← We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
639. 5 Steps to Launch Campaigns That Scale: Lessons from BLM’s Black Play Matters - Cicley Gay
00:37:44
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- [00:01]
A
Hey, friends, you know we love powerful tech that tells a story of what's happening within your mission. But when that tech is incredible and free, we have to shout its buttery goodness from the rooftops. GiveButter is the easiest to use, all in one nonprofit fundraising platform that empowers millions of change makers like you to raise more, pay less and give better. Nonprofits use GiveButter to bring together multiple categories of tools, including mobile friendly donation forms, fundraising campaigns, events, auctions, email marketing, a built in CRM, and so much more. And thanks to their 100% transparent tip or fee model, GiveButter's core fundraising features are free, no matter how many contacts you have. Head to givebutter.com weareforgood to sign up for your free account today and get started in minutes. Hey, I'm John.
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B
And I'm Becky.
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A
And this is the We Are for Good podcast.
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B
Nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more, raise more, and be more for the causes that improve our world.
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A
We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an impact uprising.
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B
So welcome to the good community. We're nonprofit professionals, philanthropists, world changers, and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world.
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A
So let's get started. Becky, how excited. John, I know it's happening.
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B
I I just thinking about how we talk about movements on this podcast. Movements that connect, movements that humanize, movements that bring out the justice and the generosity in all of us. And today we are hella honored to have Cicely Gay here. She's the board chairwoman for Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. I mean, this is a movement we all know and love, and I gotta connect it because at its core, We're For Good exists to democratize and humanize philanthropy. And the Black Lives Matter movement is this global call for racial justice. And you can't build a modern, equitable philanthropic sector without addressing systemic racism. And, and so that is why we are so honored to have this conversation today. And if you are a nonprofit leader thinking about how to launch campaigns that actually move your mission forward, then this episode is for you. So let me introduce our incomparable guest. We're joined today by easily the best looking, hypest grandma I have ever met in my life, Cicely Gay. She is this board member for the Black Lives Matter Global Network foundation, bringing over two decades of experience, experience bridging grassroots activism and Strategic communications that drive social impact.
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C
Wow.
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B
And today, we're going to be breaking down the organization's 12th anniversary campaign, Black Play Matters. And we're going to get some tactical designs and insight on how to build, launch and scale these initiatives that engage communities and create the measurable impact all of us are seeing in this movement in our own communities and hometowns. So today, you're going to hear how to use a campaign to celebrate a milestone and galvanized support. Because the story, the vision and the strategy behind this organization's Black Play Matters 12th anniversary campaign is going to knock your socks off. We're going to talk about how to lead through change with a renewed vision. And you're going to get lessons from navigating leadership transitions while sustaining and strengthening a national movement. And finally, we're going to tell you how to design and launch campaigns that scale. We're getting ready for year end. Everybody's getting ready for year end. Is your base ready? So Sicily's bringing her step by step approach for bridging grassroots activism and strategic communications to maximize that impact. Y', all. Black Lives Matter knows what's up. They are some of the most heartwired, wonderful change makers in the world. Cicely, we are so honored you're here. Can't wait to visit.
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C
Thank you so much for having me. I too am honored to be here. I just need to cut that little section. You mentioned me being a grandma. And I can play it to my.
- [04:19]
B
Three sons, Grandma ever.
- [04:21]
C
I'll play it to my three sons over and over again when they don't. Yeah. I say often, my son, sons are my mirror and my compass, and they are my greatest cheerleaders. And I'm proud to have led my family and now in many ways depend on motherhood as a movement and the lessons that I've learned by doing so without the benefit of a partner for over 20 years to lead this now global organization.
- [04:44]
B
Wow. I'm so proud of you. And we have so much to dive into because this case study is such an extraordinary one. But before we get into it, we want to know the human that is Sicily. So take us back. Take us to little Cicely growing up. Like, what was she about and what led her to be in this very impactful position today.
