Happy Fall!

Hola Fam! Hi Fam!

(trigger warning: this blog has personal narratives about women's reproductive health)

I know it's been a minute since I've written a blog for my LinkedIn newsletter. How is your fall gearing up? This fall season is very special for me. It marks the last fall back-to-school season that I will do as a parent.

My miracle child is heading into her last year of high school. I call her my miracle child because I had a half-dozen miscarriages before I had her to full term. Having her was a blessing and a small miracle. Fighting through insomnia and the demands of being an entrepreneur, a director of a community organization, a partner, and all the other hats I wear, I am trying hard to enjoy and be present each day this fall.

PODCAST and OPPORTUNITIES

Recently, I was approached to be on a podcast about parenting! What? Most people don't know that I have kids! A doctor in Brooklyn, NY, did a search about intersectionality and parenting, and she came across a workshop I hosted. Thanks again Nanika Coor, Psy. D. !!

About two years ago, I did a deep project on parenting with Quartz Health Solutions and the AllofUs research program. We hosted a couple of workshops in the community, and I presented an interactive workshop on using intersectionality as a tool for inclusive parenting. I thought this was a perfect venue for showcasing my video: https://wisconsinlife.org/story/traveling-down-the-street-las-chicas-y-chicos-de-blossom-street/

In the workshop, we invited several women of color and white women to talk about their parenting fears and barriers. We talked about the heated subject of gender, race, and how we each uniquely approached these barriers. I developed a toolkit for us to go through.

With Quartz, I presented their ERG group with the deck and toolkit, and the lead for DEI Dominic Turpin (at the time) for the organization spoke about a very sensitive situation that his son had gone through. This workshop took place after George Flyod's murder and uprising. It was a sensitive moment, and I was glad I was able to help frame the conversation. As parents, if we can hold space for differences, then we can raise anti-racist kids or strengthen our kid's anti-bias behavior.

The podcast and the fall season have inspired me to share how I have fused intersectionality and parenting! During this time, I was reading Edgar Villanueva's 7 Steps to Healing Decolonizing Wealth. I adopted these steps for healing as a parent so we can talk to our kids about these heavy issues.

Using Intersectionality as a Tool for Inclusive Parenting: An Introduction

In today’s diverse and interconnected world, understanding how we can have conversations about race, gender, and class is essential for fostering inclusive environments, especially for our children. As parents and caregivers, we are responsible for engaging in thoughtful, respectful conversations that honor the unique experiences of children, particularly those from backgrounds different from our own. By applying the principles of intersectionality—a concept that explores how race, class, gender, and other social categories overlap to create systems of advantage or disadvantage—we can better acknowledge and appreciate these differences.

Kimberlé Crenshaw , who coined the term intersectionality, reminds us that recognizing these intersections helps us ground the differences among us in a way that fosters empathy and understanding. For parents, teachers, and those who work with children, this awareness offers an opportunity to reshape how we talk about and engage with children of color, economically disadvantaged children, and others who may feel marginalized in society.

A key framework for creating inclusive spaces can begin with these seven essential steps:

1. Grieve – Reflect on and process the hurt from your childhood experiences.

2. