Yep, this one’s been hitting for a while. I have the good blessing of spending my work days directing a reentry program for men who are incarcerated. I’ve been given a fair amount of autonomy in this, and I’ve been able to redesign the program according to restorative philosophy and practice. By default, I’m the executive director of a small nonprofit that exists solely to fund the program. Here’s the thing: it’s a government agency that issues my paycheck. I work directly for an elected official. I believe that official is a fair person doing the best job they know to do in an incredibly difficult world. I even voted for her/him. But I also know that I could very easily do something in a moment by way of speaking against american/republican atrocities that would cost me my job. So far it hasn’t come to that, but I’m constantly worried that I might be made aware of something that I can’t/won’t keep quiet about. I will be inviting my sons to participate with me in a protest tomorrow—one county over.
As far as your example, that hasn’t been my experience. My boss has taken issue with one volunteer in our program, but I’ve also been given a lot of latitude in how I work through it because my boss said she/he respects the progress we’re making and doesn’t want to interfere with that. What’s more, my position isn’t anything my boss is required or even expected (as far as I know) to fund or maintain. They seem committed to it because they see the good, and I think that goodwill is genuine, not mere political expediency. (I could be wrong.)
When I say I work for this person, I mean that they’ve hired me and enabled me to recreate and administer a reentry program. And while I don’t ask for a lot, I have no trouble getting what I need. (Just a couple weeks ago, they approved a three-day victim-offender mediation training because I’m able to connect that to some restorative justice things I’m working on.) But in my mind, I work for the men in the program, doing whatever I can to empower them in recovering their lives. Sometimes that has meant difficult conversations with officers, other times driving around all day delivering Christmas gifts. I’m really not facing the kinds of partisan bullying that many other laborers are facing. (I used to work at a Christian school. That’s a different story.)
I don’t know if that answers your question, but it’s what came to my mind.
It does. And thank you. I don't think of it as much of a virtue, but I give a lot of thought to who and what I work for (or imagine I'm working for). I'm still mulling over how someone would have to conceive themselves and/or their role in the world to be able to speak to another someone this way ("I think you've forgotten who you work for"). Might have to put it in the novel.
When you say you work *for* an elected official...I recall an administrator who shared an experience with me. It was something of an emotional unburdening. That administrator was trying to show a degree of self-respect in the presence of an administrator with a higher spot up the chain of command by pointing out a discrepancy between what he'd been told to do and what he was now being tasked with doing. The administrator with the higher spot was irked and said (if memory serves): "I think you've forgotten who you work for." Nobody's ever said those words to me, but I can imagine something like that getting voiced. It struck me as kind of dark or....a darkening of counsel. Does that kind of thing get said in your work environment? I'm also wondering if you'd say more about the ways in which you do or don't work for the person you're referring to.
Thank you, David Dark. Matt Conner says: "Evil is running rampant, often under the guise of Christianity." I don't usually use the term "evil" for any energy or force, but this is an extremely dangerous time for us all - and I do believe behaviors can be evil. Please read this to understand the conflicts within about any of us speaking out about our truths and views these days. And, then SPEAK OUT.
Yep, this one’s been hitting for a while. I have the good blessing of spending my work days directing a reentry program for men who are incarcerated. I’ve been given a fair amount of autonomy in this, and I’ve been able to redesign the program according to restorative philosophy and practice. By default, I’m the executive director of a small nonprofit that exists solely to fund the program. Here’s the thing: it’s a government agency that issues my paycheck. I work directly for an elected official. I believe that official is a fair person doing the best job they know to do in an incredibly difficult world. I even voted for her/him. But I also know that I could very easily do something in a moment by way of speaking against american/republican atrocities that would cost me my job. So far it hasn’t come to that, but I’m constantly worried that I might be made aware of something that I can’t/won’t keep quiet about. I will be inviting my sons to participate with me in a protest tomorrow—one county over.
Thanks for keeping at it, Jonathan. May I ask you a question?
Of course.
As far as your example, that hasn’t been my experience. My boss has taken issue with one volunteer in our program, but I’ve also been given a lot of latitude in how I work through it because my boss said she/he respects the progress we’re making and doesn’t want to interfere with that. What’s more, my position isn’t anything my boss is required or even expected (as far as I know) to fund or maintain. They seem committed to it because they see the good, and I think that goodwill is genuine, not mere political expediency. (I could be wrong.)
When I say I work for this person, I mean that they’ve hired me and enabled me to recreate and administer a reentry program. And while I don’t ask for a lot, I have no trouble getting what I need. (Just a couple weeks ago, they approved a three-day victim-offender mediation training because I’m able to connect that to some restorative justice things I’m working on.) But in my mind, I work for the men in the program, doing whatever I can to empower them in recovering their lives. Sometimes that has meant difficult conversations with officers, other times driving around all day delivering Christmas gifts. I’m really not facing the kinds of partisan bullying that many other laborers are facing. (I used to work at a Christian school. That’s a different story.)
I don’t know if that answers your question, but it’s what came to my mind.
It does. And thank you. I don't think of it as much of a virtue, but I give a lot of thought to who and what I work for (or imagine I'm working for). I'm still mulling over how someone would have to conceive themselves and/or their role in the world to be able to speak to another someone this way ("I think you've forgotten who you work for"). Might have to put it in the novel.
When you say you work *for* an elected official...I recall an administrator who shared an experience with me. It was something of an emotional unburdening. That administrator was trying to show a degree of self-respect in the presence of an administrator with a higher spot up the chain of command by pointing out a discrepancy between what he'd been told to do and what he was now being tasked with doing. The administrator with the higher spot was irked and said (if memory serves): "I think you've forgotten who you work for." Nobody's ever said those words to me, but I can imagine something like that getting voiced. It struck me as kind of dark or....a darkening of counsel. Does that kind of thing get said in your work environment? I'm also wondering if you'd say more about the ways in which you do or don't work for the person you're referring to.
Matt Conner is a precious soul. Glad to share a timeline with him.
Thank you, David Dark. Matt Conner says: "Evil is running rampant, often under the guise of Christianity." I don't usually use the term "evil" for any energy or force, but this is an extremely dangerous time for us all - and I do believe behaviors can be evil. Please read this to understand the conflicts within about any of us speaking out about our truths and views these days. And, then SPEAK OUT.