Bring that Confederate Flag down, Caddo Parish!

Much like in the early days of the civil rights movement, It was one man who stood up to the status quo and brought a racist institution; the confederate flag.

During the jury selection duty of the murder trial of Felton Dorsey, Carl Staples stood before the court and said he was outraged by the sight of the Confederate flag in the courthouse lawn. Because of his statement, the judge allowed the prosecution to remove Mr. Staples from the jury. The prosecutor was then allowed to remove five of the seven qualified black prospective jurors.

Carl Staples, the prospective black juror, had refused to participate during jury selection in the trial of Felton Dorsey, saying that he was outraged by the sight of the Confederate flag in the courthouse lawn. According to the Louisiana Justice Institute, after Staples’ outcry, the judge granted the prosecutor the opportunity to remove him from the jury. The prosecutor then proceeded to strike five out of the remaining seven qualified black prospective jurors. 

In my opinion, if a court is allowed to fly a confederate flag on its lawn, it obviously is not willing to address claims of racism. ““In a community that is 48 percent black, the tendency has been that only one black person is allowed to serve on the jury,” charged Ben Cohen of the Capital Appeals Project, who is also working on the case. The flag is a symbol of one of the most heinous crimes ever committed to another member of the human race, and I just don’t see how you could say that, I mean, you’re here for justice, and then again you overlook this great injustice by continuing to fly this flag which puts salt in the wounds of people of color.” (abajournal.com, 2011)

“Allowing it to fly outside the Caddo Parish courthouse sends a clear statement that capital punishment cannot be fairly administered within the courthouse walls,” pleaded ACLU Staff Attorney Anna Arceneaux before the Louisiana Supreme Court in defense of Felton Dorsey. The ACLU, along with a coalition of other civil rights groups and local protesters, rallied on May 3, 2011 for the removal of the flag. They were joined by Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, who called Staples “the Rosa Parks of the criminal justice system, the juror who would not serve under a Confederate flag.” The Louisiana Supreme Court issued and opinion about the charge that its presence promotes racism, The opinion acknowledged “the display of a confederate flag would be offensive to some” citing cases from the 4th and 11th Circuit Courts that recognized that “the confederate flag has multiple ‘emotionally charged’ meanings and is viewed by some as a symbol of white supremacy” and that “It is the sincerely held view of many Americans, of all races, that the confederate flag is a symbol of racial separation and oppression… it is not an irrational inference that one who displays the confederate flag may harbor racial bias against African-Americans”(lasc.org, 2011).

After more than sixty years, 0n November 4, 2011, the request to remove the flag came before the Caddo Parish Commissioners who voted 11-1 the authorization to remove the flag from the grounds of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. It was a very heated and emotional outcome from those who see the flag as a symbol of heritage and those who see the flag as a symbol of racism. Personally I see it as a heritage of slavery, lynchings, the Ku Klux Klan, Segregation, Jim Crow, terrorism, and treason. I also never been one to hold back on my opinions.

Because of the possibility for violence to break out while the flag was being lowered, the courts removed the flag in the middle of the night instead of 4 pm the next day as requested by one of the Caddo Commissioners. In any event, it is gone now, and maybe real justice can be served in Louisiana. I hope it makes a difference, even though racism is still alive and well in the south.

Louisiana Supreme Court to consider impact on courthouse. (2011). Abajournal.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011 from

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/louisiana_supreme_court_to_consider_impact_of_courthouse_confederate_flag_i/

Blog of Rights. (2011). aclu.org. Retrieved on November 30, 2011 from

http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/Caddo%20Parish

New Release #56. (2011).Louisiana Supreme Court. Retrieved on November 30, 2011 from http://www.lasc.org/news_releases/2011/2011-056.asp

Collective Action and World AIDS Day

“Health is a reflection of societies commitment to equality and justice”-People’s Health Movement, 2000 

            There is nothing more compelling than losing a love one to a disease perceived as a moral justification to sin. It was with the stigma and the loss of a very close friend that moved me into the realization of what social injustice was. Up until that point, I had never been affected by anything so compelling to feel a need to step out of my comfort zone and shake my fist at the status quo.

            John David was like an uncle to my small children. Every Sunday he would have friends over for a pool party, but always included myself and four little ones. I always felt it was their “saving grace” being taken in by such gracious hospitality and showing them a world outside the struggle I experienced as a single mother. John David would lift my little four year old daughter up on a stool to stir whatever pot needed stirring so that “Look everyone at the yummy dinner Ashley made!”

