I work in politics and diplomacy. This means that I am interacting with people from different places, either geographically or intellectually, almost every moment of the day. It is my job to find areas of agreement, or help us work through controversial issues. Fundamentally, it is about consensus building – each negotiation is iterative. Because you know you will be back to discuss the same, or a different, topic on another day, you learn not to burn bridges. At BFS, I learned some of the core values that guide my work today: • That consensus is possible in all situations, though sometimes it requires people to stand down from their beliefs. It can take a long time before people see the value in putting the greater good before their own. • That there is a Light in all people, and fear too. Recognizing the difference between the two is critical. Focusing on finding the Light that connects us all together is essential to finding agreement. • Simplicity is always the best route. Speak straightforwardly, be honest and open, and others will follow your lead. • Silence is the most powerful tool – it encourages others to talk and allows me to listen. • Violence is never the only option – asking alternative options is hard work, but there is never just one solution to a problem. I learned these values in elementary school at BFS. They have helped me through peace negotiations with Darfurian rebels and recalcitrant government officials; through meetings with countless presidents and ministers; through trade talks in Beijing; the release of political prisoners; and, today, as we struggle to bring our own country to confront climate change. My time at BFS taught me to look every person in the eye – no matter what his or her rank, background, or position is in the world – and see him or her as a person, full of fears and insecurities, but with that Light inside that allows us to connect. Taiya credits her Friends upbringing with being critical to her ability to exercise leadership and take a different perspective than the norm. Inspired by her family and her love for the earth, she works every day to make a difference. Being on the road a lot and missing moments of her children’s development is perhaps the hardest part of her adult life. Yet, she reflects, “I feel a strong draw to make the world a better place for them and all their peers growing up in different parts of the world. They will undoubtedly have plenty of challenges to manage. Still, I hope that we can leave a few things in a better place.”
JODY LEE LIPES
alumniUpdate KATELYNN CONNOLLY
I had the pleasure of connecting with Jody Lee Lipes ‘96 earlier this year to catch up and learn where his path has taken him since he was last featured in Seedlings, in its 2017 Spring issue. Jody has recently completed two major projects showcasing his cinematography talents. The first was a little full-length feature film—perhaps you’ve heard of it?— called “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (AKA The Mr. Rogers’ Movie). The second is “I Know This Much Is True,” a soon-to-be released HBO miniseries, starring Mark Ruffalo, that focuses on mental health and family. Jody struck me as humble, grounded and focused on the “bigger” picture. I asked him how he maintains his composure while working with Hollywood A-listers in a high pressure, intense work environment. He referred to his time in Meeting during his years at BFS and the practice of reflection it instilled — how he learned to stay in the stillness, listening to his inner voice and finding peace. He calls on this discipline while on set. When things are chaotic and tense, he considers the larger issues at play and the morality in the room, knowing that these will help him to find a way to move forward in his work. Now a father, Jody looks to the future with hope but also trepidation—what will this world be like for his children? He believes that his Quaker education has given him a solid foundation for navigating the best path forward for his children and family, while following his passion for telling stories that matter and positively affect others. “If it is not life-affirming, then it’s not good” is a message he has learned – and one he now passes on to his children, and those around him.
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