Archive for the 'Words Matter' Category

What’s in a Name?

Published
by
Hildy
on January 28, 2010
in Transparency / Open Source and Words Matter
. 9 Comments

RoseBud What’s in a name? A whole lot!

We have been talking for a while about a name change at the Community-Driven Institute. If you’ve read the posts that describe the Institute’s vision, its accomplishments towards that vision,  its goals for the coming 2 years, you know that the name “Community-Driven Institute” just doesn’t cut it.

First, it’s confusing. What does it mean exactly? From the name, would people know the results we are trying to achieve, or for whom? Not so much.

Second, it doesn’t come close to describing the powerful work we are doing, the impacts we are seeing, the difference we are making. When you’re making the kind of difference we are already making, you want to shout it from the rooftops! The name doesn’t do that, not by a long shot.

As you will see in the links above, one of our big goals for the next few years is to walk the talk of engaged transparency. And so we are coming to you, the people who are affected by our work – those who are are inspired by and who inspire our work.

We’re not yet asking for a name, although if you have ideas, please share them (as Bill Krauss did here).

For now, we are pondering the precursor questions. What should we consider when choosing a new name? What questions should we be asking?

Brainstorming names is easy. Figuring out the parameters for making the decision – that’s where the power lies!

As I’ve mentioned previously, Zach Braiker suggested our name should represent the outcomes for which we would want to be renowned. The difference we are making and intend to make. The outcomes we want people to expect from our work.

So then, when you think of our work – when you think of a class you may have taken with us, or this blog, or a speech you heard me give or a book or article you’ve read – what resonates? What difference has the Community-Driven Institute made in your life? In your client’s lives? Your organization’s life? Your community’s life?

What makes you want to learn more from us? What keeps you coming back, subscribing, asking for more?

And what other questions should we be asking (and answering) as we take this exciting step?

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain

Monday Morning Rock Out!

Published
by
Hildy
on January 24, 2010
in Monday Morning Rock Out! and Words Matter
. 9 Comments

BlahBlahThese days life so often hands me what I need the moment I need it, that I should probably stop being surprised each time that surprises me.  Today’s Monday Morning Rock Out is a case in point.

This week at the Community-Driven Institute, we will begin the process of developing a new name – one that better reflects what the Institute is about.  As the brilliant strategist Zach Braiker suggests, a name should describe “the outcome for which we want to be renowned.”  The name Community-Driven Institute falls short of that mark and then some.

The energy of last week’s immersion course hammered home for us the need for straight-forward, direct language for the work we are doing. We are making visionary social change practical and doable. Our name has to say that – short and sweet and exciting!

Without knowing that I was preparing for this week’s conversations, my Twitter friend, writer David B. Dale, sent me this video.  Clearly the gods are doing their best to keep me on the path…

Grant writing and policy papers and web language and jargon upon jargon upon jargon.  Enough!

Words have power if we use powerful words.

There are, right now, corporations and individuals making a lot of money and gaining a lot of power by being direct in their language.  That language, filled with hate and fear and ignorance, is powerful in large part because it paints simple pictures in plain words.

If social change is to happen, words matter. We need to meet people where they are – in their experience, in their dreams, and especially in their language.

So get out there this week and tell it like it is. Directly. Simply. Honestly. With the power that comes from authenticity.

Look out world, we’re coming – and we bring words as clear as our actions.

Have a great Monday, and a great week, all!

If you are not following Zach Braiker and David B. Dale on Twitter, go right now and do so.

What’s In a Name?

Published
by
Hildy
on October 15, 2009
in Changing the World and Words Matter
. 3 Comments

I confess this week’s impassioned discussion of changing our self-identity from “nonprofits” to Community Benefit Organizations took me by surprise… in a good way. What thoughtful consideration of so many aspects to the term and its use!

My initial thought has always been that using the term “Community Benefit Organization” would not be a legal term – it would not replace IRS or other taxing entity language. It would just be what we call ourselves.

I’ve ranted about this for a long long time (like in this video that many of you have already seen).  As an advocate for this sector’s ability to create massive visionary change in our world, my purpose in raising the issue everywhere I speak is all the points I posed in that post – that the term “nonprofit” is confusing, negative, and often downright debilitating.

Because empowerment of what are currently called “nonprofits” has been my primary purpose in suggesting the change, it has only been as an afterthought (and a powerful afterthought at that) that I have begun strongly considering the question that was raised by that post.

If the term is simply a self-identifier with no legal requirements, could such a language change help bridge the gap between the various types of legal entities who are all aiming their work at Community Benefit? If an entity chose to state that its primary purpose was Community Benefit, would its tax status really matter as much as its intent?  And if so, why?

I confess that I haven’t thought it through entirely, and that my thinking might change. But for the life of me I cannot find a downside in having the term be used broadly by any entity whose self-defined primary purpose is Community Benefit.

A government health office whose primary focus is improving health outcomes in a community. A privately held business whose primary purpose is the same.

For me, the important thing is the end result we are aiming at. We all know we cannot build healthy, resilient, strong, engaged, compassionate communities if we are each working behind walled siloes. And yet I am struck by how often my suggestion that we tear down those walls is met with a clinging to the very walls we all say we abhor!

If an entity is dedicated to building healthy, vibrant, engaged, humane, equitable communities – and if that entity happens to make a profit by doing it – does that matter? If so why?

And if the term has no bearing from a legal / tax perspective, and is simply the term we use to define the purpose of our work – is there a reason such a well-meaning business / organization should not call itself a Community Benefit Organization?

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