FLOWLab?

Have you seen The Verge's community research report? Because it's been swirling in my brain for a couple of weeks...especially around what community looks like for founders. Looking at the past 5 years or so, here's what I see en masse: ?? Content is table stakes, not the differentiator. There's a lot of the same, and not enough perspective rooted in practice and not podcasts. ?? Many programs come with price tags and/or rigid timing that don't work for most of the founders who could benefit. ?? Size isn't it. Who benefits from collecting the most founders signed up? (Not founders, who need meaningful connections and actual opportunities) But I'm more interested in what would work vs what isn't. So here's your moment to do something about it. Founders, what is *actually* meaningful to you when it comes to community? What is missing and what do you want more of? https://lnkd.in/g7MPfss7

In our FLOWLab? meetings, we write down our “wins” for the month. Despite such exhausting and disconcerting times, these are my January wins: *Welcomed back a new season of Finding Your Roots on PBS, my favorite show and one that makes it all too clear how interconnected the past, present and future are. *Published a blog about welcoming a new year amidst such duress. (https://lnkd.in/gaCt42mN) *Attended my son's Basketball game. He adores playing and seeing him hone his passion brings me pure joy and pride. *Donated clothing and shoes to the Salvation Army. *Called 6 admitted families to my son's middle school, answering?any questions?and encouraging them to secure their spots. *Was a Panelist on The Conversation Room with Ellen Wagner and Maurice Soulié (er/ihm), "Challenging Racism — Naming Systems, Transforming Society" (https://lnkd.in/gu6ERAus) *Had a lovely meeting with Sharon Hurley Hall (she/her), discussing the current state of the world and how writing helps us both to process it, as well as to withstand it. *Attended an Art Show my brother is in and then had dinner with him, our mom, my husband and son, and friends I've known for over 30 years. *Held down the fort while my husband traveled for work. *Attended the Monthly Appleseed Network Meeting. *Spoke at my last panel for admitted families at my son's middle school. It was bittersweet since I have loved the school, but it is time for my son to graduate and to open a new chapter.

“It’s a bloodbath. And it’s unconscionable.” “I don’t think anyone can survive for 90 days.” The USAID headlines are devastating. And a sector leader told me yesterday that fellow nonprofits in this funding crisis must be ???????????????? ?????? ????????????????, now more than ever. So get four fundraising cheat sheets to help. ? ?? ???? ???????????????? Theory of change Strategic plan ?? ???? ???????????????? Positioning strategy Marketing communications Then repost ?? for someone in need. ??????

I am beyond thrilled to share my joy and gratitude for FLOWLab?, an incredible online collective with a goal of helping diverse creators and innovators survive ( and thrive ?? ) in their first 5 years of self-employment, a newly founded startup, or solopreneurship. This journey can often feel lonely, but Flow Lab has built a vibrant and supportive community that makes it feel anything but isolating. Today, I left our Tuesday meeting with a wealth of knowledge and a renewed sense of self-esteem, thanks to the invaluable advice from women with decades more experience than I have. I got practical tips on writing contracts (very timely!!) and invaluable insights on building self-confidence from the group simply by deciding to pop in, be curious, and ask questions. The wisdom and support I’ve personally received from Emily O. Weltman, M. Ed., Kara Smith, M.A., & Sharon Hurley Hall before even fully becoming a member are truly priceless. The camaraderie and encouragement within this group remind me that I'm not alone on this journey. A huge thank you to Flow Lab and all the amazing mentors who share their time and expertise every week. Your guidance is helping me grow not just as an entrepreneur, but as a person, too. ?? If you’re feeling alone in your entrepreneurial journey, I highly recommend seeking out communities like Flow Lab. They host weekly meetings almost every week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

In our FLOWLab? meetings, we are often asked to write down our “wins” for the month. I find it helpful in remembering not only how productive I am - in all of my roles - but to give myself credit where credit is due. In November, I: *Attended the Building the Collective Monthly Circle, created by Ventura Collective Ltd.. *Accompanied my son to a High School Entrance Exam,?which I had organized. *Had a clear conscience despite?the direction this country has taken,?knowing I voted for democracy and humanity. *Went on an unforgettable 15th wedding anniversary trip with my?husband,?while my son stayed home with my mother and had his own adventure with?her visiting his school's Open Classrooms. *Had our 3rd Family Interview for my son's High School Admissions. *Had my son's Parent/Teacher Conferences. *Accompanied my son to a High School Admissions Standardized Exam, which I had organized. *Attended the NYC Admissions Conference: Effects, Equity and Experiences, organized by New York Appleseed, whose Board I serve on. *Spoke at a Poly Prep Country Day School Assembly, where I read an excerpt of my essay, "There is Only Us" and engaged in a Q&A. *Had my last meeting with my?son's High School Placement Counselor. *Met with my Hunter College colleague, Alfonso Pérez, to discuss my December Guest Lecture. *Accompanied my son to his 4th High School Admissions Interview. *Attended a New York Appleseed Board Meeting. *Headed to stay with my mother, with my son, for some of Thanksgiving Break. *Supervised my son's Public High School Application Submission! A huge accomplishment! *Celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, continuing our tradition of naming what we are grateful for. *Observed my father's 13th death anniversary, going to see "Moana 2" with my family. In the movie, the essence of Moana's deceased grandmother dances with her and tells her, "Together, just different." (This is a photo I took on my anniversary trip. Despite so much darkness in the world, there is always light.)

It is OUR job to create ACCESS for everyone. For 2024's International Day for People with Disabilities, #IDPWD which lands on #GivingTuesday, I have to honor the 4th anniversary of Rage2Rainbows. Madison and I launched 4 years ago today because of the endless attacks on her online and irl. So let's talk about navigating tech as a person with disabilities. Because disabled people deserve access to safety online, free from harassment too. Let's look at just how inaccessible our world is and the barriers to tech, connectivity, labor, and economic independence. Digital, Technological and Economic Barriers: Social media harassment: bullying of people with disabilities is higher than people without a disability, 45% vs 36%, and severe harassment is worse 31% vs. 19%, respectively. In 2024, online harassment for people with disabilities went up 10% from 35 to 45%. “Reasons for online harassment in the past 12 months remained stable, EXCEPT for disability, which spiked from 4% to 12%, despite the proportion of disabled respondents remaining similar.” There is a huge digital divide including access to and owning laptops. Despite relatively equal shares in internet availability, “disabled Americans are less likely than those without a disability to report using the internet daily (75% vs. 87%).” (Pew, 2024) OVER 96% of all website fail accessibility tests, with an average of 50 errors per home page.? 70% of news and government websites do too, restricting access to essential information.? 94% of the world's largest e-commerce sites are not accessibility compliant. AND people with disabilities are more likely to be self-employed, are employed at lower rates, and make less than people without disabilities. We deserve access. We NEED access to tech to thrive. Access is a Human Right. Want to support people working on these critical issues? See linkS in comments.