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C
It's so. It's so funny when you think back to the ways in which you were similar when you were young. I am the fulfillment of a dream in many ways of little 8 year old Cicely, who I thought about growing up in Topeka Kansas, and then Virginia. Southampton Roads, Virginia. My grandparents were in the military, and I was the one who in the neighborhood would have these dance performances. And my poor little brother was charged with going out and finding people to come watch my performances.
- [05:41]
B
Oh, my gosh, we were such good friends.
- [05:43]
C
I know. Yes, exactly, right? I was organizing from the time I was a child, and I would remember my garage door open opener, like, opening, and that was my curtain, and then the garage door would close, and then who knows what he did with the audience at that point. I didn't know, you know, to ask them for either donations or about philanthropy then, but I knew that I had a gift to share and I knew that I wanted to bring people together to do it. And that was as early as I could remember, back as 8 years old. However, you know, my life has certainly evolved since then in many ways. I remember being 16 years old old, and I tell this story from time to time, particularly as I've gotten older. But it's when I gave birth to my first son in high school, I remember being a scared teenager who academically was fairly strong, but socially had some challenges fitting in and owning my own space and my own identity and frankly, needing a whole lot of help. And it was the power of community that undergirded me and my son and now three sons. But that also taught me that I had a whole lot to give and that I could be empowered in the giving. You know, my first job ever out of high school was AmeriCorps. I was 18 years old. It's an initiative of the Corporation for National Community Service. I remember seeing a flyer on the wall that said that I could serve my community and I could get childcare and it could help me pay for college. And I was like, okay, I'm in. And I was connected to young people, young girls whose parents were involved in the criminal justice system. They were incarcerated. And I started building after school programs for those girls and became their mentor, even though I was not much older than they were. And it was through that, through that service. Right. That I realized my own strength, but also developed a love for giving back. And I haven't looked back since then. I've only worked for philanthropic organizations. Charitable organizations investing in communities, particularly under resourced communities. Since then.
- [07:52]
A
Oh, gosh. I mean, what, like kinship, too, of just like the power of community, how it's so vital to our development and growth. And you talk about AmeriCorps, and we've had them on the podcast and talked about that incredible program and how they're even pouring into racial justice right now in their work, which is really beautiful. So I want to give you space because we're going to obviously talk about the 12th anniversary campaign. There's so much there that we want to dive into on purpose and strategy and impact. But could you kind of set stage for the BLM movement specifically? I mean, take us back to the beginning. How has it evolved over the last 12 years to kind of set some tone for where we're going?
- [08:28]
C
Yeah, that's a great question. Twelve years ago, I think most of us remember the acquittal of the murder of Trayvon Martin. When the world rose up and 27 million people took to the streets. Black Lives Matter began as a rallying cry. It was born out of pain and protest. It was a demand for justice. It was a call to action at that point. It was raw, it was urgent. It mobilized people around the world. There was not a lot of thought then about infrastructure. Right. And I'm going to get back to that. I'm planting that seed intentionally. And over time, that cry, it grew into a global movement. And today it's not only about resisting justice, but it's also about rebuilding community, which is something that I know as someone who considers themselves a nonprofit and philanthropic expert, and I was honored to join the board in 2022 on the foundation. There are hundreds of organizations that have Black Lives Matter in the name. One of things that wasn't done early on to be completely transparent was a copyright or trademark of the name. And we'll talk about what to do. Right.
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A
Pro tip right here. Dropping the pro tips, right?
- [09:40]
C
That's right. If there was a little light bulb that could come up right now. Right. How to move differently. But the original founders found themselves swept up in this emotion, and they weren't thinking about a 501C3. They weren't thinking about 990s and tax forms. They were thinking about changing people's lives. But now we've distributed at the foundation nearly $40 million to support Black led frontline organizations and families impacted by police brutality and community based programs. We even provided Covid relief funding and micro grants and HBCU grants for students in historically black colleges and universities. And so for me as a board chair, the work specifically has shifted from raising our voices and shaking up the system to creating structures in policy, arts, cult, community investment. That evolution now of Black Lives Matter is really about moving from survival to thriving and making sure that black lives are not just offended, but deeply valued and sustained.
