I Take It Personally

I’m a reflection of the community.
Tupac Shakur

I am about building community. 

 I am about building strong, safe, educated, healthy communities and I have dedicated my 20+ years in the non profit world to this work. 

20+ years of walking the walk… and talking the talk. 20 + years of  successes, failures and hard lessons. I am working to build a movement for social change. A  movement that supports the assets and gifts of the community members. Communities that reflect their values, their wants and their needs. This is the work I love and this is the work I will do until the day I die.

 I am in it to win it. Not for me, but for you. Because when communities are healthy- we all win.

 In the past I have worked for some pretty well known organizations and institutions that focused on building  community cohesion  and power both domestically and internationally.   I will continue to do this important work, but now I will do it working for my own company, The Adaway Group.

My life is my message.

Many ask me why do I do this work. Its simple, you need the whole community to raise children and feed the hungry. I take it personally when people who are hungry can not eat, when kids can not attend school, when families are displaced by war. I want to continue to put my faith and love into action and I want to provide others with that same  opportunity. A simple belief in the respect and inherit  dignity of others.

Many also ask what or who shaped my commitment to this work. I traveled the world by myself  at the age of 16. I was never the same. It was during that time I first learned of  both our inter connectedness and interdependence in the world today,and this was way before the Internet was invented. Pre- face book and twitter my friends. The women I see walking miles to get clean water and the men I see saving what  little money they have  so that their daughters can go to a better school.  Hell, so their daughter can go TO school- they shape my continued commitment to social justice.

In a post I wrote last fall I said: I want my life’s message not to be about Desiree but Desiree AND the families, communities, and individuals  that have I worked in partnership with over the years. The children that received services and the mothers that had access to health care because of my actions and my choices, my skills and my commitment to change. I want my message to be that I actively helped to create a culture of service in this country. That I was on the front line when the tide changed.

Eight months later, I stand by that statement.

So here is my commitment to you, the clients I work with and the communities they serve.

• I will continue to be credible, trustworthy and accountable to the communities I serve.
• I will be bold in action to help organizations effectively accomplish their vision.
• I will search high and low and never stop seeking out people of extraordinary talent and commitment to collaborate and partner with in this important work.
•  I will continue to be an advocate for your causes offering candor,insight and creativity so we can make change happen.

You can check out my newly updated services page if you want to learn more.  http://desireeadaway.com/services/

 People in communities know what they need. I am just a supporting member  helping  communities globally make their vision a reality.

Tagged as: Action, change the world, community transformation, partnerships, resources, service, social capital, transformative power of service