Charles Simmons: Spirituality and Leadership

Charles is a friend of mine who is the chairperson of a group called Ex-Felons for Ex-Felons. The group is primarily made up of people who have formerly been incarcerated, and who have a commitment to helping other succeed in that transition. The group is supported by the Council on Crime and Justice, where Charles also works as a Building Manager. Charles has taught me a lot about surrender to God and about what empowering leadership can look like.

• 0:10 Just remember that God is ultimately in control of everything.
• 1:30 I had a guy that came in and said, "I remember you and your brothers. You had the Northside locked up."
• 4:20 God is refining you to be what he wants you to be.
• 4:50 It brought me a closer, inner peace with Him in prison.
• 5:50 I think that in any atmosphere, there are good and evil spirits. You can fall into it, or let them control you ... as far as that prison atmosphere... God is in the midst of everything.
• 9:00 I can relate to this person who just came out of the institution because I've been in that institution... I walked on those same paths you walked.
• 11:25 I don't go out with the intention that I've got to go change somebody today.
• 13:20 Pray over the atmosphere that you are in...Let the Spirit reveal what you need, and bring that to your work environment.

Kay Pranis: Spirituality and Leadership

This week I met with Kay Pranis, a leader, trainer, and author in the Restorative Justice field. Kay has inspired me and many others for several years. I was happy for the chance to ask her how she thinks about leadership, spirituality, and transformation that changes institutions. Here is an excerpt from the interview:


This shift is so big... in all of our institutions


Encouraging examples:

• ROCA in Massachusetts


• Collaboration in Chicago


• Prison staff relationships in Minnesota

Al Quie: Spirituality and Leadership

Today I was fortunate to interview Al Quie about his experiences with spirituality and leadership. Al Quie was formerly the Governor of Minnesota and a U.S. Congressperson. He's also been involved in prison ministries for more than 30 years. Here are some excerpts of our conversation, over orange juice at Perkins:

The realities of the invisible and learning the language of the invisible

Listening to God is like deciphering a bad accent

Going to prison for the first time

Asking another congressman to pray & praying with Gerald Ford when he was appointed President

Moving towards those who don't have power. God wants us to pay attention to those we neglect.

Institutions can provide justice, but not love.

Discerning God's will in secular groups

Leaders set the tone for organizations

Most organizations are fearful of sharing what went wrong