- [10:45]
B
Wow. I hear something like that. And I just have so much hope for the future. Movements sometimes take off without you. And so I just, I agree with you that the emotion is what took the movement forward. But I just think the belief in your believers, we call them rabid fans around here then the people who wanted to be a part of this movement is such an extraordinary story. And I see like with new leadership and you have this renewed vision, it feels like a really pivotal moment for the organization. So I'm curious how you've approached guiding that transition while you're continuing to build on so much momentum and good work in the last 12 years. So what advice would you give to people who are listening right now in the non profit field who are building movements, navigating change? What would you say to them?
- [11:39]
C
Yeah, I think for anyone who is navigating change and I think to Marianne Wilson's, Marianne Williamson's quote that you know about change being an opportunity. Right. She's got a great book about change being a gift. The Gift of Change. You know, we. My advice is simple. Build trust through transparency and ground decisions in your mission. And remember that growth doesn't mean abandoning your roots. It means watering them so that they can flourish. I say all the time I want to be a good ancestor. I drink from wells that I did not dig. And because of that, I may not see the fruits of my labor. But if we start grounded in truth and love and transparency, then I have hope that one day those we invest in will be able to see the world they deserve. Transitions are such tender moments. This has not been easy. There's a very much divided frame of thought around what this organization should be and how should we, we should be investing. I say often that we are moving from only Black Death to Black life and Black love. And that doesn't mean abandoning, you know, the disruptive, radical roots of the organization. But, but we had a lot of work to do to rebuild trust and to. And to be very clear about our values because we're fighting systems and systems take strategy. Right? And so, you know, organizations have to be mature and that means balancing resistance with resilience and protest with progress. And so for those who are navigating this change, remember, pain is information. That change can be a gift, but if you ground it in truth and love and transparency, then hopefully you'll get those supporters behind you to continue to build on far after you are here.
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A
Hey friends, here's a bit of real talk. This movement doesn't happen without community. And that includes our incredible ecosystem partners.
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Big gratitude to give Butter RKD group, donor doc, feather whiteboard and so on. These aren't just sponsors, they're mission driven allies showing up to fuel change alongside us.
- [13:52]
A
Their support helps bring you the free tools, education keynotes and summits because they believe, like we do, that investing in people is what powers real impact.
- [14:01]
B
So if you're searching for a new CRM tech tool, maybe a brand partner, direct mail partner, or even an impact strategist, we'd love for you to start with our trusted recs. We vetted them so you don't have to.
- [14:13]
A
You want to learn more, head over to weareforgood.com Rex that's weareforgood.com SL RECs for VIP access to orgs and amazing humans doing really great work.
- [14:32]
B
Yeah, like I want to join that movement that you just explained. Like when you explain it in that way, I want to be a part of that. And I think that becomes the message. What we want people to hear who join our campaigns, who join our movements, who join our causes, we want them to feel. I cannot miss this. I am an active part of this. I want to be a part of this. I love that. Thank you.
- [14:55]
C
Yeah. And I think too, I mean I do, I look at it like a race, right? Like a passing of the baton. And I think it's very dangerous for us to get into a space where we think that we've got to solve it all. For those of us who have devoted our lives to service, we usually have very audacious goals around saving the world. We believe we can. It's hope and we burn out. Yeah, that's right. But it's hope that carries us through. Usually not money, usually. Sometimes not, you know, gratitude or thanks. And, and so we've, we've got to know that we're a part of a larger story. We are literally part of a larger movement and we've got to run our race with our skills, with our team, you know, for the time that we're here. That's what I'm reminded of when I, when I go to bed every night. I, I might not be able to, to, to see all the wins that I, I believe that, that we deserve. But what have I done today that's made a difference that's, you know, carried the baton a little bit farther down the track?
- [15:52]
A
I am just hearing and celebrating our value of play, the long game. Like it's how you show up, it's how you think. It's how from watering the roots to like having a different frame of mind of like what impact you could have. You can't change it all, but you can change this piece.
- [16:07]
C
That's right.
