Franklin County’s Post

Maintaining a positive mindset and believing in your ability to achieve great things can help you stay motivated and focused. What do you think are the key factors that contribute to achieving great things?

https://lnkd.in/gHzysuXu If you’re looking to enhance your team’s abilities, there are several strategies you can consider. Building a resilient team involves fostering qualities such as candor, resourcefulness, compassion, and humility.These characteristics can help your team navigate challenges effectively and support each other’s growth. If you’re interested in boosting team collaboration, remember that it’s about more than just working together; it’s about sharing skills, talents, and ideas to achieve a common goal. Effective collaboration can lead to improved efficiency, innovation, and team satisfaction.

As we observe Women’s History Month and reflect on the incredible women who have shaped our lives and communities, I am compelled to pay tribute to my grandmother, Madie Maddox Smith-Moore, on the 1-year anniversary of her passing. Her impact continues to resonate deeply within our family and beyond, inspiring us to carry forward her unwavering commitment to service and empowerment through the Madie M. Smith Women's Health Equity Institute. Nana believed fervently in the power of leadership and advocacy, especially for those facing barriers due to gender and race. Her words, immortalized in her quote, serve as a guiding light for us all: “We should always be prayerful for the courage to lead when the odds are against you only because you are a woman and the color of your skin. When we get the opportunity to lead, we should mentor and uplift others with compassion, and respect.” – Madie Maddox Smith In her honor, we remain dedicated to embodying her principles through the framework of our 6 Over-Arching Pillars: 1. Leveraging intentional relationships, partnerships, and existing strengths collectively. 2. Fostering oneness and creating shared values. 3. Opening doors for the next generation to lead and serve. 4. Grounding our work in authenticity and data-driven insights. 5. Amplifying and honoring the lived experiences of women. 6. Mobilizing collective power to drive meaningful change in public policy for women’s health issues. Although a new website will roll out soon, learn more here about the institute: https://lnkd.in/enbK_PE6 #WomensHistoryMonth #Legacy #Leadership #Empowerment #MadieMaddoxSmith #WomenLeaders #Service #Advocacy

Kicking off #BlackHistoryMonth with a focus on Black-led organizations and 5 ways allies can help, this month and EVERY month! #allyship #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth2024

As part of our ongoing efforts to support DEI initiatives across Corporate America, ELC President & CEO Michael Hyter will speak at the 2024 National Urban League Conference on today's panel, "DEI: IS IT THE FUTURE?" moderated by Ed Gordon. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/edvNhc8X The backlash has been fierce. Just a few short years after national outrage over the murder of George Floyd prompted corporate America to reevaluate its commitment to DEI and pledge change, a political “war on woke” is pushing employers to abandon the policy of inclusion. The chill is also being felt in college admissions offices. Is DEI on the way out, or has its demise been greatly exaggerated? Today's session offers a clear look at today’s DEI landscape and strategies for maintaining institutional focus on equity and opportunity for all. Speakers Kristy Williams Fercho, Senior EVP-Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion (DSRI), Wells Fargo Damon Todd Hewitt, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Henry Beecher Hicks III, President and CEO, National Black MBA Association Jennifer Hunter, SVP Corporate Citizenship and Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria Steve Washington, Station Manager, Delta Air Lines, Inc., New Orleans, LA (MSY) Dr. Homer L. Wilkes, Under Secretary Natural Resources and Environment, USDA #DEIAtStake #NUL #BlackExecutives #CorporateAmerica Read our latest report, which identifies the best ways to improve DEI across Corporate America: https://lnkd.in/eMGRzqVB

