Stand Together

“People’s identities are highly connected to their work,” says Taylor McLemore of Human Potential Capital. By focusing on meaningful work and employee growth, organizations can create a more empowered and purpose-driven workplace.

With over 112,000 overdose deaths in 2023, it's clear: Traditional recovery programs focused on sobriety aren't enough — people need to rediscover purpose and support. Explore how organizations like The Phoenix, Thistle Farms, and End It For Good are transforming the recovery journey with innovative, community-driven solutions.

I’m excited to share the launch of a new organization to help ensure the incredible advances in Artificial Intelligence are met with similarly important advances in the institutions that enable human flourishing. The Cosmos Institute, led by Brendan McCord, released this video https://lnkd.in/gW5AV4Ek and website (https://lnkd.in/gk4qkEJH) today. This is how Cosmos describes its vision:   "We envision a society where technology enhances reason, decentralization, and human autonomy, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Current trends, however, point away from this future. We are bridging philosophy and technology through the "philosophy-to-code" paradigm. As the effectiveness of this approach gains recognition, it inspires a movement that reshapes AI development and governance. Rather than controlling people from the top down and diminishing human potential, AI becomes a tool for consistently expanding human freedom and excellence from the bottom up." It’s hard to overstate how important and timely this project is. And Brendan has already built an incredible team to execute. Cosmos launches with a serious ecosystem of projects well underway, including the new Human-Centered AI Lab (HAI Lab) at the University of Oxford led by Philipp Koralus. The Cosmos Fellowship and Cosmos Ventures are also helping build a community of thoughtful technologists to create a philosophy to code pipeline to help ensure humanity benefits from the impending technological revolution. I’m thrilled to serve on the Cosmos Board of Directors and grateful to Brendan and the team for the opportunity that Stand Together has to help them build toward this exciting vision.

With all the hype surrounding AI in recent years, it'd be easy to assume it to be the most coveted skill among employers. Nope. ✍️ According to LinkedIn, the skill occupying the top spot on employers’ wish lists is inherently human: communication. In fact, eight of the skills on LinkedIn’s top 10 list are human “soft skills.” Soft skills (aka “durable” or “transferable” skills) empower workers to see themselves in the larger context of how their behaviors and choices affect the people around them. They are critical to working well with others, including things like professional communication, critical thinking, problem solving, goal setting, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, motivation, initiative, and stress management. “Soft skills are behaviors that will help you be successful on the job,” said Jill Rizika, CEO of Towards Employment, a workforce development organization in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s hard to overstate how much soft skills can affect the trajectory of a person’s career or the fact that systemic disparities make it difficult for many people to acquire these skills — leading to a life-long struggle for employment. As part of its career readiness program, Toward Employment offers a two-week workshop specifically devoted to soft skills development. For participants, the deliberate way this nonprofit teaches these “human” skills is often a first. It’s like they're finally learning to speak a language everyone around them already knows. Having the words to identify, define, and develop these skills can be life-changing. The biggest revelation for participants: They are not inherently flawed. They are not defective, nor are they powerless to change the patterns that keep them perpetually in and out of work. These previously hidden skills — the ones you need in order to get a job and keep it — can be learned. Catch the rest of the article here: https://lnkd.in/gBV6UPQi

With relapse rates as high as 60% following traditional recovery programs, it might seem like lasting recovery isn’t really possible for those struggling with addiction. But these leaders are taking a different approach that focuses on community and identity — and it’s transforming treatment for those struggling:

Despite the headlines, Americans share more priorities than we might think. A recent study shows that across income, education, and race, we all prioritize individual rights and freedoms. Could this common ground help us solve our biggest challenges?

What's the most rewarding part of volunteering for you?

Imagine a school where students prioritize demonstrations of learning over traditional tests. This innovative approach lets kids tailor their education to their strengths and interests, resulting in higher graduation rates and better preparation for life after school.

Two high school grads, two different paths. Whether it’s trade school or university, what matters is finding the path that fuels your passion. After going behind the scenes at the F1 Grand Prix, both picture meaningful careers for themselves.

Parents and educators alike know that at the height of COVID-19, many young learners were falling behind. ✍️ But Jessica Ramsay found a way to use that period as an opportunity to make local students stronger and more confident than ever, even long after the pandemic had ended. Ramsay, an educational entrepreneur and the founder of Farmhouse Phonics, had spent nearly 20 years in the Wichita public school system by 2021. When the pandemic hit, she happened to be renovating a farmhouse on her property, and suddenly had an epiphany: this could be a place for kids to come and address any gaps. “Sometimes kids can be casualties of curriculum,” she described. “Even though they're in a classroom all day, they aren't learning and absorbing and taking it all in as some of their peers are. So oftentimes, that means they need more.” Ramsay decided to quit her role in the public school system and instead use her farmhouse to create a space where students could access individualized instruction, one-on-one sessions, and a warm, welcoming physical space. Farmhouse Phonics is a literacy-focused extracurricular learning service that works with students after their main school day, allowing families to complement whatever education style they feel best serves their child. In doing so, Ramsay is showing that it’s not about individualized vs. group instruction, or public vs. private — instead, Farmhouse Phonics is demonstrating how all manner of education styles can work together to complement and strengthen the other, while empowering students and educators alike. Catch the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gYq9YdrS