5 Ways You Can Help Flint, Michigan Amid The Water Crisis

The residents of Flint, Michigan, are facing anunprecedented water crisis as their sinks, bathtubs and water hoses have been gushing lead-contaminated water for more than a year.

“It’s a disaster,” Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan told the National Journal.

In April 2014, the city began tapping the polluted Flint River for water to cut costsinstead of using Detroit's supply from Lake Huron. Almost two years later, the Flint mayor says they are facing a $1.5 billion tab to fix it.  The residents of Flint, Michigan, are facing anunprecedented water crisis as their sinks, bathtubs and water hoses have been gushing lead-contaminated water for more than a year.

“It’s a disaster,” Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan told the National Journal.

In April 2014, the city began tapping the polluted Flint River for water to cut costsinstead of using Detroit's supply from Lake Huron. Almost two years later, the Flint mayor says they are facing a $1.5 billion tab to fix it.  Children exposed to lead poisoning can experience permanent damage, according to the World Health Organization. Lead can seriously affect children’s cognitive and physical development, leading to issues from lower IQs and aggression problems, to anemia and kidney dysfunction.

In response, groups on the ground are making a real difference as they organize to bring safe, clean water to Flint residents.

Here’s how you can help support the Flint Community during this state of emergency: 

1. Donate To The People Bringing Clean Water To Flint Families

The United Way of Genesee County has set up a dedicated Flint Water Fund. 100 percent of the money donated goes to buying filters and bottled water for Flint residents, as well as other emergency support services and prevention efforts.

“Communities go through various kinds of crises and challenges,” Jamie Gaskin, the CEO of United Way, told Lansing State Journal. “Everyone is trying to find their way forward in the best way we can.”

According to the Fund’s website, they have already sourced more than 10,000 filter systems, and are paying a driver for daily filter and water distributions.

2. Support The Researchers Keeping The Public Informed

The Flint Water Study is an independent research team at Virginia Tech. The scientists volunteer their time to study Flint’s tap water and inform residents of lead levels and their impacts through an online repository of data and information.

The group collects lead kits from Flint residents and have analyzed hundreds so far, according to their website. They then call to inform residents with “considerably high” lead in their water. 

To support the Flint Water Study, donate to their GoFundMe campaign.

3. Fund The Organizations Supporting Critical Public Health Services

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) is asking for nationwide donations to the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. Funds will support “public health, medical and community-based services” to address the impact of the water crisis on Flint families.

“If there was ever a time to invest in our children, it is now,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha in a press release for the CFGF.

Dr. Hanna-Attisha helped expose the Flint water crisis, according to Democracy Now, by heading the September study that revealed elevated lead-levels in the blood of children under five in Flint. Even as state officials dismissed her findings, she continued to demand action.

4. Live In Flint? Bring Cash And Water Directly To Those Who Are Helping

Flint Community Schools accepts both cash donations and bottled water, according to Lansing State Journal. You can make a donation to your neighborhood school on weekdays or call the district’s finance office at 810-767-6030. To schedule a bottled water drop off, contact 810-760-1310.  

The Flint Community Schools will be partnering with several organizations to help recycle the thousands of bottles of water they use during the Flint water crisis,according to MLive.com.

"As our students, teachers and staff get through this water crisis, they have also been mindful of the need to recycle empty water bottles," said Flint Community Schools Superintendent, Bilal Tawwab, in a media release.

The Catholic Charities of Genesee County are also accepting cases of water, filter kits, cash or checks at the Center for Hope, 517 E. Fifth Ave., Flint. They distribute the clean water to families and individuals in need, as supplies allow.

“The health of our neighbors is a top priority,” said Vicky Schultz, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, in a press release. “I encourage those who wish to make contributions to call the Center for Hope at 810-232-9950, ext. 325.”

5. Rather Not Give Money? Call On Gov. Snyder To Help Residents

Michigan residents are signing a petition on Change.org by the thousands, demanding that Governor Snyder stop making Flint residents pay for contaminated water. The residents of Flint receive water bills that average $140 a month, according to the Flint Journal, for water that contains high levels of lead and could be damaging to their children’s health.

“Flint residents should not have to pay for poisoned water,” the petition reads. “No more shut-offs. No more poisoned water!”

You can join the more than 1,100 supporters who have added their names to the petition since it was started on Sunday night.

Leadership Lessons From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, we honor the memory of a visionary leader who changed American culture forever. As many people enjoy this long three-day weekend, take some time to really think about the leadership lessons and the legacy that Dr. King left behind.

