Carolina García Jayaram

Check out Elaine Pofeldt's latest Social Capital Book suggestion at the Center for Social Capital: The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder by Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao. "Stanford professors Robert Sutton, author of The No-Asshole Rule, and co-author Huggy Rao tackle the forces that make it hard to get anything done in a large organization in this insightful book. Offering ideas on how to identify, diagnose and eliminate “destructive friction,” they embrace the powers of civility, caring and even love in the workplace — and allowing for certain types of friction that will help everyone on the team get better at what they do. Running a Social Capital company, at its essence, means busting through inertia, and you’ll learn plenty about how to do that in these pages." Plus check out all the rest of Elaine's amazing Social Capital books at the link below: https://lnkd.in/de7imW9F #books, #ceomindset, #businessleadership

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This research draws from 100 in-depth interviews and 184 comprehensive surveys from progressive organizers across the country. Troubled by the Left’s inability to amass sufficient power as well as the ascendancy of Right-wing forces—an increasing number of progressive organizers have begun to register higher and higher levels of alarm. They have argued that the transformation in service of racial, economic and climate justice that progressives seek will not happen unless we change our approach. In particular, Mario Lugay has raised the alarm for years about the outsized role #philanthropy has in our progressive movements. To read this finding, "Eighty-five percent of respondents—the overwhelming majority—agreed that Left-wing organizations have become more accountable to our funders than to our bases and constituencies . . ." illustrates the urgency for us to build our Movement Commons: https://lnkd.in/grQdpzkw

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As Dana Fisher explaines in her book "Saving Ourselves," In the face of unprecedented extreme weather to unprecendented misinformation and ineffectual leadership, it is up to us to mobilize and demand an effective and urgent response to climate change. https://lnkd.in/esnFHCmn

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I just read a moving piece by Dr. Michael McAfee in the Stanford Social Innovation Review which argues that we can build societies that are for everyone by first seeking love for particular people with particular needs: "The way we build a democracy where “We, the People” finally means all people is by embodying a radical love of all people: to acknowledge the inherent dignity and worth of every person, and to act in service of their flourishing." I highly recommend taking the time to read it this powerful message. https://lnkd.in/dyxVp_h3 For those of you currently in Bonn, this is how we will finally address climate change: by serving particular people with particular needs. Those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and in particular marginalized peoples and communities, in the Global South. The reality is that we can mobilize trillions and get it to where it's needed most with the right regulatory and policy frameworks. So let's roll up our sleeves and get to work and stop renegotiating what's already been decided.

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"Building Irresistible Movements: Best Collaboration Practices for Organizations and Visual Artists" by Kemi Alabi, Micah Bazant, Kate DeCiccio, Amir Khadar, Diana Lugo-Martinez, Monica Trinidad, and Kah Yangni in partnership with Forward Together, this comprehensive guide is for anyone looking to harness the power of art and culture in the fight for justice. Learn more about... 🎯 Setting and achieving project goals 🎨 Ethically collaborating with artists 💰 Implementing fair fee structures 🤝 Facilitating inclusive processes 🌍 Strategically distributing art This guide has best practices for building strong, respectful collaborations between organizations and (visual) artists. Remember, the arts are vital tools for organizing, living with joy, and imagining freedom. 👉 Download the PDF using the link below. #Artivism #Collaboration #CulturalStrategy #VisualArtists #ForwardTogether #Advocacy #MovementBuilding

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We are on an individual and collective transformation at PolicyLink. A revolution of the soul…

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In this episode of Rappler Talk, I discuss with @jairojourno why the "special committee," dubbed the human rights "super body," that President Marcos created is problematic. Rappler Talk: Piercing the veil of Marcos’ human rights ‘super body’ https://lnkd.in/gguvSNuS Key takeaways: * The "super body" lacks credibility * It is redundant and designed more to please the international community * What Marcos needs to do is make accountability for rights abuses the focus of his human rights policy: - Cooperate with the ICC investigation - End his govt's #drugwar and #red-tagging policies - Ensure that perpetrators of rights abuses are held to account

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Absolutely essential. When you think you have mastered your own mind and are resilient/bulletproof, that's when you need to re-invest in it - you've become complacent and are vulnerable. You won't win every battle in your startup though; you need to be good at getting back up off the ground. Sustainable resilience is simply your elasticity/refusal to stay down in the face of whatever it is at the time 🤷🏼 Join this ⬇️

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Why the Fearless Fund Settlement is a Strategic Win—But Headlines Say Otherwise Arian Simone, Founding Partner of Fearless Fund has gone out publicly (including on CBS Mornings with Gayle King) to explain why the settlement is a positive outcome for the fund and her work at-large. The main reasons are: 1) It is, in fact, just one grant program they have running; they will continue to deploy funds through their other programs. 2) The majority of the allocated funds for this program had already been deployed. But the real reason this is a win is that legally, they dodged a major bullet. As Ben Crum, a civil rights attorney who represented the Fearless Fund, said: “By strategically avoiding a Supreme Court ruling that could have eliminated race-based funding, we protected vital opportunities for the entire Black and brown community.” Yet, the headlines around this settlement are confusing at best and disastrous for optics—especially for the future of grants and VC funding not already committed to supporting underrepresented female founders. Here are a few of the headlines out there. With superficial understanding of the case, you'd think the entire fund is shutting down and its mission is being dismantled. 🗞 Fearless Fund settles DEI fight and shuts down grant program for Black women (USA Today) 🗞 Fearless Fund ends program for Black women, settling discrimination lawsuit (ABC News) 🗞 A venture capital grant program for Black women officially ends after court ruling (NPR) 🗞 Atlanta VC firm ends business grant for Black women after discrimination lawsuit (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

