One of my favorite nonprofit organizations is the Cabin in Boise, Idaho. The Cabin’s staff, programs, board, and literary community are remarkable. Most importantly, their advocacy actions reinforce my trust in the Cabin, amplifying their Magnetic North (purpose, vision, mission, and values). When the Idaho State Legislature proposed bills to ban books, criminalize librarians, and create citizen review panels, the Cabin, in partnership with other critical literary partners, launched an advocacy effort, No Book Bans. I would argue that this commitment was their most influential strategic action. This course of action was unlikely to be predicted during the drafting of the strategic plan, but the clarity around organizational values made this decision more certain. The Cabin’s strategic plan left room for wayfinding, and the community gathered in force to do the work that mattered.

How might we show up for those on the periphery when their safety is jeopardized? What if this is our most remarkable and essential work? How might we act instead of worrying about predicting?

Cabin Mission: The Cabin is a literary arts nonprofit organization in Boise, Idaho. We forge community through the voices of all readers, writers, and learners. Our workshops, readings, lectures, camps, and other literary programs provoke creativity and experimentation, foster literary excellence, and inspire a love of reading and writing in children and adults alike across the Treasure Valley and beyond.