Intentional or Deliberate?
<!-- KENTE TOP BORDER -->
<div style="width:100%; height:8px; background:#c9943e; border-bottom:3px solid #8b2e1a;"> </div>
<div style="max-width:820px; margin:0 auto; background:#fdf8f0; overflow:hidden; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:18px; line-height:1.8; color:#2c2218;">
<!-- BANNER -->
<div style="border-bottom:4px solid #c9943e; overflow:hidden;">
<img alt="Umoja Perspectives Banner" src="/sites/default/files/Umoja%20Perspectives%20Banner_0.png" style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block;" />
</div>
<!-- BODY -->
<div style="padding:30px 40px 50px; background:#fdf8f0;">
<!-- GREETING -->
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:26px; font-weight:400; line-height:1.4; margin-bottom:4px; color:#2c2218;">For Umoja Faculty Leaders,</p>
<!-- INTRO PULL QUOTE -->
<div style="border-left:4px solid #c9943e; padding-left:20px; margin:20px 0 28px 0;">
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:20px; line-height:1.7; color:#5a4a38; font-style:italic;">Did Baldwin get it right? In <em>The Fire Next Time</em>, he warns us that our fears of death shape our drives, decisions, and divisions. What does that mean for how we show up in our classrooms and village spaces today?</p>
</div>
<!-- BODY P1 -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">In James Baldwin's book, <em>The Fire Next Time</em>, he writes, “Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.” Baldwin suggests our fears of death shape our drives, decisions, and divisions.</p>
<!-- BODY P2 -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Life is often unstable, and we yearn for a sense of security. Let’s consider flash floods, inhumane immigrant treatment, the war in Iran, DEI program cuts, homicide, and less severe challenges with professional deadlines and relationships with coworkers. Regardless of where we sit today, hardships rest beneath our feet.</p>
<!-- BODY P3 -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Whether you occupy benches in high courts or control the paint on basketball courts, the human trouble Baldwin recognizes is inevitable. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has acknowledged difficulties with her role in democratic affairs and the current administration. Spurs Forward Victor Wembanyama has played a pivotal role in his team’s success, but recent injuries could jeopardize his involvement in a playoff run.</p>
<!-- BODY P4 -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Regardless of our positions in society, it’s impossible to avoid setbacks, and that shouldn’t be our goal. We must process rage, anger, and frustrations to inform strategic responses.</p>
<!-- PRACTICE HIGHLIGHT BOX -->
<div style="background:#faf3e8; border:1px solid #d4c4a8; border-left:5px solid #c9943e; border-radius:4px; padding:22px 28px; margin:20px 0;">
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:10px; color:#2c2218;">Umoja’s Practice: Raising Intentional and Deliberate</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218;">“In Umoja we deeply value intentional and deliberate purposefulness.” It’s one of our <a href="https://umojacommunity.org/umoja-practices" style="color:#8b2e1a; text-decoration:underline;">eighteen practices</a> to guide teaching and learning experiences. Outside the classroom, it encourages focus during the most challenging moments of life.</p>
</div>
<!-- BODY P5 -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Regardless of how you feel today, hope is not lost.</p>
<!-- PULL QUOTE -->
<div style="position:relative; background:#2c2218; color:#faf3e8; padding:28px 36px; margin:36px 0; border-left:6px solid #c9943e;">
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:22px; color:#c9943e; margin:0 0 6px 0; line-height:1;">“</p>
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:18px; font-style:italic; line-height:1.7; margin-bottom:10px; color:#faf3e8;">Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives… in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.</p>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; color:#c9943e; letter-spacing:1px; text-transform:uppercase;">— James Baldwin, <em>The Fire Next Time</em></span>
</div>
<!-- STRATEGY INTRO -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Are you curious about how to find signs of sanity during tumultuous times? Try implementing this strategy from Robin Sharma’s book, <em>The Everyday Hero Manifesto</em>.</p>
<!-- STRATEGY BOX -->
<div style="background:#faf3e8; border:1px solid #d4c4a8; border-left:5px solid #2d5a3d; border-radius:4px; padding:22px 28px; margin:20px 0;">
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:14px; color:#2c2218;">Set aside time this week, answer these questions, and take these steps to organize your life.</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>1.</strong> What do you want family, friends, colleagues, and comrades/associates to say about you when you die?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>2.</strong> Reflect on your week. How did you show up in your personal and professional life?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>3.</strong> Where did you go above and beyond expectations?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>4.</strong> How would you rate your week?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>5.</strong> What will you do differently next week?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>6.</strong> How will you improve in the best of human practices — Self-mastery, Fitness, Relationships, Craft, Money, Mentors, Adventure, Impact — next week?</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:10px;"><strong>7.</strong> What schedule will you need? Answer this question and create it.</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; color:#2c2218; margin-bottom:0;"><strong>8.</strong> How will you execute? Remember your response to question 7.</p>
</div>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Sharma suggests that you allow approximately one hour to provide an accurate response to the previous questions.</p>
<!-- BODY CLOSE -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">You can complete the weekly design plan every week, and problems will continue to arise. The problems are signs that your life has purpose. Apply Umoja’s Practice of “Raising Intentional and Deliberate” and move forward with focus.</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Remember Baldwin’s words: troubles persist. Develop awareness and move forward.</p>
<!-- DIVIDER -->
<div style="text-align:center; margin:28px 0; font-size:22px; color:#c9943e; letter-spacing:14px;">◆ ◆ ◆</div>
<!-- CTA SECTION -->
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Enroll in <a href="https://umojacommunity.org/umoja-global-institute" style="color:#8b2e1a; text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Umoja’s Global Institute</strong></a> to explore African-centered education and expand your understanding of Umoja’s educational philosophies. Attend the <a href="https://umojacommunity.org/umoja-global-institute" style="color:#8b2e1a; text-decoration:underline;"><strong>UGI webinar</strong></a> to take the next step.</p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:17px; line-height:1.85; margin-bottom:20px; color:#2c2218;">Follow and connect with us via LinkedIn and Instagram. The Foundation is launching the <a href="https://umojacommunity.org/umoja-global-institute" style="color:#8b2e1a; text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Umoja Global Institute</strong></a>, a professional learning resource designed to enhance teaching and learning across our network.</p>
<!-- SOCIAL LINKS -->
<p style="margin-bottom:20px;">
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/umoja-community-education-foundation-inc" style="display:inline-block; padding:10px 18px; background:#2c2218; color:#faf3e8; border-radius:3px; font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase; text-decoration:none; margin-right:8px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/umojaedu/?hl=en" style="display:inline-block; padding:10px 18px; background:#2c2218; color:#faf3e8; border-radius:3px; font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase; text-decoration:none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram</a>
</p>
<!-- SIGN OFF -->
<div style="margin-top:36px; padding-top:24px; border-top:2px solid #e8dcc8;">
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:17px; font-style:italic; color:#5a4a38;">In solidarity with your success,</p>
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:bold; margin-top:10px; color:#2c2218;">Dr. V</p>
</div>
</div><!-- end body padding -->
</div><!-- end max-width wrapper -->
<!-- KENTE BOTTOM BORDER -->
<div style="max-width:820px; margin:0 auto; height:8px; background:#2d5a3d; border-top:3px solid #c9943e;"> </div>