Be the Change You Seek
by Scott Swenson, RH Reality Check
December 9, 2009 - 3:30pm (Print)
I've been signing my emails with the "Be the change you seek" paraphrase of Mahatma Gandhi for many years. It is an every day reminder that change starts within. The challenge with change is you don't always know where you're going, or what exactly within you is changing, until you get there. But you take the first step, sometimes a leap, following where your heart leads when opportunity knocks, and change reveals itself.
I'm thankful I answered the knock as my heart led me to RH Reality Check almost four years ago.
Another challenge with change is people come and go. In sexual and reproductive health terms, some might consider me promiscuous, sleeping around with different movements, more interested in the rush of new love than long-term commitment. I'm hoping instead you'll see me as the quirky boy/girlfriend we always think of fondly, thankful for the lessons we learn together, recognizing everyone comes into our life for a reason, and some for only a season. Some relationships aren't meant to last, but can still be enjoyed.
Instead of specializing in one issue area, I've had the tremendous good fortune to work with leaders in three. People helping to ease transitions out of physical life in the Death with Dignity movement; philanthropists working for equal rights no matter how we find love in this life, regardless of sexual or gender identity at the Gill Foundation; and most recently with the fascinating world of sexual and reproductive health, how we transition into physical life.
I consider myself a mid-wife in this latest role, bringing RH Reality Check from concept to reality, knowing from the start I was to facilitate the process, then let nature takes its course. The gestation period was a little longer than anticipated, but as with any healthy delivery, the pain resulted in joy.
We started with a simple concept: build a community of experts sharing their evidence-based research in easily accessible articles so more people have facts upon which to make the best decisions about public policy, and in their own sexual health.
Along the way we found a loyal community of readers that continues to grow. We built RH Reality Check into one of the leading health, civil liberties and political blogs as measured by Technorati, and established it as a go-to resource for mainstream and new media.
As important as those monitors of success are, life is best measured by the people we meet along the way and how they touch our lives. In this regard, I am a wealthy man.
David Harwood and Ellen Marshall, the co-founders of RH Reality Check, are two of the hardest working, most dedicated souls I know. Thankfully after four years working closely our friendship is stronger for the tests we've shared.
Ian Cairns is a visionary translator of the potential between advocacy and technology, a Godsend for non-techies like me. He now works with Development Seed, RH Reality Check's original designers, with the brilliant mind of Eric Gunderson.
Tyler LePard lifted RH Reality Check from intriguing blog to community resource by skillfully coordinating content and adding her own unique voice to the mix. Tyler now works on communicating these and other issues at the Gates Foundation.
Amie Newman's excellent writing on a range of reproductive health issues is exceeded only by her amazing ability to create, nurture and sustain relationships upon which the site's growth will continue.
Brady Swenson's technological vision and creativity propel RH Reality Check forward - and you ain't seen nothing yet. He's not only my nephew, though one far-right luminary once suggested in comments on the site that we were married, he's also a great friend and colleague.
Emily Douglas led a shift from our initial blog style toward a more journalistic enterprise; coordinating, assigning, and developing original reporting. Emily is now at The Nation.
When we contracted with Amanda Marcotte as a columnist we signaled we weren't going to be shy, her wit and pulls-no-punches writing and podcasts continue to stir the blogosphere.
Cristina Page's courageous assertions, in her writing on a wide range of reproductive health issues, as well as in her efforts seeking common ground in one of the most contentious issues in politics today, are significant contributions to our success.
Margaret Conway's leadership of an enhanced and improved Communication's Connection currently in development will further the site's role as neutral convener and technology leader.
Finally, Jodi Jacobson's keen political sense and provocative style have elevated our political coverage and currency. Jodi will succeed me as Editor. Since the day I started, each of the people above will laughingly attest, I've said I was not the right person to lead this site. I knew RH Reality Check's ultimate success depended upon someone with expertise on the issues taking it over. The proof is evident this year, our most successful yet, as Jodi led the site while I focused on other issues.
That we've done all this working in different cities across four time zones, and feel as close as we do as a team, is a testament to each person who came aboard uncertain what we were doing, where we were going. They simply opened their hearts to change.
