Sister Harriet and the ITP/RFP

While dreaming of sister Harriet down by the intersection of estuaries and next steps, I dared to crossover. Now, I must forewarn, that I'm on a healing journey and craving the whispering bricks of the ocean water so you may need a glass of wine to read this post. In the nonprofit world, opportunities to engage in programming are oftentimes managed by an ITP/RFP process- Invitation to Participation or Request for Proposal. The company or organization (read "funder") sends out an electronic solicitation with the specs-objectives or goals, population to be served, time frame, preferred strategies and anything else that would help you qualify for or weed yourself out of the process. Sometimes, it is just a formality because the company or organization already knows exactly whom they want to hire but the process must still be followed to appear equitable. Those of us in the slightly more seasoned category can read an ITP/RFP and detect what organization(s) the funder has in mind. Anyway, this is about the process and my dream with sister Harriet, down by the intersection of estuaries and next steps. As sister Harriet and I were making our way North, I asked how her current ITP was still open. Surely, there were millions of qualified service providers to help folks on their way. She shook her head and painstakingly explained to me that her search wasn't for service providers but for free people that wanted to share the journey. Slightly perplexed, I foolishly said "well, the history books stated you led people to freedom." Sister Harriet shook her head again and increased her gait, while very deliberately stating " Free people cannot be led by anything outside of themselves. I've walked this path countless times because this is my journey. I invite people to participate all day, every day. This is how I move in the world. Now, are you crossing over or just blocking the light?". So, I crossed over and started dreaming about my own ITP process. Hope Sister Harriet visits again.