            One Sunday when he took me to the side after my announcement of how fabulous he looked due to his recent weight loss, told me exactly why he was so thin. He had been diagnosed with AIDS. With no real information out at that time how AIDS was transmitted, I feared for my children. That was the last time they went to Uncle John David’s house on a Sunday. John David. passed away a few months later.

            Information on the transmission of HIV/AIDS soon assimilated that HIV was not transmitted by casual contact and that’s when the overwhelming anger and guilt set in. How could I have been so ignorant? I vowed then to myself and the memory of John David I was going to educated people until I saw an end to the AIDS epidemic.

            My story probably isn’t any different than activists from the beginning of time. Those who are personally affected or traumatized combined with social environment usually are people who will find themselves “answering the calling”.  I found myself as one of five people of the newly formed ACTUP Shreveport.

            AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) is an international direct action advocacy group working to impact the lives of people living with AIDS, (PWAs) and the AIDS pandemic to bring about legislation, medical research and treatment and policies to ultimately bring an end to the disease by mitigating loss of health and lives.  ACT UP was organized as a leaderless and effectively anarchist network. This was intentional on the founder of the group, Larry Kramer's part - he describes it as "democratic to a fault.” We used a simple formula for recruitment, "To a certain extent, this is how democratic politics is supposed to work in general. You convince people of the validity of your ideas. You have to go out there and convince people" (ACT-UP 20, 2007).

ACT-UP Shreveport was considered one of the leading local branches of the national network. Quoting from the National Institute of Health’s history of HIV/AIDS website that features ACT-UP Shreveport, “The original ACT-UP group from New York inspired numerous other branches nationwide. As well as campaigning in their own states, local groups from across the country attended major rallies” (NIH.com). Hundreds of people locally responded to the call. Along with one sympathetic local physician, we were able to bring forth the first HIV/AIDS resource center and clinic in north Louisiana. It was an amazing accomplishment for those initial six people, two of which were diagnosed with AIDS, and three people who loved them dearly, and the very compassionate doctor, Marcus Spurlock.

            Over thirty three million men, women, and children are thought to be living with HIV. Even today discrimination, stigma, ignorance and the lack of effective preventive measures through state funding is what still puts people at risk. We just can’t afford the medical expense or the loss of life after twenty five years. Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. Enough is enough.

Holding up Half the Sky

One day an elephant saw a hummingbird lying on its back with its tiny feet up in the air. "What are you doing?" asked the elephant.
The hummingbird replied, "I heard that the sky might fall today, and so I am ready to help hold it up, should it fall." 
The elephant laughed cruelly. "Do you really think," he said, "that those tiny feet could help hold up the sky?"
The hummingbird kept his feet up in the air, intent on his purpose, as he replied, "Not alone. But each must do what he can. And this is what I can do."
— A Chinese Folktale

Assimilation of Work Ethics- Managing in Social Change

      Historically, work was very hard without many options to the worker. Opportunities to pick a profession according to one’s desires, was unheard of. Most of the time, boys went in to their father’s profession and girls were taught to be housewives and mothers.

      When I think of my father's lack of education and opportunity, he still chose what he wanted to do professionally. He came from a lower middle class background, barely finishing high school. His father wasn’t happy being a butcher and it had a negative effect on him. “If a parent demonstrates a dislike for a job or a fear of unemployment, children will tend to assimilate these attitudes” (Hill, 1992). Right out of high school, he went to work refinishing floors. It was very hard on him physically; on his knees especially. And after only a few years, decided he wanted to change professions.

      He applied and tested to become a sheriff, but didn’t pass the aptitude test. It was evident the lack of education was to blame for this and it had a profound effect on him emotionally. As he prepared to become a truck driver, he studied driving courses and succeeded in passing his driving test for a chauffeur’s license. He retired as a Teamster after twenty years and received a great pension.

      For us today, we don’t see from my father’s story that he really had many options or that he felt successful with his work. He had limited opportunities by standards today. But to him, he chose his path. The difference between my father and his is that my dad had choices, as limited as they were, whereas his father didn’t. My grandfather was taught a trade by his father and was expected to go into that profession. It wasn’t his choice to do so. On one level his work life was very unfulfilling, but he was luckier than most. It was in the great depression when so many people did not have the luxury of working; therefore he was grateful for something he hated.

