Growth: Also
- Why I Give
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Why I Give
Ken Lebensold of Deep Gap, North Carolina, is an avid YES! Magazine reader who has been supporting YES! since 2002.
How did you discover YES!?
While I lived in Oakland, California, I connected with some YES! Magazine enthusiasts. I was part of a group that helped move the magazine to cover more activism and solutions. This shift energized all of us. So I have a long history of being mentored by YES!, and I can’t imagine who could make better use of my ongoing support.
How does YES! support your passions and values?
I’ve had a lifetime of engaging creatively with music and diving deep into the aesthetic of mathematics. But now, my primary passion is for meditation. I also have a great affinity for strong friendships and community, as well as effective communication that allows people to create something beautiful even across major differences. I do act in this world with a more caring and inspiring touch partly inspired by being in the YES! community.
My deep commitment to a loving and problem-solving vision of humanity has consistently been supported and deepened by YES! stories and commitment over the years. YES! is dedicated to finding solutions, or at least avenues toward solutions, for the very difficult problems of humanity through a process that respectfully hears all voices and avoids polarization. This strengthens my own confidence about our future and provides me knowledge to share. Every now and then, some tough issue will come up, and I can say, “YES! Magazine had an article about how to deal with this!”
Why is the work of YES! important for future generations?
Future generations are not likely to be any less partial to hypercompetitiveness, severe inequality, and defensiveness than this one. I believe that YES! has found the sweet spot of bringing deeply developed “spiritual” qualities, like unconditional love, right into the movements that are poised to solve “wicked” human problems. YES! is willing to fight without withholding love and respect from anyone better than any person or organization I can name. By valuing service to others, we get the highest rewards possible in this moment while building momentum for a better world to come. More than any particular social issue, or quality of journalism or presentation, it is this quality that makes me want to continue supporting YES!
What would you say to a friend who was considering supporting YES!?
I would tell such a person unequivocally that YES! is the most effective place for them to put their resources to help humanity move forward.