October 11, 2019

Culture

Learn It, Live It, Love It: The October Edition

By: Cindy Cerquitella

Learn It:

I’m a big believer in taking a few minutes at the end of each day to draft your to-do list for the next day. You’re still in the zone and next steps are fresh in your mind. This 15-minute routine to close out each workday seems like an even better upgrade to that model.

Live it:

We’ve talked about the threats Hong Kongers are facing on this page quite a bit, and this week, that threat hit home in America hard. I firmly believe that Hong Kong’s fight goes beyond the island. Freedom lost there is freedom lost around the world, and China’s actions to silence the speech of individuals through their power of the purse is nothing less than terrifying. I’m so proud of the young people here in DC this week that took a stand, and protested at an exhibition basketball game where the Guangzhou Loong-Lions played the Wizards.

Many companies are bowing to the demands of China, now it’s our turn to use our voice to encourage these companies to defend the values that help them prosper. The battle for free speech is reaching a new dimension, what will we do about it?

Love it:

I’ve been inspired by Yeon Mi Park for years and have had the privilege of hearing her speak on a number of occasions. Her story of escaping North Korea is harrowing, and the success she has seen since is nothing short of affirming. Listen to her recent TED Talk here.

If you are inspired by the stories of those fighting for freedom in Hong Kong, or North Korea and beyond, consider attending the Human Rights Foundation’s upcoming Oslo Freedom Forum in New York Oct 23. I attended last year, and a deeper understanding of how precious freedom is, how fragile it is, and how resilient those who fight it are.

Father Robert Sirico is a hero of mine, and the work he does to defend markets from a religious perspective at the Acton Institute is vital. This feature in the Wall Street Journal outlines his cause.

A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that Chris Moody is a 2019 recipient of the Novak Fellowship, Chris used to attend AF events back in my early days, and it was so thrilling to see how his career has blossomed from Cato, to CNN, to…. A van…). Check out this awesome story about the adventure he’s been embarking on, and follow along on instagram here.