       I was also raised with the expectation of getting married to a man that would support me, have children, and be a housewife like my mother. It never occurred to my father to set up a college fund for me when one of my high school teachers explained  I had finished high school 6 months early and should go to college. He said to my teacher, “She should have told me before now she wanted to go to college.” There was little expectation for me move beyond the class and culture I was born in. It wasn’t until my thirties, did I realize what I wanted to do with my life. I knew if I was going to become a social worker, I would have to pay for it myself, which I did.

      Recently divorced, with four small children, living in a small one bedroom apt, I became a college student. I worked two part time jobs, went to school full time while raising  small children. I graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1994. I realized my dream to work with HIV/AIDS patients that year and became a case manager in a HIV/AIDS resource center. I have not regretted my decision for one minute, because I feel I was “called” to do what I do. 

      Even though my father didn’t have the foresight to understand looking past one’s surroundings to accomplish the extraordinary, he did give me something very valuable, a strong work ethic. “Parents who demonstrate a strong work ethic tend to impart a strong work ethic to their children” (Hill, 1992). I like the quote by Woody Allen, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Dreams and expectations are realized if you don’t give up and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  
Oh, and for the record, I was the first woman in my family to earn a degree and plan to start law school Jan.2013.

References

Hill, R. (1992). Historical Context of the Work Ethic. Retrieved November 20, 2011 from

http://www.coe.uga.edu/~rhill/workethic/hist.htm

Anglo-American political economy and the continental European model of political economy, which would you prefer?

Though the Anglo-American economy model is capable of creating many jobs, the quality of those jobs are no longer what they were before market globalization. With many jobs overseas, wages in the US are lower than it was before NAFTA. I believe the American Dream is not achievable for a majority of the people in this country, especially now that Corporate Capitalism is in control. (Harper & Leicht, 2011,p127) In the initial days of commodity economics theories, Marx was right when he said that Capitalist societies would move from selling products to their labor being sold as products. Most people believe Marx was against a free market, that’s not true. He predicted that capitalism through industrialization had increased the productive capability of the world's economy far beyond that ever witnessed before. He also felt that capitalism created two competing classes of people. One, was the bourgeoisie who owned and controlled the means of production and hired wage laborers. The other was the proletariat, who were common workers who owned nothing but the right to sell their own labor. Capitalism's very nature would ensure that eventually, these classes would struggle against one another to the point where the class of workers would get large enough and oppressed enough that it would overthrow the bourgeoisie, seize the means of production from it and end the economic system known as capitalism. The system of socialism would be ushered in.

One of the things Marx spoke about is a slave wage. Those in control would pay workers just enough to keep them happy enough not to revolt against the system. But as the text suggests, the people at the top would be a small percentage controlling the wealth, the disappearance of the middle class would happen, and more and more people would be in poverty. Was Marx prophetic? I think so. Most everyone I know cannot even afford health care, struggles to pay for education, and housing. And what really drives it home for me is his prediction where Capitalism would end up. “Capitalism's crises never affect only the billionaires and Wall Street traders. In fact in 2001, despite the world economic downturn, the number of millionaires still increased by 3%! The 'masters of the universe' may suffer a bit of a hangover as a result of their decade-long Wall Street party, but it is working people and the poor who will really feel the consequences.” (SocialAlternative.Org) Does this sound familiar?

The American economy model is responsible for the need to bail out those at the top for it to continue to work. I feel Capitalism in the last stages is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme. It has to keep investing from the bottom to make the system work. The problem with that is, when there is no one (a middle class) to finance the economic system and the rich do not have to pay taxes on a hope wealth will trickle down, Marx’s prediction will happen; socialism. (Harper & Leicht, 2011, p.126)The workers will revolt against the system and socialism will be ushered in. We are seeing revolutions and revolts happening in other countries now. The U.S. has fallen from being number one in the world economically to somewhere near 15^th. Sweden holds the #1 place as the most economically healthy in the world. And they are a European model of political economy.

The text states, “The disadvantages of the European model are well-known: powerful governments, large bureaucracies, higher taxes, and sometimes an inclination for authoritarian “solutions” in hard times.”  But when asking who gets left out or who is at the bottom of the barrel for any services needed, no one is. Everyone has health care, assistance with housing, and just about anything else they may need. Higher education is inexpensive if not free. The rich are taxed accordingly. My belief is there is no perfect economical system. Communism has never happened because it is too Utopian. Capitalism leads to Fascism with corporations and banks controlling the profits. Socialism has a better chance of sustainability.

So if I have to choose one of the two listed models, I would choose the European Model.  It has a better chance of sustainability longer than the American Model. Frankly I have to hand it to Marx, because I see what he predicted happening right in front of our eyes.

