Leaders Who Create Tribes
Leaders Who Make a Difference Through Their Tribes
Seth Godin challenges us in his book, Tribes: We Need YOU to Lead Us, to make a difference in our world by becoming a leader of a tribe - to lead a group of followers dedicated to a cause. This lens looks at exemplary Leaders of Tribes and acknowledges their contribution to our world. It is offered as an inspiration to others who would have the courage to meet Seth's call.
What is a Tribe?
...a group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader and an idea.
Seth Godin (Tribes)
Leaders of Tribes
Commit to a cause
Challenge the status
quo
Connect people
Build a culture
Seth Godin explains how tribes are formed - How to become a leader of a Tribe
Sarah Garnett
Sarah Garnett - Founder of The Footpath Library
Our vision is to empower homeless and disadvantaged people through books. - Sarah Garnett, Founder of the Footpath Library
The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library achieves this vision by delivering a regular supply of books to homeless and disadvantaged people living in hostels and on the streets, and through community organizations. Currently it operates in Sydney and Melbourne. The books help the homeless to re-connect with their past lives, absorb new knowledge, re-gain self-respect and reflect on their lives.
The Story of The Footpath Library
After the death of a young friend, Benjamin Andrew, Sarah Garnett decided to make herself useful by working as a volunteer with Just Enough Faith, feeding the homeless in the city.
One evening Sarah noticed a man sitting under a streetlight reading a novel while waiting for the food van. She started bringing him a few books and it was here The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library began.
The Footpath Library - Michael Kelly's Story and Gift to Sarah
I found the footpath library while queueing up for dinner at JEF's food van across the road on a wintery Tuesday night in 2007.
I'd been a regular since 2004 when I was living in a shitty boarding house in Redfern with my son who'd just been released from Rozelle hospital. A little while before I was living & working as a professional artist in a cosy mud brick studio on the outskirts of Melbourne...Read on.
Michael went on to paint and exhibit again and, in gratitude gave Sarah an exquisite painting that captured the essence of The Footpath Library.
Michael's story and his gift is captured via TV footage of the show, "Random Acts of Kindness" (Channel 9). The very moving video presentation at the Art Gallery of New South Wales can be viewed here:
Sarah's Hope (excerpt from the video)
These people are just like anybody else except for their circumstances. What I really hope is that eventually, just through the little bit we are doing, that we are changing peoples' attitudes to the homeless and the disadvantaged and that people might not now walk down the street and turn away - they might just say, "Good Day", and have a chat.
For more information, on Sarah's work and that of her Board, visit:
Proust and the Squid: We truly are what we read!
The act of reading is a miracle. Every new reader's brain possesses the extraordinary capacity to rearrange itself beyond its original abilities in order to understand written symbols.
... we begin to realize with ever greater comprehension that we truly are what we read.
Source: Amazon.com - Introduction to "Proust and the Squid:The Story and Science of the Reading Brain " by Marianne Wolfe.
Richard Teare
Richard Teare - Founder of The Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL)
Enabling YOU to make a difference in OUR world
GULL is a nonprofit public benefit corporation incorporated in California, USA. GULL is recognized by the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and endorsed by other Governments, Leaders & Institutions. GULL's aim is to equip everyone, particularly the disadvantaged and dislocated, to acquire practical knowledge and skills through lifelong learning. This approach to personal and professional development is designed to give access to practical education to people who would not normally be able to access formal education.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO - Ron Talks About Richard Teare - Founder of GULL
VISION-GULL: Collaboration between GULL and World Vision in Haiti
The Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL) and World Vision International (WVI) have launched an education program in Haiti. This is the first time GULL has offered their education programs in a post-disaster setting. The Vision-GULL Program will give Haitians the opportunity to complete a professional degree (at a bachelor, master or doctorate level) through a unique community education approach built on action learning and measurable personal and community outcomes.
The GULL program in Haiti brings together GULL's unique approach to personal and community capacity building with World Vision's initiative titled. "Early Childhood Development Learning Space". Basically World Vision staff will mentor Haiti youth in the process of teaching literacy to tent children (who have lost their homes and schools).
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Gull is now working with the disadvantaged in New Guinea, Kenya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Australia & China. It operates in workplaces and in communities.
I have created a Squidoo lens on GULL's work in collaboration with Matthew Teare, Director, Gull Limited.
GULL Website- Enabling YOU to Make a Difference in OUR World
Richard Teare - A process for lifelong learning - Action learning - reflection and outcomes
Seth Godin's Challenge: We Need You To Lead Us - To Create a Movement
Great leaders create movements by empowering the tribe to communicate. They establish the foundation for people to make connections...
...two things to create a tribe:
- a shared interest
- a way to communicate
With Tribes flourishing everywhere, there's a vast shortage of leaders. We need YOU!
Source: Seth Godin, Tribes: We Need YOU to Lead Us
Seth Godin Interviewed: Why we need Tribes - Why we need you as a leader of a tribe
The Bigger Picture: Whose Reality Counts?