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A
I love, like, the disruptive nature that you still are plowing into with your 12th anniversary here. I think the name Black Play matters is so intriguing. I'm so excited to dive into the campaign. Like, tell us the story. Tell us the vision behind this, because we're going to get into it, but I want you to set the stage for it.
- [16:26]
C
Yeah. I mean, I've talked about my sons a little bit and say often they are my mirror and my compass. And we have lived a very fulfilling but in many ways, magical and unexpected life in terms of the gifts that I believe that we've received. And for people who know me, I exist in a almost perpetual state of gratitude. I was with a friend recently, and we were just driving down the road, and I was like, isn't this car great? And she was like, well, you've had this car forever. I'm like, I'm just grateful I have a car, you know? I mean, I literally get up every day and think about all of the things that I have been blessed to receive. And my two sons, the two younger ones are Division 1 athletes, and my oldest is a dancer and an actor. And so I know firsthand the power of play. Yeah. My home was shaped by football fields and lacrosse sidelines and rehearsal studios. And so play gave my son's discipline and confidence and creativity and joy hearkening back to me in that garage when I opened up the stage and brought together community through the joy that I felt from. From people giving back to me. And so before blm, I actually spent a decade at the Women's Sports foundation, founded by Billie Jean King. Yeah. Yeah. And they found me. I was serving in community in Atlanta, working with nonprofit organizations, and they were working with champion female athletes. But they recognized there was a huge divide between black and Latina girls who had access to sport and physical activity and champion female athletes. And so I was the first director of an initiative called Go Girl, Go. It was a campaign that used sports and physical activity to keep girls active and connected. And so that taught me. I had no idea how a foundation worked, but I cut my teeth there. And it taught me that play is an extra. It's. It's essential. Right. And so when we looked at the 12th anniversary of BLM, we wanted to expand the narrative beyond protest and pain. And Black Play Matters is born from that vision. It says, joy is resistance and play is liberation, and every child deserves the freedom to play. On the field or the stage or the playground without fear or bias. And so we're actually funding youth sports and arts and wellness programs, but also pushing for policy and partnerships, leaving no power on the table and holding the powers that be accountable so that the right to play is protected. It's. It's more about shifting that narrative from. From about black life from survival to. To what is possible.
- [19:06]
B
I mean, I'm just so proud of this movement, of this brand, of its people, of the way you're living. I mean, that just. I will say I. I got. Got choked up when you talked about protesting pain and the fact that you have to protest pain. And, you know, Brene Brown has this very powerful quote that says, like, when somebody tells you they're hurting, believe them. And I just believe that you have created such an evolution in this movement that gives such glimpse and horizon to so much that is at stake here. And the fact that I keep hearing you talk about joy and, and gratitude and transparency and hope, and I think you have really raised awareness on the gift that play can be as a conduit to not just surviving, but thriveability. So I want to know how you're measuring impact of this campaign, like locally, nationally. What does success look like for you all?
- [20:09]
C
Yeah, yeah. On the macro, again, I. I've been in nonprofits for a very long time, so I kind of get wonky when it comes to thinking about how we measure change. And we've got all of those quantitative points in place, but on the macro, it's culture shift and it is measurable change. So it's those HBCU students having resources that they need. A quick story. I mean, we listened to the community when they told us students who had gotten accepted to schools but didn't have that gap money that made the difference between them being able to, let's say, get to college or sleeping in their cars before the dorms opened up or having food. I mean, these are real stories that our student ambassadors, is what we call them, have told us. And so we met those needs by providing them with gift cards before school started, not some long, lengthy process that had to go through the school, literal gift cards in their hands so they could buy food or clothes. And so that for us, we can measure that. That is a student who didn't have clothes, that now has clothes, that didn't have books, that now has book. And we recognize obviously that they're going to be set up to hopefully start the school year out right and move on through their academic year with. With success. But it's also, you know, a young athlete getting mentorship and financial literacy. We have some grant partners. One of them is called Tough. It's teaching us fitness and fundamentals, and they combine physical activity and financial literacy. And we worked with a group called the Ebony Beach Club, giving them a grant, and had a huge event for Juneteenth with 2000 people who showed up teaching young children how to swim. You know, drowning deaths are high at the highest rate in the black community, or having artists come to our campus, what we call it the creator's house in Los Angeles, and having a space to create. So art is now one of our strategic pillars, which is also very new and one that I'm also very passionate about as a child, a certain child who performed and mother now of a child who performs. But we say often there's been no time that art hasn't been connected to our collective liberation. And we've got to own our own stories, as I know you all know. And so, you know, we are quantitatively and qualitatively tracking participation numbers and partnerships forms, but also listening to stories of families and students and artists who, you know, feel seen and empowered. And nationally, though, it does look like a broader narrative. I have had lots of debate about nonprofits over the years, and I've consistently said that the goal of a nonprofit is to go away. And sometimes I get business, right, Sometimes I get a lot of pushback there. But I believe it is. So I believe we solve the problem or the problem no longer exists. And so for us, a win would be where black joy and black play and black life and black love are all recognized as central to thriving, not side notes to struggle. They're not extracurricular. Right. They are necessary.
