Humane Edge September 2007

In This Issue:

• PROVOKING HUMANE CHANGE THROUGH BUSINESSES
  
• PREVAIL OVER PREJUDICE WITH THESE RESOURCES
  
• CHANGING LIVES IN ONE WEEKEND
  
• FEATURED GRADUATE: HOLLY CLARK

PROVOKING HUMANE CHANGE THROUGH BUSINESSES

Businesses have a lot of power -- including the power to enact positive change. Recent IHE grad Roberto Giannicola is reaching out to businesses through his Provokare Presentations to help inspire and "provoke" them to position themselves at the forefront of social responsibility.

IHE: What made you decide that the way you wanted to manifest humane education was through giving presentations to businesses and other organizations?

RG: For a few reasons. One is that I worked for over 15 years with small to large fortune 500 companies and have a good knowledge of what is going on inside organizations. In the last few years, while working with these companies, I often heard people talking about what was happening in the environment, but they seemed confused about what they could do, and how much they were participating in maintaining the status quo. Also, often companies and organizations are ready to “green” their products or services, but don’t think of involving their members and employees as part of the changes.

The other reason is that I would like to work with companies because they have a lot to gain in being socially responsible. When I offer them my services, I tell them that it is not only going to benefit our world, but also their bottom line, customer satisfaction, their employees, and put them ahead of the curve in the increasingly growing “green” market.

IHE: How did you decide what presentation areas to focus on?

RG: I chose presentations that would encompass most of the subjects that I learned in the last few years, through IHE’s Humane Education Certificate Program. I use examples on how they have impacted me and how I have changed my lifestyle because of what I learned

I don’t think that one is more important than another. All presentations can be customized to the organization’s needs and how it affects them as a business, their employees, their members and customers. I’ll try to answer their question: “What’s in it for me?” while showing them how everything is interrelated. If I do my work well, the “What’s in it if for me?” will become a “I don’t exist and can’t survive in isolation because I affect and depend on much more than I would ever think of.”

IHE: Tell us about the first presentation you gave. How did it feel? What was the audience's reaction? What would you have done differently?

RG: I’ve been practicing presentations in small groups for the last five months and felt quite confident about giving my first 45 minute long Provokare presentation just last month. However, with my nervousness and all, I had to crack my “I’m imitating Al Gore” joke when I started sweating a little too much. But hey, I didn’t have a need to use that joke on my second presentation already!

For each presentation, I provide a 25 to 35 page booklet with detailed information on the subject. They can download them from my website. That alone takes me a couple of weeks to research and put together. I then look for case studies and try to assemble stories that I can use in my presentation to motivate them and show what they can do.

I rehearse them in advance, but being at the initial stages still, I can’t say that my deliveries are at the level I would like them to be yet. I’m hard on myself, but the audience doesn’t know that, and often give me good feedback. Attendance level is low, but I’m working on promoting myself, and know that by the time I’ll be presenting to larger audiences, my skill level will also be much higher. A work in progress.

On my second presentation, I didn’t tell so many stories, but focused more on facts and “how to.” I believe that approach is not so interesting. People relate better through stories and real examples. A good reminder for my next presentations.

IHE: How have you been making contacts?

RG: Mainly word of mouth. I talk about Provokare with my friends, co-workers and business groups. I’ve joined San Francisco Rotary club, and will attend more networking groups. In November I’ll go to the Coop-America Green business conference in San Francisco. I’m still working on preparing my presentations on different subjects and improving my delivery, so I’m not exposing myself to anything I can’t yet handle. My computer consultant job is still paying the bills, and I need to allocate time to that and family as well. 

IHE: Why did you choose "provoke"? It seems like sort of an aggressive word.

RG: I had such a hard time trying to find a name for what I wanted to do. Then I asked a few friends for help. One of them, knowing me for “Never keeping my mouth shut and saying it like it is” thought that “provoke” would fit me well. He then gave it a little Italian touch by adding the “are” for the infinitive Italian form. (“provocare” in Italian).

I don’t want to provoke as in creating trouble; I want to provoke as in shaking people to see what is behind their mundane daily activities. I want to trigger reactions and provoke changes in a positive way, just as much as what I learned provoked me to react and change my lifestyle.

By the way, pronounce the “kare” as in k + verb “are”, not Kare as in “caring” ;-)

IHE: What are your goals for Provokare Presentations? What are some of your desired quantitative outcomes?

