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ellie krug
writer, lawyer, human
Human Inspiration Works, LLC
The Ripple
Vol 5 No. 9 October 2020
Inspired by the words and actions of Robert F. Kennedy
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Dear Friends:
Last week in Minnesota, Mother Nature gave us an October gift—summer-like temps, clear skies, windless days—which allowed me to get on my bike for some good long rides. I’m thankful for the added biking days and cherish every extra mile I can get in. (If the weather holds, I might have 1900 miles for the year before it’s time to shift to indoor exercise.)
Being on my bike allows for some good thinking-time. As I’ve taken in vibrant fall foliage, I’ve also thought of where we’re headed as a country. There’s an unmistakable pulse, an underlying push, for positive change; I see it with the increasing number of requests for my inclusivity and anti-racism trainings (particularly for organizational leaders). Even more, how about those long lines of voters waiting to cast ballots? America is ready to go forward like never before, I can just feel it!
With barely three weeks from what might be the most important election since the Civil War, I’m optimistic and hopeful. But please don’t be lazy; you must vote. More than that, everyone in your circle must vote—press people on this. Nobody can sit this one out!
Because of the emotions surrounding the election, I will convene a virtual post-election discussion, “Hope for America! Next Steps…” that will occur on Wednesday, November 4 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. CST. This is a free event and if you’d like to participate, click here for the Eventbrite invite. I’d love to see you as we digest election results (or, if things get bumpy, the absence of results).
Hang in there, my dear friends! We will get through this—remember that almost everyone has a good empathetic heart. Those hearts are showing up more and more and with the right result, collectively we can turn this thing around!
I care about you.
ellie
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An Intrepid and Fearless Four-Year-Old
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From Owensboro, KY, we learn of Minh Best, whose parents, Sarah and Justin Best, transported her from a Vietnamese orphanage to the U.S. on her second birthday. In the two years since then, Minh has melted her parents’ hearts and established herself as a precocious artist. In fact, some of her art has been sold to finance her visits to camp.
It’s a wonderful story, right?
What makes Minh’s story especially noteworthy is that she was born without arms. Adding to that incredible challenge was that Minh’s legs lacked necessary bone growth, meaning that initially, she couldn’t walk. (In the two years since Minh’s adoption, she’s undergone medical procedures which gave her the strength to walk.)
The absence of arms doesn’t prove much of an impediment for Minh. She uses her feet and toes to do many things, including painting, opening plastic water bottles, putting on her clothes, and yes, even blowing bubbles!
Given that both of Minh’s parents are special education teachers, Minh has had a good foundation; as Sarah explained to the Evansville Courier & Press, Minh “(W)ould sit for thirty minutes and try and figure (something) out on her own. After the first five minutes, when I would offer to help, she’d be like, ‘No, no, that’s Minh’s’ So she’d keep trying. Eventually, she’d be like, ‘Ta da! I did it!’”
The camp which Minh’s artwork sales helped her attend is named “Camp No Limits” and is for kids with limb loss. At camp, Minh has met kids her age, older kids, and adults who have limb loss. One of those adults showed Minh how to put on her own shirt.
The human spirit is incredible, as Minh’s story demonstrates. If a four-year-old girl can face life’s challenges head-on, don’t you think we adults can do that too?
Hooray for you, Minh. You’ve inspired me and so many others! Click here to read about Minh.
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Using Imagination to Reduce
Homelessness and Financial Insecurity
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A new Canadian project of providing lump sums to homeless persons in Vancouver, British Columbia demonstrates that the cash could dramatically change the lives of recipients.
The project, called “The New Leaf Project,” provided 50 recently homeless persons with $7500 in Canadian dollars (nearly $5700 US) and then followed them for 12 to 18 months. What researches found was that the cash recipients were quickly able to obtain food security; additionally, they spent more on clothing and rent, and decreased (by 39 percent) spending on things like alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.
A spokesperson for the project reported to CNN,, “One of the things that was most striking is that most people who received the cash knew immediately what they wanted to do with that money, and that just flies in the face of stereotypes.”
Thus, some of the cash recipients moved into housing or invested in buying a bike or fixing their vehicle. Some wanted to start their own small businesses.
Additionally, the project showed there were “trickle down impacts,” where people invested more in the well-being of their children, as well as with helping family members. The spokesperson said, “There are hidden impacts that we just don’t anticipate and aren’t necessarily quantifying, but now we’re see that this is having an exponential effect on people’s lives.”
On a cost-benefit basis, the project showed that society would, in fact, save money by providing cash grants since it reduced the number of nights spent in a shelter. (The savings was $8100 vs. the $7500 cash grant.)
In Saint Paul, Mayor Melvin Carter has pushed a guaranteed basic income plan to give 150 families $500 a month for eighteen months to combat financial insecurity. Similar plans are being considered in 20 other American cities. See the story here.
