Doste Afghan Foundation’s Post

At Inventures 2024, we were joined by Carol Wildcat of Ermineskin Cree Nation and Lynn Smith of Peavine Metis Settlement to discuss building trust between Indigenous nations and institutions. The discussion moved from taking a personalized approach to Indigenous community engagement, fostering long-term and mutually beneficial relationships, and how fruitful partnerships between institutions and nations can help create a better, more sustainable future. At NAIT, we respect the individuality of Indigenous communities and ensure that we walk beside them to help them achieve their training and applied research goals. Together we are building trust, sharing knowledge and creating impact. nait.li/3xILXIz

Hi folks and welcome to my Friday Reflection for 9th August 2024   Today I am writing to you from the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) Hub in Naarm/MEL, (University of Melbourne).   Today we celebrate the International Day for the World's Indigenous Peoples. Like many peoples around the world, we celebrate surviving and thriving as First Peoples, Nations, Tribes, Clans and communities. We represent an unbroken line from our ancestors and the oldest surviving continuous cultures on earth.   This week the AFSE program has been focused on Indigenous Leadership. We've been discussing how we navigate our modern world, how we might be more strategic with our leadership, how we incorporate our ancestral wisdoms into our governance, and thriving collectively.   Discussing Indigenous Futures we talked about how we are accessing our knowledges either consciously or subconsciously.   Here are three points and prompts for navigating our Indigenous Futures that might be useful for us all to reflect on while navigating towards our futures.   1. We Make Decisions. We are already making decisions of how to incorporate our sense of self and our cultural identity. We are making choices on our cultural practices, our priorities, our political alliances and positions, and how we present ourselves in the modern world. For example, living in a modern world city as a First Nations person, I already recognise that I am living on the lands of other peoples. I recognise it by treating the natural environment around me like I was looking after my own country and take responsibility for my actions on their lands and waters. How are my decisions impacting futures? 2. We Make Traditions. We are already making traditions by adopting new ideas and practices, adapting to new environments and constraints, and abandoning cultural practices that either no longer serve their purpose or can not be maintained. For example, hunting is a strong cultural practice among First Nations. However, living in a modern world city, I buy food and cook at home much more than I trap, hunt, fish, and gather. However, we've adapted a food sharing and serving of our elders as ongoing cultural practices related to our kinship. What traditions do I keep or change? 3. We Make Partnerships. We are already making partnerships with others in joint business ventures, with governments in policy and service delivery, and with allies at all levels to make futures possible where First Nations can flourish. Who can I partner with?   My encouragement and challenge to you is to think about your Decisions, Traditions, and the Partnerships. Are you acting consciously or subconsciously to fulfil social, work, cultural, and family expectations?   I believe if we are to make futures where people and planet thrive, and where First Nations flourish, we will need to be more intentional, purposeful, and dedicated to taking actions now to make those futures possible.   Be encouraged and encourage others.

My friend, Matisa Wilbon, Ph.D., shared her insights on the importance of fostering equity in our daily lives. 🇺🇸 Her thought-provoking presentation emphasized the role of community in removing barriers and enabling opportunities for all to succeed. My friend eloquently differentiated between equality and equity, explaining how equity takes into account individual needs and differences, ultimately leveling the playing field. She went on to highlight three critical actions we can take to promote equity: ⭐️ Fix what isn't working - by addressing systemic issues that perpetuate inequality, we create a more inclusive and just society. ⭐️ Practice empathy - Fear destabilizes communities - prioritize actions that empower and support marginalized communities to break down barriers and thrive. ⭐️ Understand the benefits of equity - creating a fair environment for everyone leads to shared prosperity and unlocks untapped potential. One powerful quote that stuck with me is, "Some people have more potential than resources” and if we all pitch in, we can do more together. 💪🏾💪🏾 Her statement underscores the notion that our collective efforts can make a real difference in advancing equity. I encourage you to take a moment and view Matisa Wilbon, Ph.D.'s inspiring talk, as her words of wisdom remind us of the importance of practicing everyday equity and supporting one another in achieving success. Thank you, Matisa Wilbon, Ph.D., for your dedication to building a more equitable world. 🌍 Let's all reflect on how we can contribute to making a difference in our communities. #EverydayEquity #EqualityvsEquity #CommunityEmpowermentp

