​Ignite + Uplift
​

• From: John Harvey <[email protected]>
  Date: March 19, 2025 at 10:51:49 AM EDT
  To: John Harvey <[email protected]>
  Subject: Ignite + Uplift Weekly Virtual Meeting – Key Takeaways (March 18, 2025)
  
  
  Why do efforts of Ignite + Uplift matter?
  For me, our children and grandchildren’s future is at stake.  Archie, Stella, and Izzy are the source of my personal motivation and commitment.
  • What if a child doesn’t fit Trump’s narrow definition of “acceptable”?
  • Will they struggle to belong in a changing America?
  • Many in the meeting expressed similar concerns for their own families.

Why this effort matters to me.  You?
The emotions of the 40+ participants on our first two calls expressed current states ranging from “High Anxiety” to “Physically Ill”.  Me too.
We discussed the “Science of Resistance” in people which explores why individuals instinctively resist change, often rooted in the brain's threat detection system, fear of the unknown, and a preference for the status quo, as well as cognitive biases and the disruption of habits.  When faced with the unknown or threats people react in one of three ways.
·       Freeze (paralyzed by fear) 
·       Flight (avoid, deny, disengage) 
·       Fight (engage, resist, organize)
How are you responding personally?


Personal Leadership – an opportunity to learn, and an antidote for feeling lost.
In the Face of Uncertainty Personal Leadership is a light at the end of the dark tunnel.  Personal Leaders are those of you who want to learn how to create meaningful change in your world.  The adjectives used to describe meaningful change are purposeful, positive, and proactive. 
Any person receiving this email has the potential to develop as a personal leader, creating meaningful change quickly.  Virtually, all of last night’s meeting participants expressed a desire in learning how to develop as a personal leader.
Any individual can become a personalleader, and virtually all of last night’s meeting participants expressed a desire in learning how to develop as a personal leader.
Trump is not a leader, by any reasonable definition.
Action: I will send an invite for a session on developing as a personal leader.
 
The Current Political Landscape
• Trump’s Address to Congress outlined a vision that benefits the wealthy while harming the majority.  I encourage you to view his speech in its entirety.  For me it represents a clear understanding of where he is dictating  America, and a baseline for my activism.

https://youtu.be/T8JvnG0r8vM?si=gO_Bcr-t9lNrw1Pr
• • The current administration follows an oligarchic playbook similar to Putin’s: consolidating power, silencing opposition, and disregarding ordinary Americans.
Examples of reckless policies:
• • • Firing federal employees without a plan.
    • Freezing USAID funding, causing humanitarian crises.
    • Government actions that prioritize political power over people’s well-being.


Reasons for Optimism
 Legal Challenges
• The ACLU has filed 434 lawsuits challenging Trump’s policies since his inauguration.  Their 2,400 lawyer strong machine will be a force.. 
• They have successfully blocked harmful initiatives in the past and continue their legal fight.
• I encourage you to support their efforts – even a $1.00 donation strengthens their efforts.  https://www.aclu.org/
 
Growing Resistance in Congress & Judiciary
Some Republicans and officials are standing against harmful policies:
• Rep. John Moolenaar (MI) opposed Chinese-controlled TikTok.
• Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) opposed Trump’s spending bill.
• Senators McConnell & Rand Paul (KY) opposed harmful tariffs.
• Rep. Max Miller (OH) criticized Trump’s rhetoric.
• Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked Trump’s impeachment threats.


Actionable Next Steps 
 The April 1st Special Elections: MATTER
The following seats are available as a result of Trump appointments.  Special elections typically have a lower turnout so there is a real chance that these three seats can be flipped on April 1, 2025.
Despite not being in these voting districts you CAN have an impact.
•  Florida’s 1st District: Gay Valimont (D) vs. Trump’s pick. Website
•  Florida’s 6th District: Josh Weil (D) vs. GOP candidate. Website
•  New York’s 21st District: Blake Gendebien (D) vs. GOP replacement. Website
ON April 1st there is another important election - theWisconsin Supreme Court Race:
•  Susan Crawford (D) vs. Brad Schimel (R) Website
• This race will impact abortion rights, union protections, and election integrity in a key swing state.