The larger-than-life leadership lessons that Dr. King gave the world that are as important for entrepreneurs today as they were during Dr. King's life. It's a great way to remember why the banks are really closed today.

Leadership Lesson One: You Must Have Total Commitment to Your Cause

Dr. King was a visionary. He was a man who had a dream bigger than the times in which he lived. That is, after all, what real visionary leaders are all about. His "I Have A Dream" speech brought awareness and humanity to the national consciousness about civil rights in America.

Dr. King's stance on political activism in a non-violent way made him a natural leader and an inspirational figure. He led a social movement of equality during a time when he wasn't supported by most. In fact, he was threatened and despised by many. But he stayed committed to the vision he held. Sadly, his leadership and dream ultimately cost Dr. King his life.

But even when he knew his cause was unpopular and his life was in danger, King remained committed to his vision. He was arrested upwards of 25 times and assaulted at least four reported times.

Are you bringing that kind of total commitment to your cause? I'm not saying to get arrested, but are you bringing that level of intensity and dedication to your work? Dr. King also required his leadership team and followers to participate in nonviolent protest. He felt strongly that violence, even for their cause, was not just.

How are you ensuring your values sync up with your actions?

Leadership Lesson Two: Disrupting the Status Quo is Essential for Change

Dr. King is honored and revered today, but he wasn't embraced by society during his short life. However, Dr. King knew that his dream of equality (even when equality was not popular) was more important than the status quo. His actions backed his vision and he shook up the popular culture of the time. Sometimes doing things completely different is what's necessary for evolution and innovation.

These paradigm shifts are crucial in every aspect of social, cultural and technological change. The same way of thinking always wields the same results. Dr. King never accepted that just because things were a certain way, it made them the right way.

How can you shake up the status quo in your industry? How about in your corporate culture or business values? Be a leader and set the new standard by changing an outdated status quo in your life.

Leadership Lesson Three: Have A Dream... Then Communicate it and do it

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation," spoke Dr. King as he began his address at the Washington Monument. Those were tall words for a leader to proclaim across an audience of over 250,000 people. But Dr. King had a dream and he couldn't be silent about it.

How effective is a dream if you aren't communicating it? Do you have a vision for your company? Is it prominently displayed somewhere your staff can easily see? And do you talk about how your actions, campaigns and products back up that vision?

Dreaming without doing is for childhood. Real leaders have big dreams, take big steps to communicate them, and then they go take big actions! Dr. King's actions made him one of the great leaders of the 20th century, Time Magazine's "Man Of The Year" in 1963 and a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1964. How do you plan to turn your dreaming into doing?

6 Things Great Leaders Do Differently

There are six critical things that great leaders do that really stand out. Any of us can do the same.

#1 – They’re kind without being weak

One of the toughest things for leaders to master is kindness. Kindness shares credit and offers enthusiastic praise for others’ work. It’s a balancing act, between being genuinely kind and not looking weak. The key to finding that balance is to recognize that truekindness is inherently strong—it’s direct and straightforward. Telling people the difficult truth they need to hear is much kinder than protecting them (or yourself) from a difficult conversation. This is weak.

True kindness also doesn’t come with expectations. Kindness is weak when you use it in a self-serving manner. Self-serving kindness is thin—people can see right through it when a kind leader has an agenda. Think of Schultz, who dedicated $250 million to employee education with no strings attached, and as soon as employees finish their degree, they are free to walk out the door. That’s true kindness.

#2 – They’re strong without being harsh

Strength is an important quality in a leader. People will wait to see if a leader is strong before they decide to follow his or her lead or not. People need courage in their leaders. They need someone who can make difficult decisions and watch over the good of the group. They need a leader who will stay the course when things get tough. People are far more likely to show strength themselves when their leader does the same.

A lot of leaders mistake domineering, controlling, and otherwise harsh behavior for strength. They think that taking control and pushing people around will somehow inspire a loyal following. Strength isn’t something you can force on people; it’s something you earn by demonstrating it time and again in the face of adversity. Only then will people trust that they should follow you.

#3 – They’re confident, without being cocky

We gravitate to confident leaders because confidence is contagious, and it helps us to believe that there are great things in store. The trick, as a leader, is to make certain your confidence doesn’t slip into arrogance and cockiness. Confidence is about passion and belief in your ability to make things happen, but when your confidence loses touch with reality, you begin to think you can do things you can’t and have done things you haven’t. Suddenly it’s all about you. This arrogance makes you lose credibility.