- [23:13]
A
It's so aligned to this community, because I think when you're aligned to actually solving the problem, not just talking, but really moving into, like, transformation and change, like, that's the. That's the answer, is that we want to move on so we can solve the next piece so we can move on to the next step. So.
- [23:30]
C
That's right.
- [23:31]
A
I. I want to allow you to be our phone a friend for a second. So throw them back to, like, millionaire. We have Sicily here, and. And you were so brilliant through your career, how you've bridged gaps between grassroots activism and strategic communications. Our listening audience is a lot of nonprofit leaders, orgs of all sizes. Could you break down your process for how you launch a campaign, even step by step? Like, how do you think about this? Because I think this is so Critical for all the causes, listening of like getting off high center and actually activating and moving toward impact. What would you say?
- [24:06]
C
Yeah, I mean, I think first we've got to recognize that people, causes and even campaigns are not monolithic. Right. So there is no cut and paste or rinse and repeat. But there are some very fundamental things that I've learned over the years. The first being that the process should always be human centered. Right. I am a collaborative leader, sometimes to a fault, but I'm always listening to the needs of the community. I remember being the 18 year old girl in the room who might not have had the education but had the practical knowledge that could completely change an organization or a campaign. And so I listen first and value particularly people who are closest to the pain and then name the problem with clarity. Don't hide behind the jargon. I mean we know this Black Lives Matter, right? It's why it went from a hashtag to a viral moment. It was very clear. And then as someone who has stepped up into the space of cause and communication, I believe that storytelling of course is so important, it's so vital. It's after we listen to folks, we kind of pack their stories into spaces that can connect heart and data. And I feel really honored to be someone who has been in many of those rooms and has been blessed with the gift of taking very complicated stories of struggle and repackaging them and presenting them in ways that people who have the ability to have resources can invest best and they understand. Right. And so, so, so connecting through stories, heart and data. And then if I had step four, I'd probably say secure your amplifiers. I actually have a, a company called the Amplifiers Amplify the good is the tagline, which is very similar to, to yours, your partners, your funders, your storytellers, right. Those who are going to have your back when you're not in the room. They're going to carry your message forward. They're going to choose, cheer you on and they're going to ensure that you continue to create credibility and trust and then execute with agility. Campaigns must adapt in real time. We've got to move, we've got to be agile. And then finally, of course, measure, measure in impact and in numbers and in narratives. Particularly if you're thinking about stepping into the space of large philanthropy and applying for significant grants. If you don't have qualitative data, you're not even going to be able to compete with other organizations that do so. So really it starts small. Be intentional, nail it before you scale it is one of my favorites. I tell people all the time, even with my. My sons in every space I'm in, I'm like, don't. Don't grow too big. I know we want to take off over the world, but let's nail it first. And. And one authentic story told well can move hearts and scale you to a national impact. We don't have to wait for perfect. We launch, we learn, we ADRA trust, and we build.
- [27:00]
A
I mean, oh, my gosh, that was a whole master class TED Talk in one moment. Holy cow.
