Elizabeth Gish

What to do if you aren't sure what to do while the world seems to be burning all around us lotusandphoenix.substack.com/p/what-to-do-i…

New Year's resolutions come from a great place - wanting something different for ourselves & trying to get there. Yet, they are hard to keep. Understanding why can help us approach our hopes & plans in a way that is more likely to lead to outcomes we want. open.substack.com/pub/lotusandph…

From prison to purpose. ✨ After spending more than 20 years behind bars, Dayton Democracy Fellow Robert Mackey II is turning his past into a path forward. Guided by gratitude, he helps young people make positive choices and find their voice in democracy. bit.ly/490981V

What does it take to build a community where everyone belongs? Dayton Democracy Fellow Tara Campbell says it starts with education, agency, and uplifting the voices too often left out, especially young people. Through Dayton United for Human Rights, she’s helping residents claim the rights they’re born with and shape Dayton’s path as a future Human Rights City.

From late-night studio hours to classrooms full of preschoolers discovering their voice, Dayton Democracy Fellow Jamaal Durr is using art to open new ways of seeing ourselves and each other. Through exhibitions nationwide and his work with young learners in programs like Black Boy Brilliance, Jamaal is building spaces where creativity strengthens confidence and connection, leading to boundless democratic possibility.

What an incredible day at the #DaytonDemocracySummit! Thank you to everyone who participated in building a better democracy for Dayton and beyond. Let’s keep building together. Sign up for our newsletter at kettering.org to stay inspired and informed.

KF President and CEO Sharon L. Davies kicks off today’s #DaytonDemocracySummit with a powerful reminder about why our collective work matters. “One of the themes for today’s convening is hope. . . . We thought that we should focus on hope because hope is necessary for us to move toward action, and action will be necessary for us to save our democracy, if our democracy is actually in danger.”

“When people hear the word democracy, they think about elections, voting, elected officials, campaigns. . . . But those things aren’t all that democracy is. Democracy means that everyone belongs, and that all of us should have a say in our communities, state, and nation.” When it comes to purpose, Julio Mateo, program associate for Democracy and Community, helps ground us in the intention behind today’s #DaytonDemocracySummit.

.@KetteringFdn Dayton Democracy Fellow Erica Fields is such an inspiration - doing the work, day in and day out, to create the sort of world we are longing for. Thanks for all of her incredible work!

So excited about @KetteringFdn Dayton Democracy Fellow Lake Miller and NCCJ's work with our young people!

The real power isn’t just in the streets or the ballot box. It’s in civil society: the everyday spaces where people connect, organize, build trust, and grow the skills of citizenship.

Dayton area folks who love community, self-determination, justice, and connection - this is for you. Registration to come in August. Come for the workshops, food, massage chairs, & stay for the @RevDrBarber as our keynote speaker & World House Choir singing for us!

Looking forward to preaching at my beloved home church First Christian Church (DOC) in Bowling Green, KY tomorrow, Sunday, August 3 @ 10am CST. Come join in as we dream together what renewal and rebirth can look like.

Big things never start big.

I often hear that things feel overwhelming and that people aren't sure what to do to make things better. Here is a "what to do 101" with lots of great baby steps that move us toward the world we want to live in. bit.ly/3HLa2U4

This newsletter is bringing me joy, hope, and relief in these hard times. To all of my community, democracy, non-profit-y, neighborhood-y, WTF-is-happening friends, you might really like these refreshing reads which call us to do more than read and think. connectivetissue.substack.com

Appreciating street art and its creators is goal of downtown Dayton festival this weekend daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/app…

@wilsonhartgrove Sending care to you and Rev. Barber and thank you for your work.

Out now, but we were arrested today for praying in the US Capitol. Still praying God will spare us from this disastrous budget. religionnews.com/2025/04/28/wil…

From educators and artists to organizers and advocates, these 15 changemakers are building a more just, inclusive democracy right here in Dayton, the Kettering Foundation’s hometown.

Lots of folks struggling & aren't sure what to do. You might be worried about the price of eggs, healthcare, or your kids. There are no easy answers, but this is a small offering to try to help us all figure out what to do when we aren't sure what to do. lotusandphoenix.substack.com/p/what-to-do-i…