One of the tenets of my work is the need to provide other humans with a degree of dignity. Using cash grants to help offset poverty and the emotional toll of insecurity is not only boldly imaginative, but it also treats recipients with dignity. The New Leaf Project looks like the return to society can be immediate and profound!
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Inclusivity Tip of the Month
Looking Out for the "Firsts":
Jackie and Julie Robinson
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Many are familiar with the story of Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player to ever play in major league baseball; he did so with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As the “first,” he endured countless acts of marginalization (racism) by teammates, opposing teams, fans, and the media. Yet, he persisted and paved the way for real change in American sports and America in general.
Being the “first” in an organization—whether that “first” is based on skin color, country of birth, gender, visible disability, veteran status, or LGBTQ status—can create an extraordinary degree of pressure. Often, the person in question risks feeling alone and isolated.
In my “Getting Past the Bumpiness” anti-racism training, I talk about how the first diverse team member within an organization (e.g. the “Jackie or Julie Robinsons”) may experience negative behaviors (comments, looks, jokes, or other forms of marginalization) from team members or clients/customers. Often, the Jackie/Julie won’t come forward to supervisors about this—the diverse team member doesn’t want to be labeled as a complainer or disrupter. Instead, they endure the marginalization until things get so bad that they leave.
It’s important for workplace/organization leaders to understand this about the “firsts” in their spaces. (Of course, leaders should be aware of marginalization toward any diverse team member, “first” or otherwise.)
Consequently, leaders need to pay special attention to what’s happening on the ground, which includes asking the diverse team member about how things are going. Yes, that very well may require closing the office door (or arranging for a one-on-one Zoom or WebEx meeting) and saying, “I really want to know about your experience here, including the negative things that might have occurred or may still be happening. I care about and value you, and if team members or clients/customers are making your life difficult, I need to know about that.”
It may take more than one of these discussions before the diverse team member trusts the leader enough to honestly share about the marginalization he/she/they is experiencing. Thus, the leader must be both mindful and persistent in gently pressing the diverse team member on this.
Additionally, organizations should be incredibly thoughtful about which manager or mentor to pair with a “first.” Way too often, the manager or mentor has no understanding about unconscious bias and other challenges facing diverse humans.
Of course, this isn’t enough. Organizations should demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through written DEI plans, and by regularly modeling and messaging about human inclusivity, and through team member training.
For “first” diverse team members, it’s the little things—like specially reaching out/creating trust/exercising true allyship—that may make the difference between whether they stay or go. Assuming they stay, know that it’s because, just like Jackie Robinson, they’re brave and resilient. Recognize and applaud that!
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Odds & Ends
I’m all over the place this month—for starters, we’ve got the 3-Ds: dolphins, dominos, and dancing. Plus, there’s a whole lot more…
Darn Wonderful: A dolphin “stampede.” I’m guessing this is worth watching two or three (or more) times…
Third Darn Wonderful: Here’s a son and his mother dancing to commemorate Sept. 21; too bad the video—which will make you smile—is so short!
Bad Luck that Just Keeps Coming: Watch this poor gentleman who just can’t get a break as he tries to corral a trailered boat that won’t stay still. Proof of the Human Condition at work, in real time!
But Good Luck for a Bridesmaid: See this touching video of how a bridesmaid received a unique wedding proposal; it was so kind of the bride to give part of her day to a friend!
Proof that NYC is Alive and Kicking (or Dancing): Here’s a video of the Dance Theater of Harlem taking to NYC’s streets (thank you Ripple Reader Renee Grassi for the link) and another video of Brahms being played in Brooklyn. Both will remind us that NYC will always be the culture capital of the world—COVID be damned!
Three Nigerian Irish Teen Women Win a Prize: The trio, along with the help of a female mentor, created an award-winning app for people struggling with dementia. In winning, they broke tech industry stereotypes around gender and skin color. Read here.
More Women Breaking Stereotypes: Here’s a great story of an all-female firehouse, a first in the history of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department. Yes! I’d love to know if this has happened anywhere else…
Brave CT Teen Saves Mom and Three Kids from Burning Car: In a time of so many negatives, here’s a wonderful positive involving a teenage human-hero.
Mossier Proud to Work Career Fair: Mossier, which promotes workplace equality for LGBTQi-identifying humans, is holding an online career fair on October 22. If you’re LGBTQi and looking for a job, or if you’re an employer looking for rock star team members, click here.
Minneapolis Violence Interrupters: Here’s a powerful story about using imagination to defuse high-risk situations. We’re talking humans who know how to talk to other humans. What an incredible idea!
Role Model for Trans Humans: Until Ripple Reader John Anderson shared this wonderful story, I didn’t know about Monroe Bergdorf, a UK transgender model and activist. This is a wonderful story about someone with a platform using it to help her community. I’m in awe…I can’t imagine having such a platform…
Redlining Still Lingers: If you’re not aware of what constitutes redlining, please check out Wikipedia. For more, this is a great story about how the effects of redlining still hold back black and brown people. This piece is great because it talks about getting the community involved in problem-solving.