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B
But what you're saying is also true, and it is also accurate. And I think the stories we hear and the images we hear change us in lots of ways. I want to share one. John, I'm going to take you back. Episode 35. I mean, that was like 600 episodes.
- [27:25]
C
Okay.
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B
Keep in mind the We Are For Good podcast launched two months after George Floyd. Keep that in your head. In August of 2020, we had a group of grassroots citizens on the podcast, and they were from a gym in dc. It's called Matabolic. Do you remember? And so this is episode 34. We'll put it in the show notes for you. But we had on someone who was a. A participant in the gym, somebody who was, you know, just went to that gym. Their trainer and the guy who owned the gym, they got a group together after George Floyd, and they decided they were going to do something significant as a group, and they all trained for a marathon, and they decided they were going to raise as much money as they could for Black Lives Matter, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, ACLU in the Equal Justice Initiative. And that trainer ran them through all the significant moments in D.C. where black men and women had been either persecuted or had risen up. And it was to talk to them was this physical, mental, and emotional journey for several months that they all went through together. They ended up raising $45,000 and gave a portion of that back to your organization. This is what I'm talking about with movements Friends Like Sicily just broke down the tenets of it and the way that your rabid fans can interpret it and come in, move hearts and minds. That. That podcast episode floored me because it was just everyday citizens. And that's what I think is the magic and what you're saying, that it can be unlocked within any one of us who choose to get off the sidelines and come into the fray. So thank you for letting me share that story, because I loved that one. Early in our journey.
- [29:20]
C
Beautiful. It's beautiful. And it's an example of what happens when it becomes very real to you. Right.
- [29:28]
B
Yeah.
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C
We are literally all connected by a very thin thread. And it may not have impacted you directly in that you may not have a family who's impacted by poor police violence or police brutality, but you're right here in this very neighborhood. These are your neighbors, these are friends of friends. And ultimately the impact of their pain does matter. Right. And when you feel that and you see it and you know about it, it's very hard to ignore.
- [29:57]
B
Yeah. Camille on that episode said, ultimately, when you know better, you do better. That is why the story matters. And I want to turn the tables for you just a little bit it and ask you about a moment of philanthropy or generosity in your life that has touched you. Maybe it's big, maybe it's a little gesture. What's, what's creeping up for you that you're choosing.
- [30:19]
C
Yeah, I, I'm, I'm sure this isn't new to your audience, but it, I, I, I rarely miss a moment to remind people the true meaning of philanthropy. Right. It literally is the love of humanity, from the Greek philosopher, meaning love and anthropos, meaning humanity. And so it's not always about million dollar gifts. It's about how we show up for one another. The grandmother of little stories who, you know, buy their grandson the cleats, the neighbor who makes sure that the kids in the neighborhood have a safe yard, or the stranger who donates to a scholarship fund, like we mentioned earlier. But one story in particular that stays with me comes from my time at the Women's Sports Foundation. I started as a program leader, so I was on the ground and then elevated over time to become a program advisor. And so I was raising the money first, and then I was funding programs and providing technical assistance to grassroots organizations so they could learn how to be more fundable. And I used to do site visits all the time. It was one of the best parts of my job where I'd go out into these community organizations that had applied for grants to really see and feel the heart of their work. And I went to visit a program in Boston, and they were actually at a transitional home for young girls. And Go, girl, Go, of course, was this program where we were getting girls physically active, but it wasn't about the sports. It was about connectedness and love and togetherness. And they were asking for $35 to pay each girl in each session. And we thought, well, we don't pay the girls to participate in this program. We've got all these Tools and tips and, you know, they should want to come. And when I visited, I mean, we would have said no had I not gone there in person because it didn't adhere to the rules, rules of the RFP or the application. But I visited. That's right. Right. You're crossed out of. You know, a lot of times these applications really are about cutting people out and not inviting people in. Right. It really is. And as someone who's, who's read thousands of them. I know. But for whatever reason, I ended up in Boston. And, you know, we thought the program itself was enough of an investment. But when I talked to the leader, what she said to me was $35 was the difference between the young girls coming to the program or being out on the streets and being targeted or vulnerable to harm, sexual violence, criminal activity. It changed everything. $35. And so of course, we granted this organization. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. For me, that was philanthropy in its truest form. It wasn't about charity. It was about love. It was about an investment in dignity and safety. It reminded me that a small, authentic, thoughtful investment can have a life changing impact. And that's the spirit behind Black Play matters. Investing in joy and possibility and transparency and honesty as a birthright. Wow.