                                                References

Marx was right. SocialAlternative.Org. Retrieved November 17, 2011 from http://www.socialistalternative.org/literature/s21/ch4.html

Ph.D., Charles L. Harper and Kevin T. Leicht (). Exploring Social Change: America and the World [6] (VitalSource Bookshelf), Retrieved on November 17, 2011 from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780558980436/id/pg52

OMM612: Managing in Social Change

The Effect of Social Media on the Egyptian Revolution- Managing in Social Change

Technology has become the excalibur of modern revolution. Ten years ago, protesters used text messaging to dismantle President Estrada in the Philippines following his acquittal of corruption charges. Protesters filled the streets, forcing Estrada to step down. Today The Twitter Revolution has been instrumental in the uprising in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and now the US, specifically the Occupy Wall Street movement.

 "In the case of Egypt it really played a critical factor in getting out the word on how to organize. There was one group in Egypt that was one of the key groups in getting people out on the street. " (Kravets, 2011). It is estimated that only 25 percent of the population in Egypt has internet access. Even with such a small number of people online, days before the initial occupation of Tahrir Square, 80,000 people said they would be in attendance on the Facebook group page. Coupled with social media, old fashion tools to get the word out through leaflets and word of mouth is how the movement grew as fast as it did. As important as online organizing was, social media was also responsible for “on the ground” reporting without being filtered through stated media outlets.

Mubarak’s decision to shut down the internet in Egypt was a futile attempt to silence protesters and only added fuel to the fire. Twitter and Facebook both proclaimed support to the protesters by setting up alternate means to tweet from the ground. “Speak-to-tweet” allowed people to publish updates by leaving a message on a voice mailbox. The service was free of charge, with Google offering users three international telephone numbers. The Egyptian regime tried its best to censor protesters, but with alternate technology in place, they realized their attempts were futile and restored the countries internet access.

André Panisson collected date using graph streaming software to tract tweets and hashtag # at February 11 2011, before and after the announcement of Egyptian president Mubarak's resignation. The software tracks retweets and graphs them. Watching the progression of animated tweets is one of the most compelling things I have seen in a long time. It is visual empirical data to something unseen to the eye.  It is very convincing just how powerful technology is. What is even more amazing is this data represented is only 10 percent of the total.

Data collected with Gephi Graph Streaming.
This is a preliminary result of the network of retweets with the hashtag #jan25 at February 11 2011, at the time of the announcement of Mubarak's resignation. If you retweeted someone, or has been retweeted, it is possible that your username is in this network.

The data were collected through the Twitter streaming and search APIs by André Panisson, and is part of a research project involving the Computer Science Department of the University of Turin (www.di.unito.it), the Complex Networks and Systems Group of the ISI Foundation (www.isi.it), and the Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research of Indiana University (cnets.indiana.edu).

References

Kravets, D. (2011) What’s Fueling Mideast Protests? It’s More Than Twitter. Retrieved on November 16, 2011, from http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/social-media-oppression/

Panisson, A. (2011) The Egyptian Revolution on Twitter Retrieved on November 16, 2011. from https://gephi.org/2011/the-egyptian-revolution-on-twitter/

Social Change in the HIV/AIDS Epidemic- Managing Social Change

Over the last three decades, there have been many shifts in social change to the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As the disease has transformed, so has prevention models used to educate those who are at risk as well as empower those living with HIV/AIDS. Awareness of the disease has been complex socially, culturally, politically, and most importantly, economically. The more stigmatized the disease is, the more vulnerable people are to becoming infected. Addressing prevention initiatives have shifted based on social change and stigma. In the beginning of the epidemic, prevention campaigns focused on providing education on transmission and risk behaviors. Once information is thought to be wide spread, the development of life sustaining drugs, and prevention campaigns focus more on the relationship of human rights and empowering individuals against intolerance and inequality.

In the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there was a lack of information on the origin of HIV/AIDS and how it was transmitted. When the AIDS epidemic began in 1981, it was labeled a “gay disease” because the majority of documented U.S. HIV infections were from one specific demographic; gay white males.  The name GRID (gay- related immune deficiency) locked in stigma and discrimination towards those infected. After the onslaught of HIV in 1981, it soon became evident that AIDS was an international epidemic (or pandemic in some areas of the world) and most cases of AIDS have been diagnosed within the heterosexual community. The main reason for the stigma of HIV/AIDS is sexuality. In the United States, those initially infected were those whose sexual practices were considered out of the norm. There are still those who believe that homosexuals are the cause of the epidemic but as we now know, this is not true. Africa and other developing countries are examples that most HIV infections are among heterosexuals.