Each of these people - and many other writers in the US and around the world equally part of this team - are proof positive that in life, the right people always show up when you need them most. You never know who they will be when change begins, but the best teachers are the people you are with in the moment. I'm thankful for the moments shared with these talented people, and everyone who is fulfilling a vision of individuals making wise decisions about sexual and reproductive health based on respect, responsibility, and what's best for their health and life.
What fascinates me now are the intangibles in the three issue areas in which I've worked. The science only takes us so far in discussing transitions in and out of life. As miraculous as it is, science is just a revelation, a quest by man to explain and understand. Life asks questions that go beyond the evidence science provides and for many that's where faith comes into play. Too many people confuse faith with judgment.
Each of us comes to our beliefs in our own way, just as we find our unique expression of love with and for others in this life. Faith is not a narrow concept or dogma, and like change, starts within. Faith is often more evident in our good works than words. RH Reality Check is chock full of words that are evidence of many people's good works, compassion and efforts to help inform and lift others. Even if people don't speak of their good works in the framework of faith, these words and the good work that goes into them express the deepest kind of faith, our ability to learn, grow and be better tomorrow than today.
I've been writing about these intangible ideas as part of the change I'm seeking. It's leading me someplace, not sure where yet, I'll let you know when I get there.
Until then, be the change you seek, and know that starts within.
Scott, it has beem my supreme privilege to work with you over the past two plus years. As a fledgling writer, I will forever be grateful for your generosity, inspiration and encouragement.
Best to you always. -- Wendy
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Well Done, Young Man!
Thank you for coming here. Others will thank you when you arrive on their shores.
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
I have been so lucky to work with you, Scott. You are truly a professional and personal inspiration to me. I cannot wait to follow the next part of your journey. Thank you for all of the opportunity and good times. Except for election year. That was ridiculous :).
Amie Newman
Managing Editor, RH Reality Check
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
The archive of articles you leave here continues to be valuable and persuasive. Your positive influence here will continue long after you've moved on. Good luck!
Ditto on that!
I hope you'll keep us posted on where you go from here from time to time. You'll be missed! :)
(And hooray, Jodi!)
Scott, I think it says something about your nature that you can make being slutty sound like a thoughtful and educational life choice. Personally, I've learned a lot from your thoughtfulness, grace and respect for others - even on difficult topics, or in response to angry opponents - that came through in your writing. I hope we'll see more of it back here on occasion.
Good luck in your next phase!
Kirsten
P.S. Go Heels!
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
I can never be as eloquent as Scott in saying all that he has said and so effectively describing the critical roles the folks he has mentioned all have played in making what RH Reality Check what it is today.
The fact is that Scott took a nascent idea and made it a reality, he realized a dream share by several people of having a vibrant space where the communities working on sexual and reproductive health, rights, justice, research and politics all could come together and share information, teach each other, learn from each other, and debate each other in a "safe space."
That RH Reality Check not only survived its "neonate" phase but is growing strong is indeed evidence of the power of Scott's "midwifery." There is much of which he can be proud, and we hope to continue to make him proud.
We depend on the contributions, ideas, insights, debates and arguments brought here every day by everyone one of you to make the site what it is today. It is indeed a meeting point for the diverse communities that share the same goals. Sometimes, like family, we will have disagreements, but we know that there is unconditional acceptance that we all share the goals of promoting the rights and health of all people, everywhere. Taken the site forward, we urge you to continue to participate in all these ways, because RH Reality Check is in fact what we each make it to be, collectively.
With deep gratitude and thanks to Scott for his leadership in bringing us here......Jodi
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Good luck to you Scott as you travel the road/s you go.
Hope you stay in touch.
I'm trying to contact your webmaster to find out how I can circumvent having to enter my login information every time I want to make a comment. THE problem is your code that has to be inserted before my comment can be delivered. I don't know why but, I have inserted the code 7 times and each time I keep getting a negative answer that I'm putting in the wrong code. I tried doing single spacing, triple spacing, double and triple spacing being very carful about upper/lower case. I also had this prpblem trying to create an account but after MANY several tries I finally made it. My time is valuable. Please have someone fix whatever problem there is at that site and please connect me withsome one who can help with the problem of having to login everytime I come to make a comment.
Sorry to have to come here BUT I can see no other way to contact someone. I even tried calling by 'phone but the operator had NO listing for you in Washington, D.C.
