Posts by Elaine Tymchak
In Remembrance of 9/11
Today is a day of remembrance and mourning in the USA for the terrorist attacks that happened 18 years ago. The world changed after this event in so many ways, not only for Americans, but for humanity as a whole. We now live in a world where people have more fear, more uncertainty, and more…
Read MoreTwo are Better Than One
This weekend I had the opportunity to collaborate with some very intelligent and insightful people, and was reminded that two are always better than one. A dozen is even better! On Friday night, I was the guest of honor at a beautiful dinner party hosted by Kate Shannon of Merrill Lynch and Christy Morrell-Stinson of…
Read MorePerseverance
Perseverance is a tough lesson to learn, but in the end, it is one of the most valuable ones. It makes you stronger, more patient, and helps you embrace what is most important. For the past several months, Cultivate has been working hard on a new project – launching a new online training platform for…
Read MoreCould I Be Your Child?
Gasilda is an 11-year-old Mozambican girl who is already pregnant by her 70-year old husband. Her story is horrific, but it must be told. Consider if she was your child. What if your poverty forced you to a similar choice? Maybe such choices do not happen in America, but should we ignore them only because…
Read MorePrepare For What’s To Come
Working towards something that has not yet arrived is tough. You must have a strong vision to keep you moving, and when your energy falters, you must have something to cling to just so you can keep moving. That’s where I feel right now. I spend so much of my time and energy working on…
Read MorePodcast: Why change in development is so needed
Our Executive Director was recently featured on The Twin Cities Wellness Collective’s podcast. Click below to listen! Here are a few of the topics discussed: There are so many community insiders who have potential, the commitment to make long term changes, desire to improve, and create lasting impact in their community. However, the barriers to their…
Read MoreYou Gotta Have People
It’s all about community. Lately, I’ve been struggling through both personal and work issues, and this weekend I was reminded once again how it’s all about the community surrounding me. When you have people who love you, encourage you, and support you every step of the way, everything is possible. This is also the case for…
Read MoreDo I Quit When It Gets Too Hard?
Recently I’ve been experiencing many life difficulties, and it makes me question my ability to continue giving all of myself to Cultivate when life pulls me in so many directions. I ask myself if I should quit when things get too hard. But I haven’t quit yet, so I guess the answer is no. But…
Read MoreResponding To The Tough Stuff
When things don’t go as you planned, will you lose your patience? When you have to do something you don’t understand, will you get mad at yourself? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself lately. The other day I had an extremely horrible day. So many small things kept going wrong and altogether I…
Read MoreThird World, The Needy, & Black Panther
In the kind of work that I do, I often have to think about how language can either harm or help someone. When I’m talking to someone or come across a statement that says third world or the needy, there’s a part of me that just shatters. I feel a pain inside. I hate those words.…
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