Taking a Stand for Freedom this July 4th

WE are taking a STAND for Freedom this July 4th. Will you join us? Join us in reflecting this weekend on what we truly stand for as a Nation, TODAY.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (Excerpt from The Declaration of Independence)

Our founding fathers were courageous leaders and they were not without failures. They took a Stand for Independencefrom Great Britain knowing that the Declaration of Independence was an act of treason punishable by death.

They believed the American people needed their own country. They had a vision and took a Leadership Stand. They also led the nation to an implausible victory as a united team. They knew the importance of comprise and unity. Like all leaders who courageously take risks, they were not without epic failures. They had the right intentions. Where did they go wrong? Perhaps their intentions were tarnished by not thinking about the greater good or the consequences of decisions based on personal gain (slave ownership).

Frederick Douglass, scholar, and former slave, said in his famous speech, opening with recognition and praise for the founding fathers for creating the building blocks of America. However, he stated: “the rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you [white people], not by me [black people].” (We learned this statement gets read in Boston every year.)

The stated vision of our founding fathers was ahead of its time but the execution was flawed because the definition of “men” at the time meant property-owning, and generally, white males. It took other servant-oriented, unselfish, authentic, and inclusive leaders to live into the written phrase “all men are created equal” and 15 of the 27 constitutional amendments to make it the law of the land. Had they clearly communicated their definition of “all men” the United States would be a very different country today. By not defining the term, the founders created an opportunity for their descendants to give the statement a broader application, including men and women of all races and all levels of wealth and land ownership. Perhaps the founders did know what they were doing.

We as leaders need to take a stand and declare true freedom and justice for ALL Americans, especially our Black and Brown brothers and sisters, and other American citizens and legal residents who are not seen nor treated as equal. We also need to take a stand for all human beings, especially those who are in our country, with permission and those without permission to be treated with respect, human dignity and equality if we are to live to the phrase “all men are created equally.”

We as leaders need to have Leadership Stand. What is your Leadership Stand for 2020?

Your Leadership Stand gives context for your intentions and actions to the people you lead. You rely on your leadership stand for guidance when you have courageous conversations. The people you lead look to your leadership stand to develop their own. If yours is strong so will theirs be.

As a reminder from our last blog: Your Leadership Stand criteria is: It makes you take a BIG Gulp! You may not know how to do it. It is meaningful to you and your world. It engages you to lead others. It is something you cannot do alone.

Our Leadership Stands:

Lori: I commit to creating space for authentic conversations to occur (difficult, meaningful, and loving). I will be an ally to those who need to be seen, heard, and recognized.
James: I commit to use my intelligence, spirituality, and courage to build teams to bring prosperity to everyone. This is not a zero-sum game.

What are you committed to? What is your promise? We want to support you! We want to support YOUR leadership.

NOW is the time!

Lead on!

Lori & James

Lori Heffelfinger, MSOD, PCC & James Jackman, MSOD

310-543-7632 office

www.heffelfingerco.com