Women Leaders Galvanize Detroit Around Justice
Women Leaders Galvanize Detroit Around Justice
Posted On: Sunday, November 8, 2015
When things fall apart for lack of human and financial resources, becoming overwhelming, the key that enables leaders to transform the impossible to solvable is a compelling sense of greater purpose that is shared.
An illustration is the story of how Kym Worthy, Prosecutor of Wayne County, Michigan raised, and is a catalyst in efforts to continue to raise, the millions of dollars needed to process over 11,000 rape kits that were unopened and untested, found in Police storage; some there as long as 30 years. The move to solvable is often slow, demanding resilience. For Worthy, who began this effort in 2009, it evolved from personal and professional commitment and actions to enlisting others in the goal that justice be available to each rape victim.
As with any leadership act once it taps into others’ shared beliefs, momentum builds that can overcome obstacles. Worthy’s efforts got on the radar of Detroit businesswoman Joanna Cline who involved other Detroit businesses in raising funds, awareness and donating services. A public-private partnership called Enough SAID (Sexual Assault in Detroit) has been created.
Meanwhile, Detroit had its own problems filing for, and then emerging from, bankruptcy. This could have derailed the business leaders’ efforts. However the fundraising continued. As an outcome of ethical leadership, the stakeholders had grown to include the city of Detroit as well as the rape victims.
“The business community has rallied around us,” said Peg Tallet, chief community engagement officer at Michigan Women’s Foundation in an interview, “particularly businesswomen who are saying this can’t happen here if we are going to make this the city we’re all working to make it.”
Worthy’s office “has been able to identify 625 people suspected of being serial sexual assault offenders.” According to one of the businessmen involved in Enough SAID, “…you can’t have economic development if you can’t feel safe walking to your car after work.”
Those involved in Enough SAID provide a crucial teachable moment for other cities, governments, chambers of commerce, businesses and communities in general.
Gael O’Brien is a catalyst for leaders leading with purpose and impact. She is an executive coach, culture coach, and TEDx speech coach with a corporate and public affairs background. Gael is President of Strategic Opportunities Group. In addition to publishing The Week in Ethics, she is a columnist for Business Ethics Magazine, an Advisory Board member at the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University and a Senior Fellow at The Institute for Social Innovation, Babson College.
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Gael O’Brien has worked as a speaker coach for TEDxNatick speakers for the past four years. She is fantastic! …. In every situation, Gael brings passion, compassion, and expertise as the speakers develop their talk content and delivery. She helps them find their story and give voice to it…. If you have the chance to work with Gael, take it!