Expanding Horizons
Martha Mertz
"What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.”
Plato
Plato
Thirty-five years ago Plato’s words inspired the creation of an award to honor women leaders.The real problem then was that women didn’t see themselves in leadership roles and men didn’t either. No one did. Of course women WERE leaders, but in those days, not having a title or position meant one wasn’t counted.
The award was meant to bring recognition to women who had achieved the highest level of professional excellence, had given back to make their communities stronger, and had opened leadership opportunities for others, especially for younger women. The
vision was to achieve a balance in voices of leadership.
That idea gave rise to ATHENA International, a non-profit organization whose mission encompasses inspiring all women to strive for their full potential. We went on to study ways women lead and then taught our leadership model all over the U.S. and beyond. That has been a great story. Here’s another one.
One day a perky redheaded woman told me she “loved our model and would we be willing to teach it in a woman’s prison in Arizona”? Because our audiences had been mostly to high achievers this was a startling idea. But in the blink of an eye an entirely new concept emerged - to bring empowerment and expanded horizons to a population already beaten down by hard life circumstances, poor decisions or personal tragedy.
What started out as a gesture of caring, hoping and yes, kindness, has become a program of significance. For nearly 4 years Gina’s Team has taught the ATHENA Leadership Model to women in Perryville Prison, 15 minutes west of Phoenix. To watch the transformation of self-awareness that happens in these classes is a privilege and a miracle. People begin to envision themselves as contributing members of society, as capable of making a positive difference, as powerful role models for their children. This is an entirely new paradigm for many of them and we’ve seen it take hold and grow roots. As they have been released a huge number of those who took these classes are choosing not to return to prison. They are building on a newfound self esteem and a resolve to live a life that will be valued.
This is just one example of an instance of kindness that expanded well beyond imagined horizons. It was the chance to make a difference. That’s what kindness is all about. That’s what SedonaKind is all about.
Thirty-five years ago Plato’s words inspired the creation of an award to honor women leaders.The real problem then was that women didn’t see themselves in leadership roles and men didn’t either. No one did. Of course women WERE leaders, but in those days, not having a title or position meant one wasn’t counted.
The award was meant to bring recognition to women who had achieved the highest level of professional excellence, had given back to make their communities stronger, and had opened leadership opportunities for others, especially for younger women. The
vision was to achieve a balance in voices of leadership.
That idea gave rise to ATHENA International, a non-profit organization whose mission encompasses inspiring all women to strive for their full potential. We went on to study ways women lead and then taught our leadership model all over the U.S. and beyond. That has been a great story. Here’s another one.
One day a perky redheaded woman told me she “loved our model and would we be willing to teach it in a woman’s prison in Arizona”? Because our audiences had been mostly to high achievers this was a startling idea. But in the blink of an eye an entirely new concept emerged - to bring empowerment and expanded horizons to a population already beaten down by hard life circumstances, poor decisions or personal tragedy.
What started out as a gesture of caring, hoping and yes, kindness, has become a program of significance. For nearly 4 years Gina’s Team has taught the ATHENA Leadership Model to women in Perryville Prison, 15 minutes west of Phoenix. To watch the transformation of self-awareness that happens in these classes is a privilege and a miracle. People begin to envision themselves as contributing members of society, as capable of making a positive difference, as powerful role models for their children. This is an entirely new paradigm for many of them and we’ve seen it take hold and grow roots. As they have been released a huge number of those who took these classes are choosing not to return to prison. They are building on a newfound self esteem and a resolve to live a life that will be valued.
This is just one example of an instance of kindness that expanded well beyond imagined horizons. It was the chance to make a difference. That’s what kindness is all about. That’s what SedonaKind is all about.
