Monthly Archives: May 2025

Inclusive and Engaging Transportation Planning in Rural Yakima County: A Human-Centered Approach

Access to reliable transportation is a fundamental necessity for individuals and families striving to rebuild their lives. In rural Yakima County, WA and across Yakama Nation lands, approximately 200 households face significant transportation barriers. These families, deeply engaged in the child welfare system and dependency courts, need reliable transportation to attend hearings, meet with judges and attorneys, access social workers, mental health providers, and support groups. Additionally, stable transportation is critical for maintaining employment and ensuring family reunification efforts proceed smoothly. However, because these individuals have been convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), they lack driver's licenses and struggle to navigate the sprawling rural landscape where traditional transportation options fall short. Conventional transportation planning often prioritizes efficiency over lived experiences. To develop meaningful solutions, we must embrace human-centered design principles—listening directly to these families to craft transportation options that genuinely meet their needs.

Continue ReadingInclusive and Engaging Transportation Planning in Rural Yakima County: A Human-Centered Approach

Achieving Strategic Alignment in Nonprofits Through Liberating Structures

Nonprofit organizations navigate complex environments where diverse stakeholders—including executive leadership, board members, frontline employees, funders, and community representatives—must work together toward a shared vision. Strategic alignment is critical for mission success, yet achieving it often proves elusive due to competing priorities, hierarchical barriers, and entrenched ways of thinking. Liberating Structures offer a transformative approach to breaking these barriers by fostering inclusion, engagement, and clarity. These structured yet flexible facilitation techniques empower organizations to harness the collective wisdom of all stakeholders, unlocking innovative solutions while forging deep alignment.

Continue ReadingAchieving Strategic Alignment in Nonprofits Through Liberating Structures

The Anatomy of Apology: How Sincere Repentance Restores Relationships

Authentic relationships, whether personal or professional, require trust, vulnerability, and the capacity to navigate conflict. At the heart of reconciliation lies the art of apology—an act that, when done well, mends wounds and fosters healing. As Aaron Lazare eloquently describes in On Apology, an effective apology is more than just an expression of regret; it is a multifaceted process that conveys responsibility, genuine remorse, and an earnest commitment to change.A

Continue ReadingThe Anatomy of Apology: How Sincere Repentance Restores Relationships

Three Approaches to Workshops and Retreats: From Information to Transformation

In the nonprofit world, workshops and retreats serve as vital spaces for learning, collaboration, and renewal. However, not all workshops are created equal. The book Designing and Leading Life-Changing Workshops outlines three distinct models of training: the Traditional Expert Model, the Experiential Model, and the Transformational Model. Each serves a different purpose, and understanding their nuances can help facilitators craft meaningful experiences that align with their participants’ needs.

Continue ReadingThree Approaches to Workshops and Retreats: From Information to Transformation

Confronting Cruelty in Leadership: A Call for Compassion and Strength

In a just society, leadership should embody integrity, wisdom, and compassion. However, history reminds us that power often attracts those who wield it with cruelty—leaders who belittle the vulnerable, mock the disadvantaged, and foster division rather than unity. Such cruelty is not merely a failure of character but a deliberate strategy of control, designed to instill fear and silence opposition.

Continue ReadingConfronting Cruelty in Leadership: A Call for Compassion and Strength

Healing from PTSD in Search and Rescue: Techniques and Therapies for Processing Trauma

Search and rescue (SAR) professionals often face challenging and emotionally taxing situations, including missions that result in the discovery of human remains. These experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other emotional wounds. While SAR members are trained for high-stakes operations, the psychological impact of such events can be profound. Healing from these experiences requires a combination of structured debriefing, trauma-informed support, and individual therapeutic approaches.

Continue ReadingHealing from PTSD in Search and Rescue: Techniques and Therapies for Processing Trauma