Leadership Seminars Archive

“We need the broadest—and the kindest, most generous--definition of what it is to be an American. One that encompasses and embraces all of us. One that we can share and take pride in, and one that is positive and not negative.” --Michael Nisperos Attorney and civil...

“If you don’t like fires, and earthquakes and mayhem, you must stop fires and earthquakes and mayhem. You have the power to make change.” --Ben Bartlett. We are grateful to Berkeley City Councilmember Ben Bartlett for joining us for an online Leadership Seminar in...

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“Don’t underestimate your abilities. All of the things we are learning will come to fruition in time, and it will be important for you to know the things that you have learned.” –Debra Entenman Washington State Representative Debra Entenman joined our youth and staff...

“While it’s important for young people to be able to drive, you don’t have to be able to to re-invent the wheel. There are many generations of activists, intellectuals and social justice warriors that have come before—familiarize yourself with their work.” –Jonathan...

“So much of what has to drive us going forward is taking a look at our history and what our ancestors and our people have come through, how hard they fought.” –Diana Becton Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton joined our youth and staff for an online...

“Now is the perfect time to be showing that our voices matter and we are making change happen.” Rep. Steve Bergquist Thanks to Steve Bergquist for joining us for one of our online leadership seminars. He dialoged with our youth and staff about his wealth of experience...

“Community is so important, and there are certain principles of taking care of one another that are fundamental. At any moment we have to trust each other.” –Lamar Thorpe Lamar Thorpe joined out youth and staff for an online leadership seminar and shared his wisdom...

“There’s no better time to have a conversation about leadership. Leadership is what is going to bring us to a better America.” –Peggy Wallace Kennedy We are grateful and humbled that civil rights leaders Peggy Wallace Kennedy and retired Justice Mark Kennedy joined...

“I challenge you, as young people, to think about who in your own lives—whether it’s family, community or at school—is the most marginalized? What can you do, or what can you advocate for and elevate from their experience, to then benefit everyone else?” --Rep. Jesse...

“The leadership of YOU—to listen and be empathetic and continually put yourself in other peoples’ shoes—grows with importance as coalitions and issues get bigger.” --Andrew Kehoe Andrew Kehoe brought a wealth of experience, insight and youthful energy to our online...

“You have to tell people your dreams. One of the things about American society is that people are helpful. If you tell someone your dreams, people and the universe start to co-conspire to help you achieve that dream.” --WA State Senator Mona Das Elected to the...

●Use your talents to the best of your ability.●Persevere and learn from your mistakes.●See people and accept them as they are and build relationships. These are some of the insightful takeaways our youth and staff were honored to learn from our friend and colleague...

“The important thing is not to focus on differences but focus on the areas that you have in common. You don’t get anything done it you can’t work across the aisle.” –Patty Rose Our youth and staff always appreciate time with Patty Rose, whose practical wisdom and more...

When speaking out, “remember you’re not going up there alone. Bring your ancestors, bring the spirits of all your coaches. It’s not just you, it’s you and everyone who has ever poured into you, it’s you and your coaches, it’s you and your grandparents, it’s you and...

“Sometimes you’re going to lead by standing up and saying something righteous. Sometimes you’re going to lead by just sitting next to someone and encouraging them while they’re saying something righteous. Sometimes you’re going to lead by standing in the back. “Quiet...

“Encourage yourself. It’s important when you have an understanding about where you want to go, sometimes you have to dig into what is already inside you when others may discourage you.” --Marlon McWilson Educator, businessman, former Alameda County Board of Education...

“You cannot be an individual, isolated leader. If you want to be a good leader, if you want to sustain leadership over a long period of time, you have to be part of a team.” --Dr. Mark Toney Our gratitude to lifelong community organizer and public servant Dr. Mark...

Dear friends: Today we joined the Faith and Politics and Executive Director Joan Mooney for the leadership seminar, where Anka, one of our Freedom Center students, co-moderated a conversation with Karen Korematsu and the story of her father, Fred Korematsu. We...

“Leaders understand that you have to be knowledgeable, and they have a commitment to continuous learning.” Our youth and staff are grateful to leading educator Dr. Nelson Soto for joining us for an online leadership seminar focusing on the importance of elders,...

