By now you’ve probably seen the image of the drowned Syrian boy plastered across news and social media channels. The photo … More
Category: Reflections
When the agenda gets in the way
How often does the development agenda actually get in the way of doing good? When sticking to an agenda becomes … More
Why it’s time to stop thinking of development as a project
“From the American People.” The classic USAID sign stood outside of a lifeless craft center in a sleepy town set … More
The numbers game
There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. So the saying goes. We all know that statistics and stories can be … More
What is easy/what is right: balancing complexity
We’ve all seen the promotional videos/photos/stories that claim to have found the silver bullet for solving poverty. We’ve seen the … More
To empower and behold (for better or for worse)
Empower: to give official authority or legal power to; to enable; to promote the self-actualization or influence of (Merriam Webster … More
Confronting failure
Rocky. Michael Jordan. Steve Jobs and Apple. People love Cinderella stories and tales of redemption. Why? Because they move us. … More
Film Review: 28 Up South Africa
What happens when you take six kids from diverse backgrounds from all over South Africa, and film them every seven years?
An overlooked side of storytelling (and how not to miss it)
“Everyone—community members, donors, national leaders, technical experts, clicktivists, policymakers—need an accurate vision of what the problems are, how they affect … More
Casting off the White Savior Complex
A lesson in humility I arrived in Lima, Peru without a concrete plan. I just had two suitcases, a list … More
