Community is everything, and I don't just say this because OutGrowth is based around a collaborative business model and stays dedicated to community partnerships. Now more than ever, we are seeing the power of community in providing unparalleled strength and support during difficult times. We are recognizing how essential they are to our mental health, to progress, and to action. These days, we are more in tune to the importance of connection, and to the pivotal role we can choose to play within our own circles. Even in more certain times, I believe that working within the community enables us to take the skills we are building within our own corners of the office, classroom and world, and apply them to the issues and circumstances that are happening right now. Working within the community helps us to build our worldview, and provides us with context so that we can better know and discover our place in the world. Communities teach us. They invite us to question our assumptions and challenge our methods, making us more effective leaders. Communities connect us to one another and to a greater purpose. They facilitate a larger sense of belonging, which enriches us at both the personal and professional levels. Community engagement isn't an add-on. It shouldn't be seen as a hobby or an after-work activity. It should be woven into the fabric of our lives and careers. This shift in thinking will be required as the entire world maps out the future. Community engagement isn't just about service- it's a major piece of our education and an essential element of smart, ethical business. This becomes especially crucial when we begin to tap into under-served communities. During these difficult times, we recognize how challenging it is to remain connected to one another. This year has proven how much our communities mean to us, how empty our lives can become if we don't stay integrated, and how important community will continue to be as we chart the path ahead. We take time this month to spotlight Community, giving special recognition to two phenomenal female leaders whose work spans industries and focuses heavily on the value of collaboration. We so admire how flawlessly these women have built a collaborative platform through their work, and we cannot wait to share their stories. As always, we also give you some quick tips and tools for building and serving your own community, wherever you are. Happy reading. Grow out with us. |
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OutGrowth Today Our Monthly Blogger Spotlight + OutGrowth's Top Tip for May The En Root Scoop Finding Your Community Our Top Ted Talk, Podcast and Book for Tapping In |
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I didn’t begin my career in the fields of food studies, sustainability, or food justice. I came by way of passion and curiosity - two qualities I tell my students will have more to do with their futures than any straight path they might want to follow. |
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When I use the word "community," I'm referring to both online and offline. When I was finishing up my MBA and trying to figure out exactly what type of company I would own as an entrepreneur, I reached out to others. I reached out to business owners here in Baltimore to interview them for my lifestyle blog. As I met with each owner, I asked them their stories and I listened. |
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| | Monthly Blogger Spotlight Transforming the Future: The Incredible Educational Journey of Four Students at CRJ by Keon, Kensall, Keidy and Estefania 'If you don't work hard now to get the opportunities and exposure, it's going to be really hard. So take every opportunity, whether good or bad, and use it to your advantage.' OutGrowth and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School interviewed four exceptional students who share their insights from their Corporate Internship Program. Driven, dedicated and about to take off to do even greater things, these students are the shining examples of what it means to intentionally chart your own meaningful life path. | | |
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| | OutGrowth's Top Tip On Community: Finding Your Inroad At OutGrowth, we are committed to building important intersections. We believe that working in unfamiliar industries and settings is what fosters growth, for our partners and our program participants. We also believe that anyone can begin building their own important intersections, starting now. So how do you get started while staying socially distanced? OutGrowth Recommends: Initiate 5 Moments of Virtual Contact Today Whether you send an email to a local nonprofit, call your local neighborhood organization, or start to interview others who are deeply engaged with the community, start your quest in a small way, today. Often, when we think about adding a component to our already-busy lives, we tend to censor and limit, before we have all of the information. Step one: Learn what's in your own backyard, and begin to develop connections so that you are fully prepared to take action when we do start to move forward as a society. | | |
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'We often find ourselves stuck in narrow social circles with similar people. What habits confine us, and how can we break them? Organizational psychologist Tanya Menon considers how we can be more intentional about expanding our social universes -- and how it can lead to new ideas and opportunities.' | | |
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