“Once you establish your values, you have to uphold them. If you don’t have integrity, you are not a leader.” “What is my vision for myself and for my community? Do I have a clear vision of what my path to leadership is?” Dr. Victor Littles joined our youth and staff...

“Leadership is action, not position. Even if you're leading no one else, you're leading yourself.”” Joan Mooney, Executive Director and CEO of The Faith & Politics Institute in Washington DC, came together with our youth and staff for an online leadership seminar....

“It’s hard to be a leader when you have a cold heart.” Bettie Mae Fikes’ voice has helped sustain the moral and cultural power of the Civil Rights movement for 60 years. She has dedicated her life to the power of meaningful music to energize the movement and the...

“It takes just one person to keep saying, ‘hey, we gotta do something!’ and other people will join you.” –Doug Linney Our youth and staff were joined by environmentalist and veteran organizer Doug Linney for an online leadership seminar that focused on best practices...

“If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.” – Conway Collis Our youth and staff were honored that Conway Collis joined us for an online leadership seminar discussing the impact we all have when speaking out against injustice and taking action. Positive change is easily...

“Articulate the thing you want to have happen in the world, then always make the choices that get you closer to that goal.” --Michael Morgan Leadership crosses all fields and transcends professions, which was abundantly evident in our online seminar with musician,...

Learning about Leadership with Vision, Integrity, Strategy and Accountability When Dr. Calvin Watts, Superintendent of the Kent School District in Washington State, left home for college, his parents counselled him, “V.I.S.A.--Don’t leave home without it.” They were...

“It is inevitable in moments of collective transformation, that leaders will come forth.” Dr. Franklin Pimentel-Torres joined us for an online leadership seminar with our youth and staff to discuss his experience and perspectives about the contributions of young...

“How do we keep hope alive? What can we do? You have to do something good every day. It all begins with personal conduct, which we all are responsible for.” --Dan Greenspan Our online leadership seminar with Dan Greenspan, our youth and staff focused on what each of...

“We need to look at new values when we look at new leadership. Shared understanding helps us get down to the real critical issues.” –Professor Alton Jelks Alton Jelks joined our youth and staff for an online seminar focused on the importance of listening, input,...

“Leadership is about listening and being responsible to the people you represent, and politics is the art of making peoples’ lives better. When we partner together, the impossible becomes possible.” –Rob Bonta Assembly member Rob Bonta joined our youth and staff for...

“Make this determination in everything in life: Is an issue bigger than I am?” –The Hon. Elihu Harris “If an issue is bigger than you are, stop fighting for yourself and start fighting for somebody else. If an issue includes you but also affects other people, then...

Knit Your Experiences Together to Make Something Much Broader Lisa Hasegawa joined out youth and staff for a leadership seminar focused on the importance of collaboration, inclusion and learning from disagreement. “There are ways in which you can knit your very...

"Taking a Conversation Deeper" Each Saturday, Freedom Center students carry out four classes in Nonviolence Leadership via video conference. They prepare for their weekly Leadership Seminars. This Saturday, Jayda Gray (age 15), Jennifer Hernandez (age 14), and...

“You look at people and you think you know their story—maybe someone in power or authority—and they seem so different from you. They could also be very much like you, have a lot of similar experiences and struggles and challenges.” Judge Tara Flanagan joined youth and...

“Leaders are always learning because the times are always changing. We are constantly confronting new challenges and new adversaries. Therefore, we are always adapting ourselves to these new situations and contexts.” María José Alaníz joined our youth leaders and...

“Leadership means to me knowing your history, knowing your heritage. When you run into an obstacle or you get frustrated, if you study that heritage it will give you lessons on how to move forward.” –Maira Perez Velazquez “To know if what you are doing is morally...

“It’s important to find elders who have lived through struggles and ask them about all the ways we keep culture alive.” – Titus Capoeman We were joined by Titus Capoeman for an online leadership session yesterday afternoon. Titus, our youth and staff discussed various...

“Leadership is often about how we play rather than the hand we are dealt.” Some takeaways from this morning’s online leadership seminar with Audree Jones-Taylor, an organizational consultant and former Oakland Parks and Recreation Director, and Freedom Center youth...