My first experience with HIV/AIDS was the diagnosis of a close friend in the small city I lived in. It wasn’t long before many of my friends were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. There were no services available in the northwest portion of the state of Louisiana where I lived. More often than not, a positive HIV antibody test meant a death sentence within a year. Along with four other people, two of which had moved back to my city to die from AIDS, started a local chapter of ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) in 1986. We protested the lack of services that were provided those living with AIDS, as well as lobbied on the state level for funding to startup north Louisiana’s first HIV/AIDS resource center.

The early days of HIV/AIDS education was geared towards the simple mechanics of the disease and focus on disarming the stigma. Even though today it is still an issue, heterosexual women are the fastest growing number of new infection rates. “An understanding of stigmatization and discrimination as political and social processes can also help us to reconsider responses to HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination”.  “For example, the social change involved in changing perceptions of the disease can be handed to marginal demographics of the group to resist the forces that discriminate the whole.

Groups such as women’s support groups and straight male support groups can be utilized to empower those who are HIV infected to disbar stereotypes. More and more women and straight men are coming forward speaking out about their own lives as HIV infected individuals. Unlike the early days of HIV/AIDS where HIV infected individuals hid their HIV status, now are coming forward as the “new” face of HIV /AIDS.

Another reason HIV stigma has changed over the years, is the development of new anti-viral medications. In the early days of the epidemic, there was one drug that was prescribed to everyone. AZT was a very toxic drug that seemed to reduce symptoms of HIV but later was thought to do more harm than good. HIV disease has become big business for pharmaceutical companies with patients paying over $1500 a month in medication. With such enormous expense came new anti-viral drugs that virtually eliminate the cell with HIV saturation. New HIV infection rates are lowered because the virus isn’t transmitted as often with lowered vital loads. HIV/AIDS medications are also a factor in lowering stigma associated with HIV/AIDS because it has become a controlled disease as long as the consumer takes their medication properly.

In summary, the initial response to HIV/AIDS was limited and stigma arose out of the lack of education. As society became aware of modes of transmission and the spread of HIV to other groups in society other than gay men, acceptance is slowly being seen. Perception and stigma change when empowering subgroups such as women and straight men to speak out for themselves. New anti-viral medication has changed life expectancy and attitudes about the disease. Those living with HIV/AIDS are living longer healthy lives and have become more accepted in society. HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence. 
References:

Ko, Marnie.  (2001, April). Rethinking AZT: HIV experts finally admit their deadly drugs sometimes do more harm than good. Report   Newsmagazine, 28(7), 50.  Retrieved November 13, 2011, from CBCA Complete. (Document ID: 770199811).

Parker, R. & Aggleton, P. HIV/AIDS-related Stigma and Discrimination: A Conceptual Framework and an Agenda for Action. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnacq832.pdf

Organizational Change: Changes in HIV/AIDS Nonprofit Structures

Change is constant; an ongoing process. New and innovative strategies are needed to stay current in organizational change. Operational efficiency is lost when organizations fail to change with the times. According to Newton, acceleration is defined as rate of change of velocity. Our bodies change as we grow older, our thought process changes as we are exposed to new ideas. Change is part of human behavior. Much like humans grow and change, so do organizations.

A local HIV/AIDS organization is a service oriented health care and resource center serving those who may be at risk of or living with HIV/AIDS. For twenty one years, The Philadelphia Center located in Shreveport Louisiana, has served all of northwest Louisiana as the only HIV testing and resource center in the region. Funding is through the Ryan White federal grant with matching funds from the state. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides HIV related services in the United States for those who have no health insurance, are under insured, or are indigent.  As with many social service programs on the national level, cuts and freezes are being implemented, therefore forcing cut backs in the staff and services.

            In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, there wasn’t any funding available that specifically addressed the medical needs of this demographic. There was limited research surrounding its transmission, how to treat the disease, and a stigma so fearful that the Reagan administration refused to acknowledge AIDS as a problem. Activists fought to bring forth legislation and funding to combat what became the AIDS Pandemic.

