Many social justice movements today operate from a place of victimhood, shame, and identity politics. Leaders who don’t embrace both the shadow and shine of their identities often wind up creating problems instead of solving them. By cultivating self-awareness, self-love, and a network of peers, these same leaders can heal, evolve, and eventually contribute as Heart-Centered Leaders. By learning about Heart-Centered Leadership, we are more likely to help create the beloved community – a future that benefits all.
Note from Cedar: Since RUP is about centering power with heart, Jacob is an ally with his focus on supporting LGBTQ+ leaders in both common leadership needs and some specialized ones. He will help us broaden our perspective about how to use our differences and various identities for connection.
Jacob Rudolph
Jacob Rudolph made international headlines in 2013 when a video of him coming out in front of more than 300 of his classmates went viral with over 2,000,000 views on YouTube. Inspired to continue speaking up, Jacob successfully assisted local civil rights groups that same year in passing a state law that bans conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ youth in New Jersey. Since then, he has been selected for the Point Foundation Scholarship, the John Lewis Fellowship, was the commencement speaker at his college graduation– University of Miami, 2017. He has served as Executive Director of The Pride Network since 2018, and was named to the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30: Law & Policy list. He is currently studying Classical Five-Element Acupuncture at the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture in Louisville.