I’m participating in the City of Tallahassee (Fla.) Neighborhood Leadership Academy. We recently had a presentation about the city budget. The presenter said, “I don’t have Legos to explain this; one other city did.” This is what he meant:
This video accomplished in four minutes and 38 seconds a comprehension among viewers that no PowerPoint could ever confer. The nitty-gritty of budgets is more complex than Legos, of course, but having buy-in and smiles from constituents and other stakeholders is priceless.
International City/County Management Association
As you can see by my comments above, I love this idea.
The most-clicked story was also my favorite story. Here’s the second-most-clicked: Q&A: The fine art of choosing a city manager
Legos are a simple way to explain a complicated concept (not that this video was easy to make). The situation in Afghanistan, featured in two of my favorites, would probably defy a “Lego explanation.”
BoardSource
World Central Kitchen has been giving refugees arriving from Afghanistan a meal that is often their first proper meal in days, after a harrowing journey that started when they fled their home country. I like this story in general, but WCK’s care in how they choose and deliver the meals — in this case, they prepared halal meals that would be familiar and comforting to the recipients — is laudable and touching.
Most-clicked September story: How TED Talk techniques can help you
Reserve Officers Association
There are two planned communities at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and a third is planned to accommodate up to 13,000 Afghan refugees. It grieves me that there are people still left behind in Afghanistan, but for these people who made it to the US, I am heartened by the services the US is providing them, the structure, the care. Look through the pictures in this story and you’ll see what I mean.
Most-clicked September story: Tricare to raise medication copays, retiree enrollment fee
Now on to my other favorites in September.
Business Transformation SmartBrief
I learned from this article about Even, a service that enables hourly employees to have access to their wages as they are earned. I have never heard of an “on-demand wage access” platform before. I’m sure such a platform has its drawbacks (I don’t think I would trust myself with it, for example), but what a godsend for some employees, especially in case of emergency.
Most-clicked September story: 7 questions to reset companies amid mass resignations
National Association of Social Workers
Calvin Love started a nonprofit at the Little Giants Gym in Euclid, Ohio, so kids can access the facility’s services at an affordable rate. He was inspired to do something after losing a nephew to gun violence. The combination of physical activity and compassionate adult guidance helps kids avoid negative outcomes. As a Moms Demand volunteer, I’m especially enthusiastic about this idea.
Most-clicked September story: Scammers threaten therapists with jail time
Note: This scammer story is intense. Let’s just say, if you’re ever at a Rite-Aid and the cashier hands you a flyer that says, “Are you the victim of a scam?,” it’s possible that cashier knows the signs.
National Emergency Number Association
I’m sure we all heard and read many reflections about 9/11, since the anniversary was last month. This piece looking back on the experiences of three dispatchers was among my top choices. These women did their jobs while worrying about the whereabouts of their family members. “We do our job, we make sure everybody else is okay,” said NYPD dispatcher Rae Ann Singleton.
Most-clicked September story: NYC dispatchers remember calls from Sept. 11, 2001
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honorary Society
Work by biochemist Katalin Karikó led to the discovery of a method to introduce mRNA into cells in a way that doesn’t touch off an adverse autoimmune response. Between the her initial research in the 1990s and the award of the prize, Kariko endured multiple rejections, a pay cut and a demotion.
And now here we are in 2021, relying in many cases on mRNA to keep us from succumbing to a deadly pandemic. What a lesson in following your gut and being tenacious.
Most-clicked September story: Telescope captures pioneering image of moon
UN Wire
The quote of the day (a tweet) is the final addition to the UN Wire newsletter every issue. I probably spend too much time on it, because I like finding unique tweets and tweets that represent parts of the United Nations that don’t get as much recognition as others. I hadn’t featured UN Women Europe & CIS before, so I liked this tweet for that reason. I liked the message, and I like Lebibe Topalli’s mural:
Most-clicked September story: Guterres: World is “moving in the wrong direction”
While You Were Working
I’ve been editing While You Were Working Smartbrief newsletter lately (it’s our afternoon, more laid-back newsletter). I loved this graphic that I included in one issue:
I’ve been dogsitting for a little over a week, and this rang true for me! Say “Hey Buddy” to Embry:
My three-year anniversary
I celebrated my three-year anniversary as a full-time editor at SmartBrief on September 10. I started out as a freelancer in 2017, though, so I have two separate milestone dates. I appreciate this work and the people with whom I do it.
About careers at SmartBrief/Future
Each month, I share the open positions at SmartBrief and Future for anyone who is interested in being a part of finding and sharing stories through newsletters and Future’s other enterprises.
All open positions at SmartBrief and Future plc can be found at this link. Here are a few highlights:
Digital Sales Associate – Advertising, Marketing and Media (DC)
Senior Digital Sales Associate – Workforce/Business Services (NYC)
Strategic Partnerships Manager (DC)
Digital Sales Associate – Education (NYC)
Affiliate Account Manager (NYC)
Ad Creative Project Designer (NYC)
Art Director, Marie Claire (NYC)
Beauty Director, Marie Claire (NYC)
Editor-in-chief, Android Central (Remote)
Deals and Commerce Writer, Android Central (Remote)
If you are interested in applying and have questions, please email me so we can discuss further.
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Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Legos are the best for anything!
This is not untrue!
Thanks so much! The video really is an explanatory work of art.