            In the Clinton administration, a HIV/AIDS pandemic was overwhelming the United States health system. It was clear an aggressive approach was needed. Under this administration, the Ryan White ACT was introduced. Ryan White programs are "payer of last resort," which subsidize treatment when no other resources are available. This means when someone who is HIV infected has basic needs are not being met, and there are no other funding sources available, then the program will pay for medication, transportation, food, and doctor appointments. The Act is under reconsideration at this point because of the changes in President Obama’s Health Care Act. Those who are HIV infected will go into the Medicaid Program in 2014. Until then the present Act will continue to be in effect as an active piece of legislation.

            The problem for those that disperse HIV/AIDS services are; these funds are being cut back, frozen, or the same amount of funding is being divided between more people who are newly infected. Service providers for nearly fifteen years did not need to go out and look for additional funding, until now.

            One example of this need is the AIDS Drugs Assistance Programs. Here in Louisiana, these programs are funded if the state is willing to match federal dollars. With the present governor in office, Bobby Jindal refuses to use state funds to match the dollars the federal government has allotted for this state. Thousands of people that once enjoyed healthy productive lives are now put on HIV drug assistance program waiting lists for life sustaining medications. In 2011, Texas lawmakers voted no to a request for millions of dollars to assist with keeping people on the drug assistant programs that have historically been free to those living with AIDS. “The Resource Center of Dallas, like the Philadelphia Center in northwest Louisiana, assist HIV/AIDS apply for medications that will keep them healthy and alive. “ They are medicines that would cost thousands of dollars, per prescription, without government aid”. (cbsdfw.com, 2011). In order to fill this need, community based organizations have been hit with the dilemma of restructuring funding sources and are seeking new financial entities to ensure patient medication adherence. To receive “last resort” funding, community based organizations must prove they have approached other community based programs for assistance before being able to utilize federal funds. Contracts in prevention dollars have been cut by 50 percent. Because of the lack of prevention education dollars, new HIV infection rates are soaring.

            The key element for successful change in organizational structuring is to get support from key stake holders. “Organizations have to take bold action, and business leaders must be courageous in betting on the long term future that will benefit their organizations the most, by betting on the future they want. (Kinicki and Kreitner, 2009).  A mistake often made by leaders when implementing a new vision, is they fail to translate a broad analytical vision into something that the key stakeholders can understand and execute.  “A project can only exist with the informed consent of its stakeholder community. This community comprises individuals and groups, each with a different potential to influence the project's outcome.”(Bourne, 2009).

            Nonprofit organization stake holders are diverse. They include the public at large, staff members, government entities, volunteers, politicians, and board members. “Major organizational changes involve organizational policy, strategy, leadership, culture, work processes, and organizational structure. The cues that signal need for change are found by monitoring various external and internal sources of forces for change encountered by organization” (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2010, p. 400). Restructuring organizational funding outlets have become necessary to survive in this economy.

            Internal stake holders are those who are passionate about carrying out the organization’s mission statement. These people consist of board members, volunteers and donors, and staff members. In some cases, former internal stake holders are still active promoting the nonprofit in external ways.  With the impact of loss of revenue and funding sources on stake holders, organizations must become creative in filling the gaps in funding. It would be the responsibility of board members, executive directors, and CEO’s to create new strategies to strengthen underfunded organizations. There are key characteristics that must be addressed. A strategic planning model would need implementing to address changes experienced by internal stake holders. (exinfm.com, 2009). Once faced with needed changes, affected board members and CEO’s would identify gaps in five areas:

·         A strong mission statement- The mission statement must be clearly articulated.

·         Cohesive leadership team- Defining roles and being accountable for decisions.

·          Decision making and structure- they must support objectives.

·         Work processes and systems- Superior execution of programmatic work processes.

·         People- Bringing people onto the board that will fill clear roles needed for all aspects of the organizational needs to meet the mission and

·         Culture- High performance values, behaviors and the capacity to change.

The three “G’s” of a nonprofit board of directors are give, get, or get out. Many boards expect their members either contribute financially themselves creating or participating in fundraising events, or recruiting their peers to get involved. The role of a board of directors is recruitment, fiduciary responsibility, fund development, volunteerism, ambassador, accountability, and reporting guides. According to the Harvard Governance Model, “In a well-functioning nonprofit organization, the executive will take responsibility for assuring that the governance function is properly organized and maintained.” (Drucker, 1990). The impact of change on internal stake holders has driven them out of a comfort zone into one that can be challenging. Not all nonprofits will sustain enough funding to keep their doors open. Depending on a government backed grants has become a thing of the past. Many times, board members are unfamiliar with these duties and must be trained in grant writing and taught “The Ask.”

