Writing - RiverWise

RiverWise Writing

In a world that is moving ever more quickly, we remain committed to careful and thoughtful reflection on what we are doing and why we are doing it. Our ongoing focus on writing demonstrates that commitment and provides an opportunity for us to stare deliberately at how our organization is being formed, what’s behind the activity, and ways that we can become more self-aware and introspective. Writing also provides an opportunity to elevate our message and advocate for our values. The work we are doing must continue to be informed by careful forethought and deliberate strategy. Giving attention to the craft of writing ensures that both of those things are taking place in a way that others can observe and interact with.

Community Builder Corps Positions

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, RiverWise has recently launched the Community Builder Corps. Here are some of the Corps Builder positions we would like to have filled in the coming months. Continue Reading…

The Future of Petrochemicals in Western Pennsylvania: A Community Perspective

On October 30, 2019, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto publicly announced his opposition to additional petrochemical development in Western Pennsylvania. Responses to the Mayor’s comments were substantial and swift, quickly generating the kind of polarization that has become all too familiar in public discourse about important and contentious topics. Continue Reading…

Community Builder Corps

With the growth of COVID-19, citizens and communities alike find themselves entering a season of unparalleled challenge. The nature of such challenges is quickly becoming clearer, and the coming days and months will undoubtedly add to our understanding of the complexities we must face together. The challenges will be many and the obstacles will, at times, feel insurmountable. However, our citizens and our communities are also entering a season of unrivaled opportunity. In ways that we could never have imagined even a few weeks ago, community visionaries now find themselves in a position to offer solutions and create interventions that can meet the challenges we are facing. Continue Reading…

COVID-19 Equity Strategy

Although local, state and federal resource allocation related to COVID-19 will undoubtedly be a lifeline for many nonprofits, small businesses, and corporations, ensuring equitable access to resources will not happen without forethought and principled action. The reasons for this are many.

All Leadership is Autobiography

Twenty years ago, when I was a student in seminary, one of my professors regularly reminded his students that “all preaching is autobiography.” Put a bit more simply, his point was that “most preachers are preaching to themselves.” Although I never ended up becoming a preacher, I regularly think about that little piece of wisdom. Recently, I find myself applying that old lesson in a new context.

“All leadership is autobiography.” Continue Reading…

Leadership, Adaptation, and Relevance

“ADAPT. PIVOT. TRANSITION. TRANSLATE.”

These are the words that have been ringing through my mind of late. If you are in a position of leadership, some version of them has probably been on your mind lately, too. These words, along with the following reminder: “Remain true to your mission.” Change and remain true at the same time. This is the challenge that we are all facing together—the dynamic interplay between our identity and our relevance.
Continue Reading…