Leadership through turning points

Flag in tree - Northside (credit Larry Long)

Lives can be changed in moments. Anyone who experienced the tornado on the Northside knows that feeling on a very deep level. How many of us can point to a specific episode in our lives—either self made or by natural disaster—when we realized we were facing a turning point? When we knew we had to take action from a new place and a new perspective to become an even better self?

When I got a call on May 23 from singer songwriter Larry Long asking for my help with a  benefit for Northside relief, I was hearing leadership in action of someone who knows what it means to respond to a major turning point with passion. Larry tells me he remembers what it was like in North Minneapolis in 1968, in the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Homes and businesses burned; people were displaced. He was so overwhelmed by the senseless destruction that he decided right then to dedicate his life to social action.

In the aftermath of the May 22 disaster, Larry went back to the Northside to see the tornado damage in person. His next step was to call gospel artist and Northside resident Tonia Hughes, telling her, “we can make a difference; let’s organize a really big benefit for the relief efforts.” Within the hour Tonia got another call from a friend—gospel/jazz musician Sara Renner—who lives a few blocks away. She had the same idea. While the tornado had skirted their homes, cutting instead through the blocks between them, they knew their friends, families and neighbors were hurting.

Immediately, each of them began calling friends to see what they could do to help. By the time I got to the first planning meeting two days later, they already had a big goal ($100,000 to the relief efforts), a date (June 12), a website  (http://www.northsidebenefit.org) and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/northsidebenefit), a lot of big name acts (Soul Asylum, the Sounds of Blackness, Brother Ali, and many more), a great venue (donated) in the State Theatre, and a team of professionals all prepared to help in whatever way they could to help the Northside.

Every day more people offer us their time and generosity by donating their time and talents to make this event a success. Optimism, hope and resilience are the driving forces.This story written by a Minneapolis Foundation staff member and Northside resident tells it well: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/123133513.html

Even as more artists are lining up to perform at the benefit and tickets are selling, we still have a huge challenge before us. Another turning point. Will we meet our big financial goal and put those funds to work  providing the Northside with relief? Will you, dear members of our community, show your leadership by opening your hearts and reaching deep to donate to this goal and purpose?  With your generous investment in this vision and purpose, proceeds will go directly to the Northside, to help in their rebuilding efforts. Your charitable dollars will go to nonprofit organizations whose missions are to provide: shelter, food, medical services, counseling, child care, utility assistance, youth mentoring and employment opportunities to the residents of North Minneapolis.

None of us can predict the turning points that lie ahead. We can only see today. Each day we have so many opportunities to contribute to our communities if we only take the time to look for them. These musicians took the time, using  their imagination and their talents to reach for the largest goal they could dare to imagine—perhaps create their own turning point in the process.

So much is lining up to support their vision for greater relief for North Minneapolis. Will you join us? After all, according the Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO, “Leadership belongs to those who take it. Leadership starts with you.”

~ Catherine Reid Day is a guest contributor.