“The Ask” is the act of asking donors to write the check or pledge to make a donation to the organization once you have articulated your needs. With private donations being the number one demographic of donors, each and every board member should be able to articulate what your organization does in 30 seconds and be able make “the ask’ to their peers in the community. Nonprofit boards have become more dependent on volunteers, grant writers, fundraising, and corporate assistance.  They have filled the gap where federal funding has stopped short. With the unemployment rate much higher, nonprofits are seeing more unemployed professionals willing to volunteer, lending their professional skills to the needs of their community. Likewise, trend in opportunities are being used by free and non-traditional forms of communications such as Facebook, twitter, and blogging.  Internet donations increased efficiency and reduce administrative costs. Nonprofits have started to create profiles on online social networking sites to raise money and attract supporters, staff, and volunteers.  “Development, and use of technological advancements, will be one of the biggest forces for change.” (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009, p. 401).

            External stake holders are individuals and families served by the nonprofit organization. In an HIV/AIDS resource center, the external stakeholders are specifically people who are HIV infected, those affected by HIV (family members of infected parents) or those at risk of contracting HIV. These stake holders may also carry dual diagnosis such as mental disease, substance abusers, and indigent or homeless people.

            The impact of change on external stake holders can be deadly. As stated, thousands of external stake holders are so affected by funding cuts that their lives are at risk. Without life sustaining HIV medications, consumers could die on ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Programs) waiting lists. Community based organizations that serve HIV infected consumers are writing grants or requesting pharmaceutical companies to donate medications to fill the gap of federal program cuts. The majority of people on waiting lists are receiving donated medication, but it a quick fix which isn’t a guarantee. The average cost for HIV antiviral medications costs patients $1500 a month if they self pay. With the rising new infection rates, pharmaceutical companies cannot supply the need for free or donated medications, therefore alternative funding sources are needed. Other impacts on external stake holders would be lack of food, transportation, and housing.

            With housing dollars cut, and local housing authorities with waiting lists for up to five years, consumers or the external stake holders, are being under housed. The lack of affordable housing leaves those living with HIV at risk in all areas of their lives.  They are more likely to be underfed and less likely to be consistent in medication adherence if they do not have stable housing. When there are other factors involved, such as drug use, then the spread of HIV is more common. Housing those who are living with AIDS, not only increases healthy living but is cost effective. The economic costs of new HIV transmissions, among the homeless are extremely high. The cost to house people is much cheaper on the economy that the estimated lifetime medical treatment cost of each new infection.

            The Prosci’s Change of Management Maturity Model addresses the adverse impact on nonprofit organizations and their key stake holders. There are five levels of the maturity model that range from no change management to organizational proficiency. “Research shows that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach does not work when managing change, since each change and each impacted group is different.” (change-management.com, 2004).              
          Prosci’s ADKAR is an acronym for Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability and Reinforcement.  For the individual to make needed change, an awareness of the need for change is needed. Once the need is acknowledged, employees need to be motivated with the desire to support the change. Knowledge of how to make the change will then be sought out. Ability to implement the required skills and behaviors will be followed by reinforcement to sustain the change.

      With funding cuts to nonprofits, individuals are impacted and aware of the needed changes in seeking alternate funding sources. These people may be internal or external stake holders.  The desire to sustain healthy lives for those living with AIDS will motivate stake holders to educate themselves (knowledge) restructure funding sources and continue to run organizational programs that meet the mission statement’s criteria (Ability and Reinforcement).

      In conclusion, organizational change is the backbone of competitive organizations and key stakeholders. Implementing a continuous planning model, budgets and business plans reviewed throughout the year, help determine how an organization is faring in budget cycles and what adjustments need to be made. While waiting for an economic turnaround, nonprofits will continue to deal with decreased federal and state funding and finding solutions to help them remain operational. Prosci's change management model addresses changes needed by the individual first, then the organization as a whole. Effective change management is successful when there is an understanding how one person makes a change successfully. Without individual change, organizational change cannot happen.

References:

         Bourne, Y. (2009). Stakeholder relationship management, a maturity model for organizational implementation’s. Retrieved November 6, 2011. Gower

Publishing Company.