All powerful uppers think they know
What's right and real for those below
At least each upper so believes
But all are wrong: all power deceives
So we ask: how much is the reality we perceive our own creation as uppers? What are the realities of lowers and how can they be expressed?
Whose knowledge counts?
Whose values?
Whose criteria and preferences?
Whose appraisal, analysis and planning?
Whose action?
Whose monitoring and evaluation?
Whose learning?
Whose empowerment?
Whose reality counts? "Ours" or "Theirs"?
What can we, as uppers, do to make our realities count less, and the realities of lowers - [the homeless], the poor, the weak and vulnerable - count more?
Acknowledgement and warning: Reproduced with some format license from the book, "Whose Reality Counts?: Putting the first last" (page 100), by my friend and co-conspirator, Robert Chambers. Robert offered me this Health Warning/Disclaimer when giving me an autographed copy in 1997 at the World Congress on Action learning and Action Research in Cartagena, Colombia:
The author accepts no responsibility for damage to the career of any person reading this book.
Seth Godin's Books
Seth Godin has more 12 New York best sellers and is the world's leading business marketing author. Seth has consulted to Google and other leading companies and is a Founder of Squidoo.com He is noted for innovative thinking and practical tips.
Comments made about The Footpath Library
These comments were originally contributed to a dedicated Footpath Library lens. However, through circumstances beyond my control I had to remove this lens. So I have recorded the comments here to acknowledge the support of the people who made the effort to comment previously.
Thanks for your support and expression of appreciation for what The Footpath Library is doing.
For those who have not left a link, I have used the link to the module above describing The Footpath Library andSarah Garnett's work
- J.D Wheeler
Nov 9, 2010 @ 8:48 am Reading books force you to use your imagination. I think this is a wonderful idea. Glad I know about it now. - Paula
Aug 18, 2010 @ 1:53 am What an amazing story and a brilliant idea and very worthwhile endeavor. - Abondo Ojany, Director Life's Hope School.
Jul 27, 2010 @ 6:28 am Can this wonderful vision reach the Korogocho kids an Korogocho slums in Nairobi Kenya, through Little Fellows Spring Of Hope (Life's Hope) School. At lifeshopeschool@gmail.com - Kek Haj - Co-Author : LOOKING for a PLACE to SLEEP
May 16, 2010 @ 12:38 am Maybe we could still see the gifts in something as dark as homelessness. Perhaps it offers a light on our journey to self liberation. Kek Haj and Maria Stenina, the authors of LOOKING for a PLACE to SLEEP attempt to mirror the - Vallain
Feb 12, 2010 @ 12:02 pm As a retired librarian, I applaud this effort to make books available to those without a home. - Kylyssa
Oct 31, 2009 @ 2:05 pm This is a beautiful project. Reading this lens made me tear up because the only time I felt truly human and at peace when I was homeless was when I was in a book. The public library is a great place to read but if a person is h - ChineseKitesforKids
Aug 30, 2009 @ 5:27 pm Great lens! I go to the dollar tree store by my house, stock up on Bibles to keep in my car and whenever I see a homeless person or someone begging I hand them money and/or food along with the Bible. They may not want the Bible - Evelyn_Saenz
Aug 28, 2009 @ 4:57 pm What a wonderful way to make a difference! - Sandy Moffett
Aug 23, 2009 @ 10:36 am I just saw a story here in the USA where a college law professor befriended a homeless man and now share book readings. A small group of homeless people now get together every week and have a book club. I wish I knew where to - Jacqui Insired
Aug 22, 2009 @ 1:58 pm I will continue to watch your website and if you start up in Perth i would love to be part of such a wonderful organisation,it does'nt get better than this helping people and bringing them something to look forward too well don - GrowWear
Aug 11, 2009 @ 10:41 am Very inspirational. - Michey
Aug 9, 2009 @ 10:20 am | delete This is an excellent example of what a great idea can do to help and make the life better. Ron this is a great lens, purple star is well deserved! regards michey - Linda
Aug 9, 2009 @ 8:56 am Nice, got to show one person Can Make A Difference! - Susan52
Aug 9, 2009 @ 8:24 am Such a wonderful idea! I hope others follow the example. Congratulation on the purple star! - JaguarJulie
Aug 9, 2009 @ 6:55 am Congratulations on earning the purple star. Nicely correlated: "The Footpath Library is a TRIBE." - poutine
Aug 8, 2009 @ 7:12 am Just lensrolled to: An Ode To People Who Helps The Homeless - poutine
Aug 8, 2009 @ 7:11 am What a remarkable action! Sarah is certainly a great role model. - BrianS
Aug 4, 2009 @ 11:14 am Have to agree, homeless people are human to and have their needs. Lovely initiative that has clearly filled a niche. - Marelisa
Aug 1, 2009 @ 9:22 pm What a great idea . . .a library for homeless people so that they can continue to enjoy their love for reading. Sarah sounds like a very special person.