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Drawing Wisdom from Ancient Texts: Lessons for Today In a rapidly changing world, ancient texts like the Torah remain surprisingly relevant, offering profound insights into justice and morality. While often viewed as relics of history, these texts provide timeless lessons for addressing modern challenges like inequality, corruption, and social responsibility. The Torah’s call for justice—“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20)—underscores the ongoing effort required to build fair societies. Its emphasis on protecting the vulnerable and ensuring honest governance serves as a blueprint for ethical living. Beyond laws, the Torah teaches mutual responsibility, reminding us that caring for one another is central to a cohesive society. For believers and skeptics like myself alike, the Torah's wisdom transcends religious boundaries. By engaging with its ethical principles, we can draw lessons to navigate today’s complexities and build a more just future. Explore these insights in my latest article from Modern Diplomacy

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Must listen from the Practical Radicals podcast with narrative strategists Cristina Jimenez Moreta and Alan Jenkins on narrative shifts. This conversation makes clear the relationship between work to shift mindsets and the work to shift narratives. Jimenez Moreta says, "Narrative shifts are not cooked up in a lab or expensive communications firms. Narrative shifts are rooted in people." This conversation defines narrative power-building and narrative shifts within an organizing framework rather than a strategic communications approach. Jimenez Moreta shares that narrative shifts organize "constituents (to) share their stories, share their vision of the world and how it should be." Jimenez Moreta shares a great case study from her work organizing with the undocumented movement for DACA. As a sector, we can situate this approach within a larger field of narrative change. My friend Samantha Wright shared with me a framework where we can think of the narrative sector being made up of three practices that all call themselves narrative change: storytelling (the arts), strategic communication (message testing, campaigns) and deep narrative organizing. All play a critical role in the narrative ecosystem. They should not be in competition or conflict but working in coordination to transform narratives with unique strategies. In the podcast, Jenkin pushes us to see narrative work as storytelling, where we all tell a big story rooted in shared values and visions for society. Doing this, he says, will change the dominant narrative, which will shift what is possible. This podcast helps us think about the third bucket: narrative organizing. If you're looking for a community to join to learn more about narrative organizing, apply to join the Radical Communicators Network (RadComms), and follow The Opportunity Agenda and Narrative Initiative. For a practical tool, check our Trevor Smith's work on the narrative house. https://lnkd.in/gRNiH7wn

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ICYMI: I have a new post up debunking some of the most common myths about creativity and exploring the ways they uphold white supremacy culture and colonialism. These myths are incredibly pervasive, and you might be surprised to realize how much you've internalized them. Check it out. #creativity #antiracism #anticolonialism #decolonize

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I am so proud that to finally share "Jews on Screen: The Visibility and Representation of Jewish Identity in Contemporary Scripted TV," a study from the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center Media Impact Project that I consulted on through my work with JITC Hollywood Bureau (Allison Josephs). https://lnkd.in/gNysxpSf This study featured two parts - the first part analyzed 108 Jewish characters in 49 episodes across 15 scripted series, and the second part analyzed 30 episodes of television that explicitly mentioned keywords related to Orthodox Judaism in particular. This is pretty groundbreaking research - the NLC's last study on Jewish representation was in 1999, and there is very little prior research on Orthodox Judaism in the media. Some of the findings echo popular hypotheses about Jewish stereotypes on screen, and there's a lot of surprising new analysis as well. One thing is clear: there is a lot of work to be done. With antisemitism on the rise, it's important to have authentic representation of Jews on screen, and the study offers several recommendations for how to promote more diverse and nuanced portrayals. If you're a writer, director, producer, or development executive, please read through the study -- and reach out if you'd like to explore ways to integrate these recommendations into your work. I look forward to continuing advocating for narrative change, with this data as a guidepost. Full study here: https://lnkd.in/gE8hUYPU

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Technology combined with creativity produces interesting things...

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The Role of Privilege in Conversations: Amplifying Voices & Redefining Listening When we talk about privilege, many think of wealth or power, but privilege in conversations runs deeper. It’s about whose voice is heard, whose ideas are prioritized, and who gets the chance to listen. Societal structures—such as race, gender, class, and education—often determine who dominates a discussion and who remains silent, not because they lack insight, but because they are conditioned to be the audience rather than the speaker. Understanding this dynamic is key to fostering more equitable, inclusive conversations. It’s easy to overlook our privilege when speaking, but recognizing it can shift the balance. When those with societal advantages consciously step back, it creates space for others to step forward and contribute meaningfully. This isn’t about silencing some to elevate others. It’s about creating environments where all voices are valued equally. It’s a continuous process of reflection and adjustment. Ask yourself: Am I truly listening, or am I waiting for my turn to speak? Am I using my voice to uplift others or to maintain my position? In every conversation, privilege plays a role—but we have the power to reframe it for the better. #CNJAssociates #ConversationsThatMatter #DEI #InclusiveLeadership #PrivilegeInDialogue #AmplifyVoices #EquityInAction #ReflectAndAct

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