Cbs.com. (2011). State Budget Cuts Potentially Deadly For Some    

North Texans. Retrieved November 5, 2011, from  http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/05/23/state-budget-cuts-potentially-deadly-forsome-north-texans/

Drucker, P. F. (1990), Lessons for successful nonprofit governance. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 1: 7–14. doi: 10.1002/nml.4130010103

Evans. M.(2009). Strategic Planning. Retrieved November 5, 2011, from http://www.exinfm.com/workshop_files/strategic_planning_model.ppt

Gordi, C. (June, 2011). HIV Budget Cuts: A Life-or-Death Matter. Retrieved 

November 5, 2011, from: http://www.theroot.com/views/life-or-death-budget-cut

Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R. (2009) Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills and best practices (International 4th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN: 9780071285582

Rideout, B., & Rewers, A., (2009, May 4^th), Handling Change Management Right the First Time: Pex Process Excellence Network, Retrieved November 5, 2011, from http://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/change-management/articles/handling-change-management-right-the-first-time/?&shownewswindow=1&keyword=change%20management&Sid=g_3131&mac=SSIQ_SEM_Change_Manag_2010&gclid=COv29_bq4qcCFQcnbAodfnly8w&trackLight=1

Leadership Styles in Organizational Behavior

Leadership Styles in Organizational Behavior

“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit”.—Arnold Glasgow

            The terms leader and manager are often used interchangeably. According to Kinucki and Kreitner, there is a difference between the two. Management is about developing the capacity of the organization and staffing, coping with the details of planning by setting goals for the future, outlining budgets and outlines (Kreitner and Kinicki, 1998, p.497). Managing people is just one aspect of leading. There are other qualities that effective leaders utilize. Leadership is about setting a path and developing a vision of the future together with the necessary strategies for producing the changes needed to achieve this vision. (Kotter,1999,p.497).

            An effective leader will incorporate all four leadership styles which are Autocratic, Bureaucratic, Laissez-faire, and Democratic and apply them according to the situation. For example, in an emergency situation, leaders would not use a Lasissez-Fair or Democratic style of leadership. A clear autocratic style would be needed to assign tasks or roles, especially if someone’s life was in danger or time was of the essence.

            In an everyday leadership role, most leaders have taken a democratic style of leadership. The democratic leadership style is an open and  collective style of running a team. Ideas are allowed to flow freely and are discussed openly. This style of leadership means facilitating not controlling the team, Democratic leadership style leads to a high sense of personal growth and job satisfaction. One of the most effective strategies is building a strong team. High levels of performance are often encouraged by peer pressure and usually when one employee is slacking, others don’t allow it and will call them out on it. It is an effective motivational tool by encouraging competition among staff to take on a high performance level.

           The ground rule for democratic leadership is to keep communication open. When the exchange of ideas is open for discussion, everyone needs to feel comfortable enough to put their ideas on the table. The democratic leadership style thrives when trust has been established and all the considerations are laid out for everyone to examine.

           As the resource development specialist for a nonprofit, I have built very strong grant writing teams by utilizing business interns from a local university. It has always proven to be very energizing to allow them the floor and let ideas bounce off each other completely uncensored. Laying out all ideas for examination often leads to creativity needed to stay current within the market we work in and to paint a vibrant picture that will stand above the other grantees.

           Another leadership strategy to promote a high sense of personal growth and job satisfaction is allowing employees to set their own expectations. When an employee enters a contract or verbal commitment regarding anticipated achievement levels, they will usually meet their own expectations of themselves. Most people see themselves as honorable and will attempt to keep their word. This strategy can be very effective as long as the leader reinforces the employee’s strengths and empowers them with positive support.

            Anyone who has children has learned rewards work much well than punishment when behavior modification is needed. The rewards approach is generally a successful strategy if the leader realizes employees have different incentives that motivate them. Some prefer a bonus’ or pay increases while others prefer a promotion or a new office. In these economic times, many are happy with monetary rewards. It can be difficult for a leader to establish incentives desirable to everyone if the leader doesn’t work from a democratic leadership style. Communication is vital when determining what employees see as incentives.

The promise of a mutual exchange of desired work performance for special privileges is an effective intervention tool. If the marketplace of ideas is going to be open, allowing an employee to leave work early after exception job performance is an appreciated special privilege.

           In summary, Democratic Leadership style is generally the most effective leadership style. Democratic leaders often participate in the group, offer guidance to group members, and allow input from other group members or teams. When leaders keep focus on the discussion, allow communication to be open, respect ideas, and are ready to commit, so will your team of employees. Team members will feel engaged in the process and will be motivated to excel when they are involved in a democratic process.

  

References

Kotter, J.P. (1999). John P. Kotter on What Leaders Really do. Boston: Harvard Business School   Press.

Kreitner, R. and Kinicki, A. (1998). Organizational Behaviour. Fourth Edition. Boston:  Irwin                         MacGraw-Hill.