Women Overcoming Adversity

By

Douglas Ross

“How will integrity help race relations?” asked Helen Blocker Adams, the host at News Radio 1230 AM WNRR in Augusta, Georgia.

I gulped. Because I am Canadian, I can talk about snow and hockey but how could I answer this question? 

 “Integrity,” I answered, “is every person’s journey, regardless of race. Integrity is wholeness, consistency and objectivity-it is about doing the right thing, doing the next right thing and doing things right”.

 After the interview, Helen smiled at me and said, “I know the right place to start!”

She joined me the next day in my home to talk. She told me about her non-profit organization and the need she had encountered with single mothers.

 “I want to do something about the situation I see emerging here in Georgia” she stated.

She showed me a quote that best expressed her feelings.

"We sometimes think that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty"   Mother Teresa

Helen looked me directly in the eyes as she said. “There is a sense of spiritual poverty that has enveloped the spirit of many women.”

“In this modern life of socio-economic disparity and media influenced perception of individual beauty, value and self worth; many women find themselves alone on the outside looking in.” she explained quietly.

She thought for a moment and tears formed in her eyes as she  said  “Combine this with entitlement and instant gratification mentalities; we are seeing more and more women wrecked by the irrevocable consequences of poor decision making.” 

“Finally,” she added “these women understand that they live increasingly in a world driven by greed, bureaucracy and fear governed by political/ business leaders that destroy trust through severe lapses in ethical and moral judgment.”

“As a result we have many who have lost trust in themselves, in the world they live and their way of life” she concluded.

 “Do you remember what Mother Teresa said about poverty?” she asked.

The passion was evident as she added, “We need to make a stand against any poverty that makes anyone feel unwanted, unloved and uncared for. I believe we need to start within the hearts and minds of women, especially the single mothers.”

I know many women are valued but there are a growing number of women who are alone, feeling unloved, unwanted and uncared for.

“Women and families are the cornerstone that many builders of our society have under valued in the pursuit of prosperity. This cornerstone goes beyond religion and politics. It goes beyond everything that divides us to something that can unite us all.”

 “When we positively impact a woman’s sense of self and her trust in a meaningful and productive way, it can create a domino effect and impact her family, her community, her workplace and her world. This, in turn, will impact their children’s education, the business community and their families.” she concluded.

“That is where you come in,” she added as she smiled at me, “You are the missing piece of the puzzle that I have been looking for.”

I nodded as I thought. At the core of all our lives is integrity.

Personal Integrity is a integrating process of renewal and healing that builds self esteem through making the right decision and following through by doing things right.

Community integrity is completeness where everything and everyone works together for the individual and collective good of all.

Integrity is inclusive not exclusive. Integrity is built on the value added contributions of everyone not just a few.

Finally, integrity is rooted in adversity . It is here that the work of integrity is done.

A week later, the Southeast Enterprise Institute launched the first every Woman Overcoming Adversity program. It is a pilot process!

Women Overcoming Adversity was created for women facing challenges. It has a goal (integrity), a structure (Seven Tracks of integrity), a well worn pathway (the Hero’s journey) and a process (theme and soul centered dialogs).

The success is not that there is a program. The success will be within the hearts and the minds of the women who will participate.

It is the right place to start and

                    ..." the time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King Jr.

For more information contact Helen Blocker Adams at the Southeast Enterprise Institute, Inc

You can also contact Douglas Ross at principledynamics@gmail.com  or visit his web site at Principle Dynamics