We were so proud to recently learn that we were awarded first place in the Excellence in Radio category from the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association for the Black History Month special we did about Bayard Rustin, titled Bayard Rustin – Who Is This Man? It is a true honor to have had the chance to work with so many people that worked with Bayard and that have written about him and even taught his doctrine of non-violent resistance that forever changed Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach to the Civil Rights struggle. Bayard spoke his mind and stuck to his convictions no matter what the consequences were. He was also openly gay in a time where that was met with an excruciating amount of disdain. Black, gay, Quaker . . . a number of seemingly incompatible labels that served to earn him as many detractors as admirers.

Listen to the radio episode and be sure to check out our other collateral for the episode including a video podcast from SOTRU host, Al Letson, a slideshow that features incredible Rustin pictures and an audio podcast about the music of Bayard Rustin. We are certain that this is the type of episode you will want to share with your friends whether it’s Black History Month or not. SOTRU would love to hear from you with your thoughts about the Rustin episode and the award from the NLGJA.

Amid the rising anxiety and anger vexing Americans today, I wanted to write about what it means to lead in this nasty environment. First I thought about focusing on the president, then congress, or corporate leaders; but each time I started, I found myself veering back to one person in particular: my high school tennis coach, who won a national award for his exemplary leadership, and who has some lessons to inspire us all.

There are more than enough examples these days of challenges of leading in a nasty world. But anything I would say points me back to Rich Johns, a real life example of a genuine leader.  A couple of years ago, Rich won the Starfish Award given out by the United States Tennis Association, for his “no-cut” system of high school coaching. Every kid who comes out to play is on the team. But that’s only the beginning of the story.

First off, don’t misread how or why he won the USTA award: he’s no pushover. Lesson #1, He loves winning, and he’s not afraid to say so. Indeed, he’s one of the most demanding people I’ve ever known. His teams (both girls and boys) win religiously.

Lesson #2, he expects each player to leave everything they’ve got on the court. He will settle for nothing less than highly competitive play. I’ll never forget the season I played number one singles for him, and during one match I got sick and was hit by heat stroke. I didn’t want to quit, and nor did he ask me to. Instead, he laid me out on the cool shower-room floor, doused me with water, and then talked me into going back on the court to finish and win the match. He doesn’t like to lose.

But then there’s Lesson #3: he expects fair play at every turn and he brooks no one crossing the line. I’ve seen him argue firmly and openly with other coaches about their players’ cheating; and I’ve seen him take on his own players for the same. To him, there are some rules that should never be broken because they strike to the very heart of what it means to have integrity.

Lesson #4 is that he expects his players to play with respect. He’s a legend in my hometown for this, and it’s something he’s fast becoming nationally known for.  Rich implores you to fight your hardest, but always treat others with honor and dignity. These can be difficult notions to hold simultaneously. But the bottom-most player deserves the same respect as the top dog. Everyone participates; no one sits courtside. No excuses, ever.  You show respect for others, and you learn to respect yourself.

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And yet, if it comes down to compromising his core principles, he’s willing to lose and play for another day. We need more leaders like Rich.

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What does this have to do with the national scene today? Two keys I want to mention here. First, in sports, as in politics, and in all parts of life, we need more leaders like Rich Johns. You always know where he stands, and he always speaks clearly so you can hear him. He doesn’t hide, flinch, or retreat. What he values is crystal clear. What’s more, what he does is not about himself or his own aggrandizement; rather, he seeks to advance a cause larger than himself (in case, the life and growth of kids). And in pursuit of this cause, he is never dogmatic, always open to working things out. And yet, if it comes down to compromising his core principles, he’s willing to lose and play for another day. We need more leaders like Rich.

Here’s the second key: when you find leaders like Rich – whether they’re athletic coaches or politicians or someone else – let them know that you value and support them, even if, or especially when, you do not agree with them. Too many leaders are getting undercut in these nasty times. Please, sit down and write them a letter or email today to let them know! When we see good leaders, we must stand by them.

So, for me, thanks Rich Johns, for being my mentor and friend since 1974, when we first met, when I was only 14 years old. Thank you for being someone I look up to, stand by, and love with all my heart.