This incredibly insightful piece from Nonprofit Quarterly spoke to the incredibly difficult challenges faced by Black women in nonprofit leadership. Dr. Shauna Knox hit the nail on the head with her assessment of the current state and future of Black leadership: “Many Black women in positions of leadership earnestly believe that they cannot afford the luxury of a more integral moral ecology because they are being made to choose between their livelihoods and their ideals.[...]We cannot reorder the conditions of the labor-industrial complex, or, frankly, any other establishment, to make ourselves acceptable as we are—that is not our work. But if that work continues to be neglected, we will continue to lose our hair, our minds, our souls, our bodies, our voices, and our futures—and oh what a tragedy that would be.” Nonprofits who continue to ignore the multi-faceted challenges faced by the leaders of their organizations will only further wane in their influence and community trust, partially when well-reasoned grievances go unaddressed. #BlackLeadership #Nonprofit #Leadership #Justice

The Dismantle DEI Act, introduced by Sen. J.D. Vance and supported by influential conservative groups such as Heritage Action for America, Citizens for Renewing America, Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life, and the Manhattan Institute, seeks to strip federal agencies, contractors, and educational institutions of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The bill aims to eliminate DEI training, abolish the roles of Chief Diversity Officers and DEI Offices in federal departments, and prevent federal contractors and federal grants from funding DEI initiatives, among other measures. Proponents argue that these programs promote division and ideological conformity, but this perspective fails to recognize the vital role DEI efforts play in fostering a fairer, more inclusive society. https://lnkd.in/gme3wehy

🔍 The Impossible Dilemma of Black Female Leadership: The Tragedy of Nobody Seeing Us Even When Everybody’s Watching In her latest essay for Nonprofit Quarterly, Shauna Knox delves into the systemic suppression of Black women in leadership roles. From facing the 'Angry Black Woman' trope to the pressure of navigating predominantly White spaces, Knox’s piece is a critical read for understanding the real challenges and sacrifices Black women leaders endure. This article calls for urgent attention and bold philanthropic investment to support and empower Black female leaders, ensuring they have the resources and backing to thrive. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3Kwqupq #BlackWomenLead #Leadership #DiversityAndInclusion #SocialJustice #NonprofitLeadership #Philanthropy #Equity

Be sure to catch this crucial online event hosted by the Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ)! Racial Equity Backlash: The Response from Black Leaders & the Mandate for Action Live on May 30th, 2024: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern *an email from Zoom will be sent as the date approaches for the live event.* Black leaders are facing unprecedented threats in today's political climate, with recent Supreme Court rulings undermining voting rights and affirmative action. The resulting backlash against racial equity and DEI initiatives, coupled with shifting philanthropic priorities, is putting immense pressure on Black-led organizations' budgets. But there's hope! This NPQ webinar brings together Black organizational and philanthropic leaders to share insights and strategies for resilience. Learn how Black leaders are navigating these challenges and discover actionable recommendations for the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to better support Black leadership. Don't miss this timely session: 🔍 Recent research on Black leaders and organizations 📊 Analysis of backlash trends and implications 💡 Effective responses by nonprofits and philanthropy 📣 Calls to action to support Black leaders and organizations Mark your calendar and register now! Visit the following website for registration and FAQs: https://loom.ly/vf9cuUk #SupportBlackLeaders #Philanthropy #NonprofitSector #RacialEquity #DEI

In preparation for National Black Business Month, I wanted to share an article I wrote in 2021 addressing inequity in Atlanta’s philanthropic community; particularly during the pandemic. The data at the time revealed that 74% of funding went to white-led organizations, while only 10% went to organizations founded by Black women. We have made headway since I first wrote this piece; the conversation has expanded and informs how we support our black women executives through our Legacy Leadership program currently hosted at the Lola.  However, the data continues to illustrate the inequity in funding allocation towards Black women-led organizations. I am honored to have led this close examination of Atlanta’s giving practices. Collaborating with local powerhouses: Sagirah Jones, Kate Little, Wande Okunoren-Meadows, Cicely Garrett, Malaika Wells, and Yonina Gray, MBA to address these deep-rooted biases and broken processes was a dream come true. Check out our recommendations on the link below for better operational strategies as we move forward. 🙌 https://lnkd.in/g2ERE7nx