Clarity's Cornerstone: The Roots of Connecting Social Impact & Strategy

Q: What is this?

A: A collection of insights on the world of social impact and social entrepreneurship in the Heart of North Carolina.

It could only ever be a community-center approach for me.

I believe life can present us with purpose through challenges. The most meaningful work I have ever done has often been some of the most challenging work I was faced with. It required me to think and feel at the same time while figuring balance into the equation. I was gifted a privilege that only occurs when purpose and passion align. The gift came after learning to embody empathy, developing understanding for experiences beyond my own limited world view, and then entrenching myself in an unyielding tenacity to be better. My guiding principle? To do good, to be good, and to be good at what I do.

My brand of civic engagement is rooted in humanistic sustainable impact. The human need for joy, not just purpose, is key in the equation for mission alignment.

I loved being an educator. I loved connecting eager minds with new things to consider. And I loved the fresh perspectives that granted me access to. Truth is, however, it is never truly a symmetrical give and take when you are a helping professional. I loved the work, but hated the job.

As a soul withering frustration and years-long burnout set in, another perspective came into view; I had found my calling and passion in life, but there was no way I could continue to pour from nearly empty reserves. No doubt, I would continue the work. Honestly, at this point I could not help but to be who I was. The posture and approach would be different in the revision.

Same Mission, Different Mode

And so now, my latest hat is a culmination of many of the other hats that came before; educator, customer service representative, lecturer, local government journalist, health policy reporter, academic, business manager, equity expert, event coordinator, diversity and inclusion consultant, program coordinator, associate director, executive director, administrator, clinical mental health therapist, policy writer, career counselor, life long learner, and strategist.

A Civic Engagement Strategy Blog

This space will be used to explore and examine the challenges and opportunities facing mission driven organizations. Here you can expect to read about strategic planning, capacity building, coalition development, community engagement and everything in between. Look forward to grounded insights, practical frameworks, and reflections drawn from actual factual, for-real for-real, real life work.

Everything you read here is guided by this thought: lasting impact is created when organizations are aligned with their mission, accountable to their communities, and intentional in how they build and sustain relationships. 

Clarity’s Cornerstone is a place for ideas. It is a resource for leaders, organizations and practitioners committed to building strong, interconnected communities. Here’s to being clear in connection.   

Jennifer M. Williams

Lead Strategist

Clarity Connection Consulting