In:Action

Everyday actions and dialogue for peace. Visit: annaikeda.net

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Motivating change - a lesson from 2 train rides

Motivating change – a lesson from 2 train rides

I recently took a course on storytelling. It was an eye-opening experience to learn techniques and skills involved in the art of storytelling to encourage change. How stories can motivate and mobilize people are often ignored, perhaps because storytelling is considered a “soft” skill. But I realize that it is usually not the facts, numbers or data that compell me to act. Of course those are…

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An Open Letter to Nikki Haley

An Open Letter to Nikki Haley

Dear Ambassador Haley, I was at the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, which started on March 27.  I find it intriguing that those of us “activists” were inside the room, participating in the international law making process, while you and some other government leaders decided to boycott and protest it outside the room. While we were…

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3 Things I Can Immediately Do to Fight Sexism

3 Things I Can Immediately Do to Fight Sexism

https://www.womensmarch.com/ Happy Women’s History Month!  Since I wasn’t great at updating this blog last year, my goal is to write at least 2 posts this month related to activism and my identity as a woman.  This one is the first in series. (more…)

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“Women who can have it all can do so, because they have help,” said a friend recently. We both are relatively new moms, trying to figure out what it means to take on the new, at times daunting, responsibility. I’ve read articles by other women about the challenge of “having it all,” but now that I have a child, it has a whole new meaning. I’m no longer able to just pick up my stuff and go out, or…

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The Ethics of Nonviolent Action - Metta Center Metta Center

The Ethics of Nonviolent Action – Metta Center Metta Center

Long time! Last week my blog post on Ethics of Nonviolent Action was published on the website of Metta Center for Nonviolence. Let me know what you think! http://mettacenter.org/blog/the-ethics-of-nonviolent-action/

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On Living Unapologetically

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When "Action" = Quit

Happy Holidays!  It’s been a while since my last post, and I wanted to write one more before the end of 2014.

This year was definitely one of the turning points for me.  In May, I left my previous job – after working there for five years.  I grew so much through the work experience, learned in’s and out’s of nonprofit programming and management, and met many wonderful people, some of whom I still…

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How Gandhi Inspires Me to Transform My Life

How #Gandhi Inspires Me to Transform My Life #nonviolenceday

Happy International Day of Nonviolence, commemorating Gandhi’s 145th birthday (aka “‘Spinning Wheel’ (charkha) Birthday”)!  The UN designates this day as an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”.

On this occasion I wanted to share five of my favorite quotes from Gandhi that keeps encouraging me, to strive for my dreams and live…

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Some Back-to-School Thoughts

New #Blog post - Some Back-to-School Thoughts #education #learning

One day I was on the NYC subway, and an advertisement for a local college caught my attention. It showed stories of individuals who turned around their lives through education. With personal photos and short phrases, it conveyed some inspiring stories. And at the bottom of the ad, it said:

“For more consumer information about this program, go to…”. (more…)

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On Being a Responsible Donor

New #Blog post - "On Being a Responsible Donor" #nonprofit #donation

One day, I was walking by the Union Square in New York, when a young man approached me with a tablet in his hand. He said he worked for a nonprofit organization and wanted to share his story. Because I was not in a hurry, I stopped and listened.

Around us were several other young people, similar to his age, all engaging in conversation with passerby about their work. He explained to me about the…

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Secret of Leadership and Power

New #blog post - Secret of Leadership and Power

“Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it.” – Hannah Arendt

The concept of leadership can mean different things to each person.  People have various styles of leadership.  So what makes someone a leader, and how does he exert influence, or power, on others?

When I heard about Arendt’s theory of power in a class, I was first surprised by the seemingly paradoxical…

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