I'm always grateful for @ellmcgirt, but especially today for the conversation that she moderated on the impacts of the attacks on the AAPI community, the work to be done & the reasons to search for hope. Thanks to Yuh-Line Niou, Frank Wu, Jeff Yang & many others for their voices. So many stories shared, but wanted to also share some of the links that came from panelists and attendees.

An article from Karen Yuan - theatlantic.com/health/archive…

So, I promised an exciting update from Emerson - my 11 year old - and today is the day.

Many of you know the back story, but in case you don’t... Emerson likes to write letters. Lots and lots of letters. And, she likes to decorate the envelopes so people know how much time she puts in.

White friends & family.
Step 1. Amplify voices.

Here are some strong, wise voices that will always say it better than you or I. There are many, many others. Find them and share them. @nhannahjones @ava @amelielamont @TatianaTMac @IjeomaOluo @MsPackyetti Step 2. Read & Learn. It’s time for us to do the work, not verbally process. (Again, Step 1. Amplify stronger, wiser voices.) @IjeomaOluo’s book was recommended awhile back (by @vcastillo630.) It’s a good place to start. There are many, many others. Find them and share them.

The past couple days have been beyond our wildest dreams, but today was a fairytale. I’m not sure I can fully capture what we just experienced, but I’ll do my best.

…ready for it?

#sincerelyemerson This afternoon, we received two packages in the daily mail. One a bundle of letters from postal workers around the country.

The other box was oversized and covered in “Please Handle With Care. Thank You.” stickers.

Emerson and I have been reflecting on the past seven days and decided that we want to start a new Saturday practice. Your notes through mail & social media have been overwhelming and we want to return the favor with #WeSeeYou shoutouts. Feel free to join us. To our friends at the @USPS: You are sacrificing your health and well being to ensure the world stays connected and #WeSeeYou.

Crazy idea alert: we’ve had more kind notes than we deserve or can respond to. So, in the tweets below, we’re going to try to do some global letter match making. Read the prompt carefully & retweet so the people that need some human connection via mail can receive it! ❤️ IF YOU’D LIKE TO WRITE A LETTER, reply here. Share your name, the city you live in & a fun fact about yourself.

Emerson, my 11 year old, is on a bit of a wild ride with the @USPS and our local mail carrier, Doug.

And, I think there’s a deeper message to it all.

First, the backstory... Em has a serious letter writing habit. She maintains active correspondence with over a dozen of her favorite people. And, if you’ve been the lucky recipient of one of Em’s hand decorated letters and envelopes, then you have a pretty good idea of the joy they bring.

To creatives whose @greatdiscontent is currently a lack of work/income:

We’re working on a way to create efficient exchange between brands and creatives.

But we need to connect where the jobs and dollars are...dare I say it, LinkedIn. Please connect.
linkedin.com/in/hughweber Drop me a message with your connection request. Include where you are located and the type of work you are uniquely skilled to do. Put links to your portfolios and social profiles in your bio.

When I decided to leave politics over a decade ago, it was with hopes of finding a home where my skills could contribute to a generative rather than divisive future. Yet, I never could have imagined today. It’s both humbling and exhilarating to join @DesignObserver, the space for intimate and influential conversations that @jessicahelfand, @MBierut & so many others founded and stewarded over the past 17 years. dogroup.co/38nK5mA

Dear @nytimes, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but I need your help. For years, our relationship was just so easy. You’d deliver - to my beloved bright red state - a dispatch from the world beyond. And, I would autopay you for this lifeline. While I was traveling for work this spring, that all changed. Now, each and every week, I’m forced to take a Sunday morning walk of shame to grab my newspaper in my neighbor’s driveway.

I’m on my way to Boston tonight for the @DesignObserver conference this weekend. Last year, this event was a catalyst for a personal creative renewal for me. I’d like bring your voice to my talk on Saturday and bring some of the inspiration and insight back to you. #DOConf19 To do this, I have some questions to ask: so, Creative Professionals of all types - designers, illustrators, filmmakers, photographers, writers, etc - what is the greatest challenge you’re currently facing in your career?

What three creatives would you most like to read a long form profile featuring? I’ll go first: @AkilahObviously, @ten_ten & Monica Padman of @ArmchairExpPod Also: @trufelman, @lizzo & @Soulcrate!

Today is the first statewide giving day @forsouthdakota. I hope you’ll consider giving a donation to a charity or cause that is meaningful to you. Nearly 400 charities are participating - you can give to one of them here: southdakotagives.org We’ll be supporting a number of our personal favorites @forsouthdakota including @bobbiebohlen and her work at Grant Count Development Corporation. #IBelieveInMilbank

southdakotagives.org/grant-county-d…

Excited to share that I’m working on a weekend mastermind retreat for a dozen designers focused on getting a ‘seat at the table’ in 2019 (as freelancer/independent or in-house designers) If you’d be interested in a small, high touch 2-3 day session to kickoff 2019, drop me a DM. I’ve spent the last 18 months talking to dozens of designers around the country and as I roll out my Creative Counsel practice in 2019 (more on that soon!) it’s clear there’s a lot we can do together to build design-centric businesses and define fulfilling career paths.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans will look at the results of yesterday’s elections and decide that next time their own names will be on the ballot.

For those brave souls & committed citizens, I have a small gift. Feel free to share it.

BeforeYouRunForOffice.com Ten years ago, I had had enough of the rough and tumble political world, so I retired from active campaigning. But, I still wanted to support the brave folks who committed to public service.

So, I began counseling and advising candidates before they ran for office.

I’m confident that the @DesignObserver
Conference this November is going to be one of the most significant gatherings of business + design since the 1st Int’l Design Conference in Aspen back in 1951. It’s an experience I’d love to share with you. Join me?

designobserver.com/conference/ @DesignObserver And, I’m not just saying this because my dear friend, @ellmcgirt of @FortuneMagazine’s #raceahead, is going to be there. But, she’s a pretty good reason to go if you need one.

I was in my early 20s before I ever felt the sting of real disappointment. I had been a golden boy. I had been lavished with scholarships to the country’s best schools. I had been buried in awards for accomplishments. And, when disappointment - accountability, really - came... I lashed out. I yelled. I cried. I blamed everyone else. And I pointed to my accomplishments - arguing that I alone had created them - as evidence that I couldn’t possibly be responsible for the disappointment. But, this angry response wasn’t a one time occurrence.

I shared the idea of “What Matters Most: A Call to Connection” for the 1st time today. The act of speaking it out loud was liberating and empowering. Thanks to @heyamberrae for listening. And, to the rest of you, if you have a dream that you need to speak into existence, call me. In meantime, I’m going to be talking and writing about how the myth of solo genius, rugged individualism and digital hyperconnection are actually undermining our communities, diminishing our creativity, and limiting the scope of our collective possibility for something bigger.

Don’t mind me, sitting in this coffee shop, listening to Mr Rogers and crying softly.

“All of is have special ones who loved us into being...”

Come back, Mr Rogers!

“But, how do we make goodness attractive?”

I’ve been a consumer of your work for many years, @donaldmiller. So, I say this with respect & affection: This is a false view of design. @donaldmiller If this is a genuine perspective based on horrific experiences, I’d love to have the opportunity to introduce you to the real designers.

This morning, I published the latest episode of the #PotluckSociety featuring Chad Pickard of @spokensport. JoinThePotluck.com @spokensport I love how Chad talks about the role that bikes played for him as a kid. They were "freedom" to he and his brother. #PotluckSociety