“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.”
- Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”
The 2008 Presidential campaign frenzy will finally come to an end tonight, when all the votes are cast for our next Commander in Chief. And whomever the American people choose will ultimately have the greatest influence on what then happens in our communities and with the people and families that nonprofits serve. Depending on whether we elect Barack Obama or John McCain, the issues that nonprofit leaders fight for every day will certainly be affected: women issues, homelessness, job training, arts education, youth development, environmental issues, animal rights, and the list goes on and on.
We have to remember, even as the polls start to close, that we as nonprofit leaders have an even greater responsibility once it’s all said and done. We have to commit ourselves to working with the new President and dedicate ourselves anew to fight the good fight for the causes that mean the most to us. Because both candidates are promising us “change,” that lovely word we all like to use. But please believe that neither a Democratic or Republican leaders of America can bring about change singlehandedly without people like us on the ground putting in our sweat equity, too. None of us need to be disillusioned that a new President means that all of our social problems will be solved in four to eight years. Not gonna happen. So that means we need to go ahead and pull out the full-length and look at ourselves in the mirror. And really think about how we will help to change this country once and for all. The time is here. The time is NOW.
Are you enjoying this article? Read more like this, plus SSIR's full archive of content, when you subscribe.
How will we contribute?
Rosetta Thurman is an emerging nonprofit leader of color working and living in the Washington, D.C. area. She holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and blogs about nonprofit leadership and management issues at Perspectives From the Pipeline.
Support SSIR’s coverage of cross-sector solutions to global challenges.
Help us further the reach of innovative ideas. Donate today.
Read more stories by Rosetta Thurman.