction, social change, purpose and interconnectivity. I imagine I'll be working on a succinct quip until the end of the program. In the meanwhile--we're making connections here!

The Next Step

As the new year begins, I am thinking ahead to the start of my fellowship and all the ways it may change things in my life. I have met again with folks from the Regional Internship Center in order to get further acquainted and also to get a better idea about what it will be like to work with them. I met with Mad over dinner last week and she asked some really tough questions. I'm talking more and writing more and reflecting more...

I can more clearly now the scope of this project, how the missions of Coro Pittsburgh, the Regional Internship Center, the Initiative for Transgender Leadership are all wrapped up in my own mission now. This is not just a 10 month job to get me through. Here is a chance to do all that self-work and more I doubted I could do. Here is a chance to ally myself with a lot of people doing a lot of good work. All those goals and big ideas that have been clattering around in my head for some time might now get a chance to take center stage.

Michael Baltzer at the RIC asked me a great question when we met a few weeks ago: Where do I see myself and the ITL fitting into the RIC? Why here? Why now? I shared my own questions about how it would be to be more fully out on the job than I have ever been before. Being so out has great potential to initiate discussion and bolster the RIC's and its parent organization Coro Pittsburgh's missions.

So--why here? Why now? I think it helps that I am so excited about being in Pittsburgh now. I see myself as a part of this community--as a queer person, as a young person, as someone who votes, as a part-time farmer, as someone who cares about social justice and environmental issues, etc. This fellowship is one avenue by which I can serve all of these communities and all the parts of myself.

I see many themes emerging as this project moves forward: community, meaningful work, being one's whole self, commitment to diversity, "talking through it", why here? why now?, telling our stories, solidarity & support.

I like where this is going...

--Rayden