In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.
Brother David Steindl-Rast
Welcome!
I founded the SOJOURN INSTITUTE LLC based upon my belief that everyone has the right and the responsibility to make choices in their lives. Our choices impact each of us individually while at the same time affecting the world around us. In this great time of change, the choices we make are even more important. For example: let's look at health. Being healthy involves making both personal as well as policy decisions. On a societal level, we have a responsibility to inform ourselves about the health insurance legislation that is being proposed at the federal level. To do so, we must go beyond the newspaper headlines and often biased rather than informative news articles and news programs. Instead, we must take the initiative to seek out additional methods by which to formulate our own opinions about the bills.This may include accessing the legislation online and reading it for ourselves and/or attending sessions led by Congress people and listening to what they say and asking them to direct us to the sections in the legislation that support their positions. This is informed decision making at its best. On the personal side, an individual also has the right and the responsibility to do what they can to become or remain as healthy as they can be. This includes making the decision to eat well, exercise, reduce stress, modify habits that detract from their health, and seek positive relationships.
My professional goals are to : (1) work with empowered people to use change - imposed and self initiated - as opportunity for self empowerment, and (2) to provide researched, evidence-based information to support informed policy decisions in the public and private sectors.
My background has prepared me to do both well. I have had extensive experience in public policy as an elected member of the New Jersey State Legislature, an appointed member of a New Jersey Gubernatorial Cabinet as the New Jersey State Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs I have been a business owner, a national researcher, an author, educator, and attorney. I have traveled internationally as the leader of delegations seeking the exchange of information and understanding in justice. These experiences provide me the tools by which to be an effective life, career, and business coach as well as to understand the impact of proposed and existing public and private sector policies from practical, legislative, and research perspectives.
I look forward to working with you.
Stephanie R. Bush-Baskette, JD, PhD
Founder and President
Sojourn Institute LLC
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