It’s UN week in Manhattan this week. I had the honor of speaking at the United Nations a few months back. My experience was one of the most powerful talks I have ever given, and here’s why. Part of the art of being a transformational speaker is to be able to connect with your audience on a deep, personal Level. I don’t believe any talk should be exactly the same. Rule number 1 for me, is to make the speech about the audience - not about me. The UN has a different crowd than an entrepreneurial event, or a fortune 500 company. At the seed level, we’re all connected and yearning for the same thing. But the way in which you deliver it, must feel personal to the people in that specific room. Be intentional, be focused, be a channel for the divine downloads that penetrate the soul. What matters is that we’re connected on the wisdom level not the “interface”, looks etc. When you connect to this wisdom, no one can take you, away from you.

Check out this reflection from Five One Labs Executive Director Alice Bosley on the dynamic conversations and new ideas generated at #SkollWF and #Marmalade Festival!

Empowering Tomorrow: Join us on a journey of growth, opportunity, and transformation with the Colorado African Cultural Center's Youth Initiative. Discover how we're shaping the leaders of tomorrow through mentorship, education, and community engagement. From empowering workshops to inspiring events, we're committed to unlocking the potential of every young individual. Together, let's build a brighter future for our youth and our community. hashtag #EmpoweringTomorrow #YouthInitiative #CACCEmpowers"

*10 Lessons on critical thinking to maximize your personal impact (and supercharge Effective Altruism)* -- I'm excited to speak at the EAGxNordics conference this weekend 🚀 💡 I'll share 10 lessons from having taught critical thinking to 10 000+ people, 10+ years community organizing Latvian Skeptics and a career in marketing. Any ideas or requests what to include? Shoutout to the orgs and Effective Altruism Latvia for putting me on this stage. 👉 Check out the event: https://lnkd.in/dgGS68DH #EffectiveAltruism #CriticalThinking

As we recruit our 10th cohort of Voqal Partners Fellows, we reaffirm our commitment to bold, transformative change. Our approach is anything but conventional. Initially, though, we were hesitant. We listened to the critics who doubted the efficacy of upending the whole damn system. Here’s what we’ve learned: True progress often comes from the periphery, where people are unencumbered by conventional thinking. These people see the world differently because they’ve had to navigate it differently. Their ideas, born from necessity and creativity, have the potential to revolutionize. Innovation often comes from the edges - those with lived experiences outside the mainstream, whose perspectives offer fresh, unorthodox solutions. In the margins, we find the seeds of true transformation, waiting to be nurtured and grown. Do you have an idea that needs space to flourish? Do you know a community leader who can use a supportive cohort? The application for the 2025 Fellows is open until October 31. https://lnkd.in/eJa99YMT

On the eighth #NationalRacialDayofHealing, two of SCI’s board members attended the World Economic Forum to discuss the need for racial healing in order to achieve racial equity. Robert F. Smith (Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners) and La June Montgomery Tabron (President and CEO of W.K. Kellogg Foundation) discussed SCI’s work across the six cities that are home to over half of the African-American population.  On racial healing, Tabron noted “We don't believe that you can get to racial equity without the process of racial healing… Through that trust building, then we can speak together about what works in our communities, what isn't working, and then how do we transform those systems together.” The W. K. Kellogg Foundation is helping corporations navigate internal racial healing through its Expanding Equity program, which provides corporations with resources to help them attract and retain diverse talent, increase inclusion and belonging, boost employee engagement and more. Smith spoke of the importance of breaking down barriers to expand the resources and opportunities available in these communities. In particular, he discussed the importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (#CDFIs), as many Black communities are vulnerable to the lack of stable financial institutions like traditional banks in their neighborhoods. We are incredibly proud that our board members are talking about these critical issues at global convenings to help bring resources back to our communities. Expanding our network of partners will be key to closing the #racialwealthgap. Watch their full conversation below. https://lnkd.in/eN8qcbJW

Harnessing the dynamism of youth, Hana Rawti Maipi stands as a testament to the profound impact young leaders can have on community development. Through this initiative, the vigor and innovative spirit of the youth are channeled into sustainable projects, bringing about meaningful change. Let's celebrate the potential of young minds shaping a brighter tomorrow. #HanaRawtiMaipi #YouthLeadership #CommunityDevelopment. https://lnkd.in/deSXtHt4