- [33:17]
A
I mean, connecting that so powerful story. And I think back to times that we got to be on, on site among community at the impact level when we were in healthcare, philanthropy specifically, it ties to how you talked about an incredible campaign is like, how do you take the story of one and package it to make you actually believe that you can help? You know, And I think if we can break those barriers down, the trust is there, so the money just is going to follow and everything else that's going to follow. What a moving story, my friend. I'm so glad we know you now. I was just getting ready for us.
- [33:55]
B
I just think you're extraordinary.
- [33:56]
C
We're gonna change the world together. We already are.
- [33:59]
B
All of us.
- [33:59]
A
Activate for good. Yes. You know, a tradition on our podcast is to ask all of our guests a one good thing. This could be a piece of advice or a habit or a hack or whatever's lifting for you. What would you share as your one good thing today?
- [34:12]
C
Yeah, you know, this, this work can be really tough. And there are days that are very hard because there's divisiveness and there are challenges and there are people who have arrows, frankly, at every turn. And when I think about what keeps me through, it's love. It has to be. And I say Often that love is my superpower. And I know for sure that if you lead with love, when I've led with love in campaigns and conflict and vision, you can build movements that last. And I remember even questioning my role in this position, because I do lead with love. I'm not the kind of leader that comes to a table and flips it over. I'm one who invites more people to it. And I said, black Lives Matter is a radical organization. Maybe there's weakness in the way that I lead. And I remember my mentor, which is another light bulb moment to have them, said to me, you are not weak. You are meek, and that is strength under restraint. You choose love. Right. Love is an action. And so my one good thing to remember is that love absolutely is a superpower. It is the most radical, sustainable strategy we have.
- [35:33]
B
I feel so much love in this conversation. And I think, think for people who might have a visceral reaction to blm. I wish they would hear this.
- [35:47]
C
Yeah.
- [35:48]
B
And I wish they would understand that the underpinning of this movement is love. It is about love. It is about equal love and justice. And I just think you have illuminated that in such beautiful ways today. Thank you so much. Okay. How can our listeners connect with you? How can they connect to the BLM movement? What do you need in Black Play Matters? Like, give us all the deets we want to activate around you.
- [36:14]
C
Thank you. Yeah. Get to know the Black Lives Matter Global Network foundation @Black Lives Matter.com and follow us on social media. We are BLK Lives Matter. But more than just watching, please, we want to engage with you. This campaign is really about giving every child the freedom to laugh and to move and to live and thrive without limits. And so we are looking for people to invest and to support us at every turn, because we know when we invest in Black Play, we're investing in the future of community. Join us online. We can't wait to get to know you and to grow together to build a world that our children and our people truly deserve.
- [36:55]
B
Best spokeswoman ever.
- [36:57]
A
Oh, my gosh. Seriously, can you imagine if this is your board chair? I mean, amazing.
- [37:02]
B
I can tell you there are nonprofit leaders out there salivating, saying, how do I get Sisley on my board? How do I get that passion in my. In my mission right now? That's incredible. Well, I just. It's been such an honor to visit with you. I am so glad to know about this campaign. I could tell you I'm about to leave and go make a gift right now, because I want to be a part of it. I ask anybody who's listening right now to join me. Cicely, you keep doing you because you is really extraordinary.
- [37:30]
C
Thank you.
- [37:32]
B
Yeah. I just think you're super Grandma Ness. And the way that you are walking through this world is something that we need. So keep walking. Keep lifting your voice. Thank you for so much time today.
- [37:42]
C
Thank you.
- [37:43]
A
So grateful.