How You Can Help
·       Visit candidates' websites & social media. 
·       Volunteer, donate, or spread awareness. 
·       Take one meaningful action each day.


Today’s Final Call to Action: Make This a Movement, Not a Moment
• Instead of focusing on negative memes, take daily action.
• Commit to one meaningful action per day to push back against harmful policies.  Start today, and post your action on our private FB page to encourage others.
• If you need support, encouragement, or suggested actions, reach out!
• Commitment: Meeting participants agreed to commit to one meaningful action per day.
 
 ​

To all, as a reminder -

please join us for our second virtual meeting tonight from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET .

Ignite + Uplift Virtual Meeting Details:
Date: Tuesday March 18, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Google Meet Link: https://calendar.app.google/VNon9MgJzsMK5e7L7

​And, please share this invitation with anyone who you believe has an interest or concerns about where America is headed.

Finally, if possible I encourage you to read the following email exchange I had with Blaine, a terrific leader I coached and eventually mentored several years ago.  Read it for two reasons:
​
1)     Blaine is a 30-something, trained engineer, who successfully managed a manufacturing plant, who lives in Georgia.  Blaine’s email provides insight into how a well-educated young, white man views the current situation. 
2)     My response provides my current thinking on the Ignite + Uplift community going forward.  Please share any questions or insight you have. 
See you tonight - John
 
Blaine’s email to me yesterday
 John, Thanks for the invite (to Ignite + Uplift). I really appreciate that you’re trying to create a space for discussion.

That said, I want to be transparent. Although I’m a registered non-partisan voter, I often find that the views I hold aren’t aligned with those expressed in this group. I’ve noticed that many of the discussion points come with significant bias. After reading the last several emails, it seems to me that media talking points are being relayed, but important context is often missing. Because of this, I’ve started to question whether the group’s goal is genuine conversation - or simply reinforcing the Democrat base.

For me, a pretty reliable rule of thumb: the key difference between bureaucracy and business is specificity. If a government official uses emotion to highlight a problem without offering a clear solution - that’s bureaucracy. When a leader uses data and presents a solution - that’s leadership. That’s the kind of approach I’d expect from anyone in a position of responsibility.

Today’s response to Blaine.
Blaine, thank you for sharing - as always.  I do not believe either party is effective, or do I believe they represent my views.  Share an issue and I will gladly express my opinion, is how I express this standing to others.  Admittedly, I have maintained my "D" voting designation, however, as it provides an opportunity to vote in primaries and elections, and I strongly believe voting is a key responsibility as an American...safe for now.

 Our discussion is reflective of two relatively bright, well-intended, and values-oriented guys seeing the same situation differently - a good thing. 

 To clear any confusion, “Ignite + Uplift’ is a partisan effort, motivated by the belief that Trump/Musk are taking us in a direction that will not benefit most Americans, nor the world.  My personal motivation is my fear for my grandkids and others in their generation, and my hope that I can make a difference. 

While I have examples of being an activist in the past, this is by far my greatest challenge in this area.  Like you decision to leave the company and do your own thing a few years back.   Without having a new job in place.  Both exhilarating ad nerve racking at the same time.  I am learning my way on this adventure, along the way.  A bit like your rock climbing.

 My work is inspiring people by encouraging them to dig deep to find their own source of motivation – fear or hope, desperation or aspiration.  As we learned together, motivation needs to come from within.  For me motivation is captured in one simple question, “What if my grandchildren Archer, Stella, and Izzy do not turn into people like those narrowly defined by Trump/Musk?”. 

