The Justice Walk Newsletter - May 2024

Leadership support rooted in equity and justice

"We cannot hope to change every institution, but we hope that by changing ourselves what we will accept, that the organizations will have no choice but to bend towards us."

Camonghne Felix

Like most folks working towards justice and liberation, I regularly hear that my vision for the future is far too radical and unrealistic to ever achieve.Maybe.In fact, if we're only talking about what can happen in my lifetime, I would probably agree.Why do I pursue this vision, then? What's the point?If we don't know where we're trying to go, how can we figure out if we're moving in the right direction?How can I know if a decision I'm making appears positive through a short-term lens, but when viewed longer-term, proves to be counter-productive?An example from earlier in my career involves the conditions of confinement for children incarcerated in adult prisons. (Yup, that's a thing!)Advocating only for more services, education, and improved housing would have met immediate goals but also systemically increased the budget of the Department of Correction, further entrenching and supporting the concept of incarcerating children as adults and undermining our overall goal to remove all children from adult facilities. ("But we have these updated cells and such good educational services here in the prison now! Why would we move kids out?")Back to today's story:I came across the above quote about changing ourselves while I was processing some thoughts and feelings about my relationship to when and how much I "work" in the traditional sense.I had been wondering: "Who am I to believe that I can, and deserve to be, economically sustained without being constantly overwhelmed and stressed out? To pursue a life and career where I am both fulfilled and holistically well?"I have so much privilege that others don't. I worried, "Am I abusing that privilege by prioritizing my own wellness and joy?"

This quote and a chat with my coach (coaches are so great, folks! 😉) helped me to re-frame. The fact that I can change my relationship to work IS a privilege.But, by changing what I will accept I am setting new standards, perhaps making it easier for others without my privilege to do the same. Eventually, organizations and systems will have to bend towards what we will accept.In fact, if I don't take active steps to live into the vision I see for the future - if I believe it is “too radical” - why would any coaching, consulting, or facilitation partners view my insights or suggestions as credible?

I NEED to live into the reality I want to create. Otherwise, my actions are making my words a lie. 

What is your vision for the future?What steps can you take to bring that vision just a little more sharply into focus?How might I encourage and support you on your walk?

More and more gatherings and meetings are recognizing the need for opening and closing activities. To transition folks into and out of the work being done; to emphasize wellness; to build relationship. It can be hard to find just the right thing for your group with its specific make-up and goals.This is where my friend, Amparo Vázquez, comes in.Earlier this Spring, I had the opportunity to hire Amparo to create 5-minute, personalized centering meditations for a cohort I'm facilitating.During a zoom call, Amparo asked me about the people in our group, our values and purpose for meeting, and some of our common joys and challenges.When she sent over the meditations she had created, I could hear how she'd used our conversation to create centering and guiding messages designed to speak directly to not only where we are now, but also to where we are looking to go.I began our next gathering with one of the meditations.  The feedback from folks - some of whom are very used to starting meetings with centering work, some of who are not - was universally positive. They appreciated the chance to be still for a few minutes and gather their thoughts. And they appreciated the individual and collective tone setting the meditation achieved.As you think about the agenda for your next workshop, staff meeting, retreat, community conversation, strategic planning session, etc. etc. etc. consider reaching out to Amparo to see how she could work with your group.

Grief is a universal experience. It's also one we rarely talk about.We can push aside or through our own grief and ignore, shy away from, and deny other peoples' grief, terrified to say the wrong thing or to get "stuck" trying to comfort someone else who is in pain.To build community and transformative relationships we have to be able to reckon with our own and others' grief.If you're looking to explore grief, death, and life with joy, creativity and abundant, loving community, I'd like to recommend the GriefSense podcast hosted by Mimi Gonzalez.Mimi is...well, probably one of the most ALIVE people I've ever known.Check it out!

To learn more about my coaching and consulting, and find out if I'm a good fit for you and your org, email me at [email protected]My friend, ala ochumare, of Liberation U, and I also frequently partner to facilitate personalized workshops and group sessions focused on how to foster belonging and transformative relationships in organizations and communities. You can reach out to either one of us for more information about those services.Quick reminder to follow me on Linked In - button below.