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A dynamic public speaker, Rich Harwood is a frequent keynote for foundations and national organizations. He is an expert contributor on national and syndicated media outlets including MSNBC, NPR, The Christian Science Monitor, CNN’s Inside Politics, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Special Report with Brit Hume, C-SPAN, and many others. He is also the author of Hope Unraveled: The people’s retreat and our way back (2005), Make Hope Real: How we can accelerate change for the public good (2008) and numerous studies, articles and essays chronicling vital issues of our time. His most recent written work, Why We’re Here: The Powerful Impact of Public Broadcasters When They Turn Outward, is being published and distributed in Spring 2011. You can follow him on twitter @RichHarwood and facebook.com/richharwood.

You can read Rich’s posts every Tuesday on State of the Re:Union’s website.

Whenever we’re bored in the wee hours, there’s only one option in town for my friends and I. It’s not a bar, or even a pizza joint— it’s a doughnut shop.

But Voodoo Doughnut is far from anyone’s idea of a ordinary doughnut shop. For example, my usual treat of choice is the (tactfully titled) Gay Bar, a raised yeast doughnut injected with Bavarian cream. Vanilla frosting and sweet, crunchy Froot Loops make the whole thing positively delectable. But when I need something different, the store’s signature Voodoo Doll works just fine. Baked in the shape of a doll (already slightly creepy), red, blue, and chocolate frosting depict a crazed face. And as if this wasn’t enough, the doughnuteers drive pretzel stakes through the hearts of every doll. Squeeze in the right place, and out oozes… raspberry jelly. Pure genius, and it can lead to my friends and I biting off the dolls’ heads and and sucking out the jelly like vampires. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and order one.

Eugene, Oregon, is known, for its culture of creativity. Maybe it’s the enormous amount of grass seed that comes into the air every spring, the 49.4 inches of precipitation per year, or the fact that Ken Kesey made the city one of his intellectual birthplaces. One thing’s for sure, though: creativity reigns. The DIY culture abounds in Eugene, in happy conjunction with the “high” arts, such as drawing and painting. I’ve seen both Handel’s Messiah at the Oregon Bach Festival and the works of the Radar Angels guerilla art group here.

So when the folks of Voodoo Doughnut up in Portland, Oregon, were looking for a place to launch their third store (referred to within the community as Voodoo Doughnut Tres), Eugene must have appeared as the obvious choice.

Apart from their doughnuts, the Voodoo brand is recognizable by their signature pink t-shirts. Cheeky sayings like “Magic Is In The Hole” and “I Got VD in Portland” adorn everything from infant onesies to ladies’ underpants.

The shops are keenly tuned to the local culture, wherever they may be located. Their Facebook page regularly cites articles from publications based in Eugene and Portland. The Eugene shop is adorned with posters of movies that have all been set somewhere in Oregon.

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The success of Voodoo Doughnut has become a source of pride in both of the communities in which the shops reside. It serves as proof that the Pacific Northwest does indeed have services and businesses that matter to the rest of the country.

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Whether you find it endearing or obnoxious, Voodoo Doughnut is slowly evolving into one of the symbols of the Northwest. The company has been featured on the Today Show, the Cooking Channel, and recently People magazine. The national attention has been incredible, but thankfully, Voodoo hasn’t lost its experimental nature. When the store’s founders Tres Shannon and Kenneth Pogson were featured on NPR’s feature show Day to Day in 2007, it was originally due to their attempt to create a trans-fat free doughnut. But the two founders couldn’t resist talking about their last crazy venture.

“It was a Tums doughnut, where we had a Pepto Bismol-vanilla frosting with crushed Tums on top,” Pogson explained in the interview. The doughnut (designed to serve as a hangover cure) was banned because it was technically food mixed with medicine. The Health Department didn’t take too kindly to that, apparently.

To me, Voodoo Doughnut represents the future of the Pacific Northwest. Sure, a lot of businesses in these parts are quirky. But they’re also a force to be reckoned with. By believing in their product, even in times of economic downturn, Voodoo has managed to earn nationwide renown in less than ten years. This is incredible, considering the relatively small size of the city of Portland (and Eugene).

The success of Voodoo Doughnut has become a source of pride in both of the communities in which the shops reside. It serves as proof that the Pacific Northwest does indeed have services and businesses that matter to the rest of the country. Like logging. And book stores. And doughnuts with names like the Memphis Mafia and the Grape Ape.

We Want to Know:

• Have you been to Voodoo Doughnut? What’s your favorite menu selection there?
• Is their a business that reminds you or shares a similar ethos with Voodoo Doughnut?

Start the discussion below and be sure to experience the confectionary bliss at Voodoo Doughnut when you’re in the Eugene or Portland areas!