RG: There is a growth period. I’m giving myself to the end of 2008 to become really good at giving presentations and hopefully stop my computer consulting work to dedicate my time entirely to Provokare. This is a for-profit endeavor, and I would like to have enough work to sustain myself.

But I’m especially hoping to give presentations someday where I’ll be using my personal case studies, from organizations I motivated to change, to convince other organizations about the all encompassing benefits of being socially responsible.

IHE: What have been some of the challenges you've encountered in getting Provokare started?

RG: This was completely new to me. I knew I wanted to work with businesses and organizations, but I needed to find a niche that would benefit me, as well as the eventual prospects.

At first I created a full website about what I would present, but I was not focusing on my target clients, and it didn’t really stand out. I scratched it, and then worked with a copywriter/marketing professional to understand better what was needed. She was very good at guiding me through the research and helping me write the web pages. In a few months I finalized my website. Then I wrote a brochure, also available for download, and business cards. All that required so much work.

As we know, the subjects can be quite depressing at times, but I don’t want people to focus on the gloom and doom state of the world. So I’m trying to create presentations that offer a positive vision with encouraging solutions everyone can use. I would like to make my presentations entertaining and motivational, so that people will come out of it empowered and informed to take steps like I have. Being able to do this requires talent, and I’m continuously trying to improve my speaking skills to get to that point.

All of this is quite a challenge. I want to do a great job. I’m starting something completely new in which I don’t have years of experience, and I’m exposing all that in front of an audience. What’s wrong with me? Eh? Quite humbling, but I am unwavering in my resolve.

IHE: Share a success story. What has helped encourage you?

RG: I am only in the nascent phases with Provokare, but I already see success when people thank me for all the information I have provided, and tell me that they are going to apply what they’ve learned in their lives because of it.

This is what is encouraging to me, that even with a small audience and in my very first presentation, a few people have already been inspired take steps to change.  Then I feel like I have provoked one change, and it makes it all worthwhile.

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PREVAIL OVER PREJUDICE WITH THESE RESOURCES

On September 23, 1957, nine young African American students made their way past angry, screaming crowds, up the steps and into Little Rock’s Central High School, thus courageously testing the implementation of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision of 1954, which paved the way for school integration.

Fifty years later, students of color still find themselves confronting racism and bigotry on a frequent basis, and recent Supreme Court rulings seem to be making school integration more difficult. Promoting tolerance, justice and equality are essential. We have some great resources to help you do that.

Sample Activities:

The Aliens Have Landed: Exploring Oppression, Rights & Freedom
Students explore oppression, rights & freedoms by participating in a scenario in which aliens have invaded earth and humans must plead their case not to be oppressed to a Universal Court.
Recommended for grades 8 through 11.
Time: 60-90 minutes to several days
 

Judge Not: Lest Ye Be Judged
How do our own stereotypes and judgments limit our openness and receptivity to others? This activity uses props (or photos) to explore our snap perceptions of others.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 20-30 minutes

More Than a Label
This activity inspires students to think about their own areas of bigotry, to identify how we develop our attitudes about others, and empowers them to take action to reduce bigotry in their own lives and in society.
Recommended for grades 9 and up.
Time: 90 minutes
 

Sample Websites:

A Class Divided
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/
From the famous blue-eye, brown-eye classroom experiment conducted after the assassination of MLK, Jr. Watch the documentary, view interviews, read sample articles and find teacher resources to support this powerful example of the realities of prejudice.

Racism & Oppression
http://www.american-pictures.com/english/racism/index.html
Articles, links, photos & video clips about racism.

Tolerance
http://www.tolerance.org
Information and resources for people interested in “dismantling bigotry” and creating communities that value diversity. Includes resources for teachers, parents and youth.

Understanding Prejudice
http://www.understandingprejudice.org
An excellent resource for exploring prejudices of all kinds, including speciesism. Find interactive exercises, teacher resources, information, organizations and more.

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CHANGING LIVES IN ONE WEEKEND

On August 11-12 we offered our first MOGO (Most Good) Workshop to 29 participants at our beautiful headquarters in Surry, Maine. We had spectacular weather and an extraordinary group of people, and by the time everyone left on Sunday afternoon, they had each completed their own personalized Action Plan for living a more MOGO life both in terms of their everyday choices (products, food, clothing, shelter, transportation) as well as their volunteer work, activism, and careers. Find out more.

 
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FEATURED GRADUATE: HOLLY CLARK

Holly is an enthusiastic M.Ed. grad who is bringing humane education to college students through their English Composition courses and is helping pave the way for social justice in her community. Read her story.  

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