Welcome to Tammy's Tidbits, My New Monthly Newsletter
A thoughtful glimpse of what's on my mind - without overthinking it!
When I was a high school journalism student, I wrote a newspaper column called “Tammy’s Tidbits.” Well, my inner teenage girl is still a big part of me, so now is as good a time as any for the reboot!
Why now? Honestly, I need a bit of levity and a creative outlet as I brace myself for this abomination of a presidential administration (while feeling heartbreak over the Southern California wildfires). Creating something that might bring a little bit of sunshine to my online community, if only one person, is meaningful.
I intend to be thoughtful, but not overthink it. To be inspirational, but also a bit vulnerable. To be both a leader and a follower of others I believe in. It’s like a mashup of Instagram and LinkedIn, a blend of personal and professional updates. I’ll send it on the 19th of every month. (The 19th is my birth date and thus lucky number…and it ties into an easy impact action; read to the end to find out.) Thanks for being with me for this experiment. Here we go!
Leadership - what I’m practicing…
Resilience. Christen and I wrote a whole chapter about it in our book, Impact. Strengthening this muscle helps us manage life’s never-ending ups and downs. I picked up a One Line a Day 5-year journal I abandoned in 2023, with a new focus: Every day, I write down something that is going right. Some days I have to think for a bit too long. But I can always find something, no matter how small, and that’s gradually building my resilience to remain action-oriented and hopeful, in a devastating news cycle. Here are other ideas to overcome the overwhelm.
Philanthropy - what I’m innovating…
Who holds the power: the person giving the money or receiving it? Who should? For the past couple of years, I’ve strived to be a “diplomatic disruptor,” shifting power dynamics in philanthropy, reimaginging partnerships with funders. My next opportunity is this February in Guatemala. I’m excited to host a two-day convening of funders, inside of She’s the First’s Ellas al Frente program for girl-centered community organizations in Central America. Funders will be immersed in this training event for grassroots leaders and girls, a valuable chance to listen directly to on-the-ground needs. My brilliant colleague Ceci Arriaza, She’s the First Director of Programs, and I will facilitate a special session for funders, uniting us in a strategy to address systemic issues that prevent more diverse leaders from rising to the top.
The week before Guatemala, I’ll be in France at the INSEAD business school, for my International Women’s Forum Fellowship. My Fellowship project will further sharpen my donor education skills. I plan to design a workshop, which I hope can be used by giving circles and similar groups - watch this space for more!
Family - how I’m making memories…
Hard to believe my sweet blonde baby turns 3 this week! He wants a robot birthday party. I want to slow down time! Turns out you can, sort of. The trick is doing less routine, more new things. Novelty helps us encode more memories, slowing down the perception of time, research finds. Over our Christmas break, and each weekend since, I challenged myself to do one new thing for the first time with Owen. I then turn these memories into Chatbooks Monthly Minis that we enjoy year-long.
Worth a Read/Listen:
📚 Ahead of International Women’s Day in March, I recommend The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact - Driving Movements We Need Now More Than Ever. If you’re a She’s the First supporter, Latanya Mapp Frett (former CEO of Global Fund for Women) will remind you what a great decision it is to invest in grassroots women leaders.
I never read a Reese’s Book Club pick I didn’t like: We Will be Jaguars did not disappoint (a great bday gift from Michael!). It’s a captivating memoir of an Indigenous woman’s life in the Amazon rainforest and her activism journey to save it.
🎙️ “Listen to the Year’s Best Wisdom” from The Daily felt like a warm hug from a mentor, as I walked to daycare in the bitter cold. Emilie Aries’ Bossed Up episode “Create a Compelling Vision for Your Life in the New Year” prompts you to think about de-centralizing your job in your identity. (This relates to a tip I often give, to integrate your #1 cause or “North Star” in how you identify yourself).
Feel free to make this a two-way street, and tell me what’s up! 👇🏼 I’ll get back to you.
Every issue coincides with a monthly $19 donation to 19th News, an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy.
I'm so glad you are starting a newsletter! I had a One Line A Day journal for a while, but when COVID hit, I had a hard time keeping up since the days were all the same. I like your idea of giving it a focus!
So happy to see this!! <3