Enjoying a new approach to community change-making

A CORE Limerick

by Rebecca S. Krantz, Phd

An executive director named Becca
Thought her job was a little like Mecca
Until she realized
It was quite oversized 
And the mess she could make was one heck-a!

Though she managed to wear many masks
She’d no clue how to delegate tasks
She threw stuff over the net
In an unconscious bet
That her partner knew what she had asked

When she looked for an outside consultant
One promised her cheap, quick results
Too good to be true,
But her options were few
Her mission once again suffered an insult

Becca later decided to be
A consultant to other EDs
She offered her fare
With thought and with care
And, she hoped, with more true honesty

Sometimes she would say to a client,
“I’m no expert at that, though I’d try it
And as for the rest
I don’t know who’s best
I wish this were more of a science!”

Now Becca was also a funder
Trying to make good with the profits of plunder
She tried to divine
Which requests to decline 
But knew that she often would blunder


Her goal was to leverage the funds
Since she couldn’t give a way tons
So with audacity
She said “let’s build capacity, 
And all get together as one!

Funders, consultants, and leaders
Share goals for the future that teeters
On the brink of disaster
Lets change our world faster 
By doing more than just plugging our meters

Let’s work for some more true relations
We know that trust takes cultivation
If we know who’s who
And what they love, and can do
We can make better recommendations

Let’s also take time for reflection
It's not just navel inspection
If together we dare
To become more aware
We’ll be able to shift our direction

Let’s get past the grind and the duty
And let go of hoarding our booty
Let’s work with more joy
The future, a-hoy!
A harmonious vision of beauty.”