Hello Laidlaw Network! 

Greetings from Medellin, Colombia, where I am finishing week four of my Leadership in Action project. This week has been exciting because I have started to witness results from our project! We were able to put the finishing touches on the draft for the Platohedro website revitalization project, start an official Vaki, implement our Patreon changes, draft emails/DMS to send to potential donors, and finish the list of potential donors! Throughout the project so far, I have learned a lot about adapting to different methods of working. 

Whether my teammates are huge fans of AI or hate it, needs a long time to understand the context of an issue or jumps straight to the point, or have any one of an infinite number of working differences, I have been attempting to be patient, understanding, and adaptable. Especially when you are volunteering in a different country where you are not immersed in the culture, it’s important to listen before you speak and react, and to not automatically assume that you know the best way of achieving success. We are supposed to learn from this experience as much as we are supposed to contribute. 

I also wanted to mention how lucky I have been to have such an amazing group of scholars with me on my LIA. I have been so grateful for the friendships I have formed, and for how my fellow scholars have helped me to learn and stay safe. 

Lastly, I wanted to insert a shameless plug for the new and improved Platohedro Patreon and Vaki. If you are interested in supporting art and technology education combined with psychosocial support for youth and single mothers in Colombia, then please consider donating!

All the best, 

Anne