Great, confident leaders are still humble. They don’t allow their accomplishments and position of authority to make them feel that they’re better than anyone else. As such, they don’t hesitate to jump in and do the dirty work when needed, and they don’t ask their followers to do anything they aren’t willing to do themselves.

#4 – They stay positive, but remain realistic

Another major challenge that leaders face is finding the balance between keeping things positive and still being realistic. Think of a sailboat with three people aboard: a pessimist, an optimist, and a great leader. Everything is going smoothly until the wind suddenly sours. The pessimist throws his hands up and complains about the wind; the optimist sits back, saying that things will improve; but the great leaders says, “We can do this!” and he adjusts the sails and keeps the ship moving forward. The right combination of positivity and realism is what keeps things moving forward.

#5 – They’re role models, not preachers

Great leaders inspire trust and admiration through their actions, not just their words. Many leaders say that integrity is important to them, but great leaders walk their talk bydemonstrating integrity every day. Harping on people all day long about the behavior you want to see has a tiny fraction of the impact you achieve by demonstrating that behavior yourself.

#6 – They’re willing to take a bullet for their people

The best leaders will do anything for their teams, and they have their people’s backs no matter what. They don’t try to shift blame, and they don’t avoid shame when they fail. They’re never afraid to say, “The buck stops here,” and they earn people’s trust by backing them up. Great leaders also make it clear that they welcome challenges, criticism, and viewpoints other than their own. They know that an environment where people are afraid to speak up, offer insights, and ask good questions is destined for failure.http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/01/13/6-things-great-leaders-do-differently/2/#2715e4857a0b462daec15733

The Fastest Way To Achieve Success Is To First Help Others Succeed

Here are five ways that everyone can help others to succeed, and in turn find greater success themselves:

Pay attention to the details of other people’s lives.

When you make the effort to remember the important details of others’ lives, such as their spouse’s name, their children, their hobbies, etc. your ability to be a positive impact in their life increases tremendously. It lets the other person know how important they are to you. It lets them know that you truly care about their life. The more a person knows that you genuinely care about them, the more they will in turn move heaven and earth to help you with the things you want. And with the contact tracking tools available on our electronic devices today, it is incredibly simple to make quick notes about people so your memory can always be fresh.

Help people connect by sharing your network with others.

Be willing to introduce people to others you know who can help advance or forward their goals. When you have a networking event to attend, invite people to come with you that could benefit from expanding their network as well. The more you open up your network to others, the more you will find your own network expanding, and you might just be amazed at the incredible contacts you end up receiving from the most unlikely people.

Inspiring a person is worth far more than motivating a person.

You can motivate an employee with a raise, or a fancy title, and for a period of time they will feel motivated to work harder to show their appreciation. But after a little time passes they begin to forget the additional money and the fancier title because those have now become the “norm” and you’ll find that, once again, they are back to needing added motivation to take their performance to the next level. On the other hand if you inspire an employee by treating them with respect and frequently letting them know, in a sincere way, just how much you appreciate them and the contribution they are making, you will find that they are constantly motivated to continually increase their efforts on an ongoing basis. Inspiring others is the ultimate form of perpetual motivation.

Give honest feedback in a respectful and constructive way.

This is one of the most difficult things for people to learn to do well. Many people don’t like confronting issues and would rather dance around them, while those who do like confrontation often aren’t respectful or constructive in the way they give it. But those who can learn the skill of giving honest and open feedback in a constructive and uplifting way can have a tremendous impact on improving the lives of others. One trick that has helped me with giving good feedback is to always make sure that I am walking into the conversation with the mindset of truly caring about this person and wanting to genuinely help them to improve. If I go into the conversation with that motivation then my words naturally come out better. The more you give feedback to helps others improve, the more you will find that they will, in turn, open up to you and give you feedback that helps you to improve as well.

You have to be willing to put the needs of others first, even when it means you have to overlook your own wants.

“Marine leaders are expected to eat last because the true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own.” –Simon Sinek.

This particular point can be one of the most intimidating things to actually do because in the moment it feels so counterintuitive to put others needs above your own when doing so appears to require you to set aside your own desires. But as counterintuitive as it sounds, the fact is that it genuinely works. Perhaps not instantly, but over time it eventually leads to getting you everything you want and more. I can say this with absolute conviction because I have seen it in my own life. As a CEO I found that the more I focused on helping my employees to personally succeed both in their professional and personal lives, the more my entire company succeeded – and as a result, I personally succeeded far more than I ever would have imagined.

~Amy Rees Anderson http://www.forbes.com/sites/amyanderson/2016/01/06/the-fastest-way-to-achieve-success-is-to-first-help-others-succeed/