I would suggest using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page. It's somewhat bad form to ask the founder of the site for help with a technical issue in a response to his farewell address....
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
I am sorry you are having so much trouble and I don't know what the problem is, but please contact our Director of all such things, Brady Swenson.
brady@rhrealitycheck.org
We don't have a listing in DC because we do not have an office. We work virtually, and have only 3 core staff right now: Me (in DC), Brady (in Kansas), and Amie (in Seattle).
I am sure Brady will assist you.
Best,
Jodi
Scott, you may be slutty, but you remain true to your glorious, courageous and visionary core. Your varied work reflects the common theme of strategically working against ingrained and unjust convention and toward what's right and beautiful despite of (or because of) moral ambiguities. congrats and good luck! lara
Don't forget to leave a trail so we can follow you... You have done such an amazing, inspiring job of building an idea into a resource into a community into a leader. Bravo. Your fan, Kirsten
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Dear Scott, Over the last months, you have been on my mind. I did not like this change in roles. What, I wondered, was going on. Why were you not writing and editing? It made me uneasy. I like clarity and I like people I like doing what they do well.
Now, things are a little clearer and I still don't like it. You are a wonderful, supportive editor with a lovely mind.
Your "farewell" note a perfect example of exuberance and graciousness. Such nice memories of the start-up. i remember early conversations about the site which has turned out to be more than any of the founders could have imagined - thanks to you.
I wish you the very best. And I know you will find it because you are the best.
Frances
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Thank you, Scott, for standing alongside unpopular people like sex workers and drug users and speaking out when colleagues at big organizations did not.
I'll be eager to watch your next move, in part because you could not have left RHRC in better hands than Jodi's.
Best of luck!
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Scott, it was always a pleasure to work with you. Thanks for your many contributions here and all those I know you'll make wherever you go. One of the life lessons I learned from Kathleen Turner when we were writing Send Yourself Roses is "Never repeat your successes." It sounds like you've always known that. So I will just wish you well on your next journey and ask that you stay in touch.
Best,
Gloria
Gloria Feldt
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Scott,
For months and months I worked with you only having a thumbnail image to put to the amazing person I was getting to know. That is the experience of many of your readers. I think anyone who has followed your writing is familiar with your immense generosity of spirit, and thoughtfulness. I, however, am a true beneficiary of it.
Thank you for being the coach and confidence-builder who has always known the right thing to say at the precise time it needed to be heard. Thank you for also being a fair mediator; for having the patience of a saint and the fortitude of a general. Thank you for being a risk-taker even when you yourself weren't so sure the gain would be as great as the pain.
You have a knack for believing in people in a way that causes them to believe in themselves. It's a rare talent, in short supply in the places where it is needed most, like the reproductive rights movement. Keeping up the morale is key to the success of any effort that is combative and often thankless. If we could all just learn this one skill from you, I bet we'd count many more victories on our side.
I am lucky to have had the chance to work with you and am better off because of it. All the lessons I have learned from you I'll pay forward. Thank you. Great love and respect, Cristina
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Good luck Scott, you'll be missed!
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
Scott,
Your vision, diligence, and thoughtful decision-making built RHReality Check into an essential part of the reproductive rights, health, and justice community. It filled a need that many didn't even know we had. But just think--there is now not only a fair-minded forum devoted exclusively to these issues, but a place where young women and men, people of color, and all the many folks who don't always get called "leaders" have a place to offer their voice. And there is a place to make connections with other issues, influence our movement, and build our sense of community.
It is invaluable, even revolutionary. And this movement certainly needed some revolution. Thank you for that--I hope you are proud.
And of course anyone who can work in sexual promiscuity to an essay gets my undying devotion.
Personally, I will miss you sorely -- already do. I hope we get a chance to collaborate on something in the future--I will certainly be calling on your counsel regardless. Your sense of humor, gentle yet persistent encouragement, and good political sense helped build RHRC and of course will continue to serve you well. All the best in your next adventure.
Much love and gratitude,
Margaret
PS: There is a line from one of my favorite books "Girls, Visions, & Everything" where Lila Futuransky decides to say "Hi Sluts!" anytime she enters a room. Whomever answers back is deemed her friend. I'll leave it at that.
Be the change you seek,
Scott Swenson, Co-Publisher