Not at All Good for LGBTQ Humans: 2 of 8 existing Supreme Court Justices have invited revisiting the question of marriage equality. My heart is hurting with this story….It should scare everyone with an LGBTQ human in their life.
And it Even Gets Worse: Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of the Dept. of Education, has installed an anti-LGBTQ person to head the Dept’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. Really? Click here.
Are You Kidding Me? Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the wife of PA’s Lt. Governor, snuck out to go shopping without her State Trooper detail, only to then be recognized and called the N-word. Read this and cringe. Please understand: WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS. I genuinely believe that!
Kate’s Pick: My 30-year-old daughter Kate, a writer like me, is a freelancer for Book Riot where she reviews books. Check out her website, It’s All Booked. Kate says this month’s book recommendation is “A little spooky thriller for October.” Her pick: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager. Kate’s take: “Jules Larsen has landed the dream gig: apartment-sitting at the historic and high-profile, Bartholomew building. Because the majority of the Bartholomew's residents are rich and famous, Jules' new job comes with a set of strict new rules. No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No talking to the other residents. Jules is initially unfazed by the rules and begins a friendship with fellow resident, Ingrid, who has been recently spooked by something inside the Bartholomew and she urges Jules to be careful. But after Ingrid disappears, Jules begins noticing...things...that just don't add up. There's a reason why they just can't keep her position filled even though it's the ideal set-up. There's a reason why all the residents are discouraged from speaking to each other. And there's a reason why she, specifically, landed this job.”
Stuff That I’m Reading: I’m a fan of David Brooks, and here’s his Atlantic Magazine piece, “America is Having a Moral Convulsion.”
“Ellie 2.0 Radio” Podcasts/Shows: My podcast/show, “Ellie 2.0 Radio,” airs on Twin Cities-based AM950 on Mondays from 2 to 3 p.m. CST with re-airings on Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m. CST. The show can be live-streamed by clicking here. Ellie 2.0 Radio highlights various historical and contemporary idealists and my work as a “practical idealist” trying to change the world for the better. I recommend my September 21 show where I interview John Anderson, an idealist who spent a vacation week (and then some) walking 8.46 miles every day to symbolize the number of minutes before George Floyd died from a man’s knee on his neck. I also recommend this week’s (October 12) live show where I interviewed Mary-Frances Winters, the author of Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit. Click here to access those shows and other podcasts.
Writings by Me: Here’s my September 24 “Skirting the Issues” column in Lavender Magazine titled “Dappled Sunlight.” The image at the top of the column will be familiar to anyone who’s read my memoir; and yes, as you’ll read, I am way too sentimental. It’s just that my heart latches onto certain things (and people), and well, it won’t let go…
Book Clubs Take Note: With the holidays coming up, how about ordering and reading my book, Getting to Ellen? It would make a wonderful holiday gift; the book’s available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and Apple iBook: if you’d like an inscribed copy, email me. Note: if your book club reads my memoir, I’m willing to meet with the club online to talk about the book. (I’ve got one such online book discussion happening on November 12.)
Status Report on my Second Book, Being Ellen: The first very rough draft of Being Ellen: A Newly Minted Woman Engages with the World is done. I’ve spent a couple weeks going through 16 volumes of my journal; wow, the incredible acts of kindness that others have directed at me (many of which I had forgotten) are so humbling. Some of those will show up in the book. Stay tuned!
Online Following: Please follow me on LinkedIn, where you can find me at Ellen (Ellie) Krug; my Twitter handle is @elliekrug; and on Instagram, you can follow me @elliejkrug.
Past and Upcoming Talks/Trainings and General Stuff: The last two weeks of October are incredibly busy, with a keynote for CVS Health, presentations to Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, and trainings for two Minnesota counties. Everything is online of course (since April, I’ve done more than 60 presentations/trainings online). If you’re inclined to see my Upcoming Online Engagements, click here.
Want to Support My Work toward Fostering Greater Compassion and Human Inclusivity? Some of you have recently given to Human Ripple Works, Inc., a nonprofit that I and others have set up to train nonprofits and other organizations on human inclusivity. Thank you for that!! If you’d like to support this work, please click here on the HRW website. Thanks for considering this!
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Finally....
The Ripple is a work in progress, so please, I welcome your suggestions and comments! Please share this newsletter with others, too!
Thank you for helping to make the world a better place! I'm at your side, cheering you on, I promise! Please have compassion for yourself and for others.
ellie
Encouraging Open Hearts and Thriving Human Spirits
Human Inspiration Works, LLC: We make "inclusion" an action word
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Ellen (Ellie) Krug
319-360-1692
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