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Interviewer: Nancy, you have made a couple of really critical points
as far as working within the culture of your organization and supporting
staff. One thing that you said that perhaps as someone listening to
this might like some clarification on, is the idea of "thoughtful
risk taking".
Nancy Brooks-Lane: As we were trying to look at opportunities to
connect the folks we support in valued roles in their community through
self employment, resource ownership, business within a business; we
felt there was a natural kinship with the minority community; because
of the struggle that they have had to deal with, the barriers that
confront the individuals. In a planning meeting, we just began brainstorming
on some ways we could tap into opportunities for folks and we came
up with the thought of trying to develop some sort of coalition with
the minority community both in a business fashion as well as identifying
just who were those people in the community that hold power. We humbled
ourselves and just went door to door and introduced ourselves. We
talked about what we were trying to accomplish, and how we could support
their efforts. We talked about how they could support us in being
able to assist the folks we work with and from that we have a quarterly
meeting of minority partners. As we become aware of an interest for
the folks we work with, in terms of a career, we know who to call.
We can ask “Who do we need to be connected with in the community
that can help make this happen for the individual we are working with?”
Interviewer: I think one of the things that I hear more often these
days is really just what you have just explained, the real key importance
of being part of your community.
Nancy Brooks-Lane: Definitely. If you had to siphon out everything
and say what the most basic point of what we are trying to do is:
it is making connections. That is what it is all about.
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