Forwarding the Conversation

Over the coming months I will begin to feature people and organizations that are forwarding the conversation. A friend of mine, Zach Kolodin, has recently started an organization called Young People First. The organization seeks to create a Young People’s Agenda designed to organize young people around America’s chronic problems. Organizations like this are precisely what is needed to connect conversations and create joint-action. I believe that this organization is truly sourced in the idea that “we did not put our ideas together. We put our purposes together and we agreed. Then we decided.”

In order to truly create change we cannot continue to talk at each other offering outworn ideas and opinions. We must get to a deeper level and join our commitments and use them as the basis from which we move forward. This idea is reflected in the writings of Scottish Mountaineer William Hutchinson Murray:

But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence.

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

    Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
    Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!

Please watch the video below, provided to me by Zach, then visit IdeaBlob where you can find more information about the organization. If you like what you see vote for it. Each vote is important and if the organization gets enough votes they will be awarded a $10,000 grant. You can also check out the organization’s website at Young People First.