 My intent is to help participants improve their well-being, which ranged between “very anxious”, and “physically ill” on our virtual meeting last week.  Today, I am encouraging all members to take one, simple, and meaningful action every day.  As this becomes a habit, I plan to move onto collaborative opportunities where individual actions can have increased impact (1+1 = 3, 100+100=300).

 Gaining support behind a clearer and fact/quote-based narrative that will influence others along the way; impacting special elections and our midterm elections, and ultimately the 2028 elections.

 Regarding your thoughts on bureaucracy v. business, and leadership.  Let’s put bureaucracy aside as I think we would both agree it is not what we want.  Trump/Musk have said they are running the government like a business, so let’s go with it.  And, they do have some business experience - Trump Properties, Tesla, and X.

 Consider three simple core business traits of clear accountability, effective communication, and mutual trust.  Would you add anything else?
 As I consider Trump/Musk’s decisions and actions his first 60 days I am not seeing any of these in play, nor clarity.  Some examples,

•  Think of Trump’s campaign promises like lower grocery prices, ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a matter of days.  Boasted like they would be easy.  People believed him. 
• What successful business would enact change by firing 2,000 employees without a plan?  Without respect?  And without any advance notice, or consideration of helping them transition to new opportunities?  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12HSQde7ing/  
• Republican congressmen are getting bashed by their constituents at Town Hall’s.  Trump/Musk’s solution, telling them to stop holding Town Halls.  What happened to the commitment to transparency.  https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18Yrf59TyM/ 
• And where is evidence of their integrity, the foundational requirement of any leader?  
• And are people feeling safe under this new leader?

As an engineer who understands the importance of data, Blaine - what is the most reliable data you can share that Trump has used?


You mention statistics in your note which, I believe, date back to the November election.  A Marist Poll this month indicated 45% of Americans strongly agree with the current administration’s direction, while 49% of Americans strongly disagree with the direction.  6% of the respondents were in the middle.  Since being elected, these numbers are not going in Trump/Musk’s favor.  Current data in a rapidly changing world is vital.
My approach to the media is to listen and validate before trusting.  Any updated data you can share to demonstrate your points about trust and approval ratings, based on your reading and research, will be appreciated as I do want to balance my view.  I encourage you to dig deeper than reading, reading, and reading. 
I love that you used the word, dialog.  The root of the word is “Dia” (between us) and “logos” (the truth).  The truth that flows between us.  The dilemma is that we all have different “truths”, and finding the absolute universal “truth” is fleeting, and maybe impossible.  What are some of your truths?
Blaine, this exchange was insightful and appreciated.  I am grateful, Blaine – John
John Harvey
Purposeful Synchronization
Inspire + Uplift
862-216-2425

John Harvey 
From:[email protected]

Sun, Mar 2 at 12:32 PM

The world is shifting, and many of us feel the weight of uncertainty, frustration, and concern about the direction things are headed. But what if we could turn that energy into meaningful action, find strength in connection, and build a future fueled by hope rather than fear?

Welcome to Ignite + Uplift.

This is more than just a community—it’s a movement of individuals who refuse to sit on the sidelines. Together, we will:

🔥 IGNITE awareness by staying informed with vetted, fact-based insights.
✨ UPLIFT one another through support, shared ideas, and meaningful dialogue.
💡 TAKE ACTION in ways that align with your values, energy, and unique abilities.

We understand that fear is real—about speaking up, about using platforms like Facebook, about what’s next. But instead of allowing fear to paralyze us, let’s lean into hope and use it as a guide. Even small steps can create ripples of change.

If this resonates with you—if you felt a spark of recognition or a pull toward something greater--we invite you to take action:

✅ Send me your email to stay connected.
✅ Invite me as a friend on Facebook to be part of this private, intentional space.
✅ Join us in shaping a community that stands for truth, justice, and progress.

​This isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, learning, and moving forward—together.
Let’s ignite. Let’s uplift. Let’s create change. Are you in?
​
John Harvey
Ignite and Uplift
862-216-2425

click on logo to go to facebook page