MindOpen Learning Strategies

Veterans are on the frontlines of loss and grief being unnecessarily inflicted by #DOGE cuts throughout the Federal government and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Thank you Constance Cotton, MAR for sharing the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) story-gathering initiative. Visit this site to share or witness and to join in collective action. https://lnkd.in/em7k9jXW #moralinjury #civilservant #veteran #disabilityinclusion

Highlighting two recent podcasts that may be helpful food for thought for leaders grappling with response to the backlash to organizational efforts to drive diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice. Both around 30-minute listens. 1) While I take exception to the title "Did diversity every work... at work?" [diversity exists! initiatives or not], this episode of #TodayExplained by Vox Media is quick listen and well-rounded discussion starter-- featuring Abdallah Fayyad's reporting and strong practitioner insights from Eric Ellis of Integrity Development Corp: https://lnkd.in/gd-mzbJq 2) To understand the present we need to understand the unvarnished past, and the episode "The Anti-DEI Cycle" on #ThisDayinEsotericPoliticalHistory from Radiotopia gives a quick deep dive into U.S. essentials like the failure of Reconstruction and subsequent coverup; always thorough analysis from historians Kellie Carter Jackson & Nicole Hemmer & host Jody Avirgan Here's a link cued up to the post-banter meat: https://lnkd.in/gyWHitZn ?? What are you listening to, and how is your leadership team learning together to align values and strategy?

Here is me crying at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Staten Island a few weeks ago: the first in which our wonderful PRIDE CENTER OF STATEN ISLAND?was “permitted” to walk under their own banner.? Let’s remember in our workplaces the unequal grinding toll of being marginalized— and trying to get your work done at the same time. Let’s use our unique spheres of influence every day to change what we can, in community and solidarity.? St. Patricks Day is a significant day of cultural and religious observance in Irish Catholic heritage; many feel that this has been co-opted by commercialism. In this season of holy days for the faithful, sharing a link to Sojourners, which is a source for moving and thoughtful writing about the Christian movement for social justice today?https://lnkd.in/eqhEZSTe

Karen S. and I were grateful to be in action-oriented discussion toward #zerosuicide among youth on #StatenIsland this morning. It is exciting to see the tables growing, the knowledge flowing, the gaps closing— and working together to get the resources flowing! Ginny Mantello makes it happen, and so good to catch up with and meet #community champions like Adrienne Abbate Allen Tien, MD, MHS Anthony R. Lodico Valerie Grant-Martin Ashley Owen Terry Troia Jacqueline Filis Bruce MonteLeon Jodi Contento #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #livedexperience #socialcarenetworks MindOpen Learning Strategies

Oftentimes we see people at big events and conferences, and we're like "oh wow I know that person from LinkedIn" or some other social media platform. The reality is you don't really know that person at all. You see a dynamic speaker in fancy garments, but you don't know they borrowed money to get a decent suit or dress, to travel to speak at an event, without pay, just to be heard. We clap for the newly appointed Executive Director with lived experience, but we have no idea that he or she spent years in solitary confinement, or suffered a very severe and traumatic assault by prison guards on a number of occasions. Still, they've remained fair and impartial. Loving and caring. They advocate and fight hard for justice. They are very real Heroes among us! Meeting link https://lnkd.in/eCQfdvvH Join by phone (US) +1 806-410-3574 PIN: 806157703

Cross-pollinating conversations for the nonprofit community coming up! 1) Trauma-informed Strategic Planning with Association of Nonprofit Specialists, Tues., March 11, 10:00 am EST 2) HR Matters: Upacking DEIA in Action with Nonprofit Staten Island, Thurs., March 13, 12:00 noon EST Registration information in the chat.

MindOpen's Project and Communications Associate, Samantha King, shares her thoughts about the importance of Mental Health. Check it out!

?? Heart breaking a million more times, for the death of another HUMAN INCARCERATED PERSON in New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services custody, last month at Marcy, this month at Mid-State. ?? Reliable reporting from inside that yet again the toxic institutional culture enabled HUMAN EMPLOYEES to commit brutal, criminal violence. Details will come out about the #CorrectionsOfficers strikes and National Guard presence, but the patterns will be the same out over and over again. ?? Let us hold in mind today, as in all days, news updates may be impacting our colleagues with active trauma triggers, grief, and rage. ??#PrisonIndustrialComples and #MassIncarceration keep no one safe. #OrganizationalCulture is truly life or death. ??? Follow the leadership of coalitions that bring #LIVEDEXPERTISE to policy solutions, such as Rikers Public Memory Project, Vidal Guzman, Rev. Dr. Sharon White-Harrigan, Helen "Skip" Skipper, and so many more.

New Research Brief Provides a First Look at How Many Stops Act Data In a first public analysis, DCJ’s new research brief covers the prevalence of “Level 1” & “Level 2” encounters citywide, by borough, and by precinct from July to December 2024, racial disparities in who is stopped, and reasons why police officers initiate these encounters in the first place. Implemented in July 2024, the How Many Stops Act mandates that police officers record basic information about previously unexamined Level 1 and Level 2 street encounters with civilians. In Level 1 encounters, police may request information from people if they have an objective, credible reason to do so. In Level 2 encounters, police may ask accusatory questions if they have a founded suspicion of criminal activity. Prior to the How Many Stops Act, the New York Police Department already shared data on “Level 3” pedestrian stops (a.k.a. Stop, Question, and Frisk), when an officer may use reasonable force to prevent people from walking away based on a reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity. From July to December 2024, the NYPD recorded 1.18 million street encounters. Black people represented 39% of Level 1 and 59% of Level 2 encounters, despite making up just 23% of NYC’s population. Black people were also subject to 58% of Level 3 stops in all of 2024. Additional Key Findings: - Brooklyn and the Bronx had the highest stop activity, with Level 2 stops in the Bronx occurring at twice its population share. - Precincts where the most stops were located included East New York (Brooklyn), Brownsville (Brooklyn), and East Tremont (Bronx). (See the full report for maps showing additional precincts seeing large numbers of stops.) - Most stops do not result in arrest (only 1% of Level 1, 7% of Level 2, and 27% of Level 3 encounters led to an arrest). - Long reported Level 3 stops increased by 184% since 2021, the year before the Adams administration began. The 25,386 Level 3 stops in 2024 represented the most in a decade since 2014. By expanding reporting requirements to include all three levels of police encounters, the How Many Stops Act provides a more comprehensive view of NYPD street stops. The full research brief offers deeper insights into the patterns of these encounters. Read the full brief:?https://lnkd.in/eerajvNr

The Protective Power of Cash: A Virtual Teach-In on Cash Assistance "Join us for a webinar on #CashAssistance, hosted by the Narrowing the Front Door Workgroup and NYC Family Policy Project. This event will provide information on the positive impacts of cash assistance programs. Dozens of research studies have shown that investing in the economic stability of families reduces #childwelfare involvement––and the New York State Legislature is currently considering a slate of bills to increase families' access to cash support." #realsafety https://lnkd.in/e87z6JKy