LTG Blog

In this video, Liz Laboy asks Steve Burghardt "How do you talk to white people about race?", and about his relation to W.E. B. Du Bois.

In this video, Liz Laboy asks Steve Burghardt about how he, as a white man, handles the complex issues associated with Race, Power and Privilege.

We in the human services field continually call upon ourselves to be there and do for others. In being with others who are experiencing struggles and hardships, we come in contact with situations that can affect us deeply.

In their book Stories of Transformative Leadership in the Human Services, LTG Partners Steve Burghardt and Willie Tolliver offer us guidance and tools for taking care of ourselves so that we can reconnect with our highest intentions. Actively committing ourselves to lifelong learning, the authors say, is a key to fostering a culture of inspiration, innovation and openness in our organizations.

One of the most frequent requests LTG partners Willie Tolliver and Steve Burghardt receive is on how to keep talking, listening, and responding to the dynamics of race, gender, sexuality and class as they appear in our lives, both at work and at home. Listening to the requests, LTG organized its first "Night of Renewal" on February 9th.

That over 35 people showed up that evening while the first hard snowfall fell outside is a testimony to people's yearning for and interest in this kind of conversation. Using a World Cafe format to start, Willie and Steve soon found the room abuzz with expressions of connection and insight as people spoke about why they were there on this windswept night. Seeking connection with others, feeling a need to let go of anger, and a desire to heal by listening and sharing were the kind of themes that folks quickly discussed. People who had never known each other were sharing personal stories of real intimacy that made people laugh sometimes, cry sometimes, and sometimes do both.

On February 4, 2010 the Leadership Transformation Group, Upstream Consulting (Kelly McGowan) and the NYC Art of Hosting (Martin Siesta and Nancy Fritsche Eagan) co-hosted a gathering of change makers. The event was a conversation and workshop for 60 invited guests admired for their work making change in their communities and organizations and for their support of other change makers.

The event, held at the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City, was led by Chris Corrigan, a “change practitioner/professor at large”, and First Nation activist engaged in supporting people committed to change in South Africa, North America and other parts of the world.

The Women's Leadership Revival Tour and international speaker and author, Margaret (Meg) Wheatley are coming to New York City to facilitate a stimulating and inspiring conversation on the value, power and gift of women's leadership.

Wheatley is the author of the classic and widely influential, Leadership and the New Science, Turning to One Another, and Finding Our Way. Meg is President emeritus of the Berkana Institute, a global charitable leadership foundation, dedicated to serving life-affirming leaders and to supporting women's leadership in our inter-generational global community since 1991.

We invite you to participate in a full day of learning and development on March 25th from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Riverside Church in New York City. The Women's Leadership Revival Tour has already been held in Toronto, St. Louis, Vancouver, Louisville, Seattle, Boston and other North American cities. The proceeds of the tour support the work of women who courageously step into leadership in their communities and organizations.

How has LTG helped you to "Hit Issues Head On"?

Since 1997, The Leadership Transformation Group has been facilitating supervisor management trainings, workshops, retreats, leadership forums and trainings and continues in its desire to heal the adults who work with children and families in child welfare.

Our facilitators have been trained to think outside of the box when using our curriculum and to use teachable moments whenever an issue arises. Whether it's a complaint about a situation in their unit, the department or they need information on how to handle a complex issue, the LTG facilitators have been there to assist them in any way.

In these trying economic times, I am asking facilitators and training participants – How have we helped you to stay the course and continue to remain positive at work and at home?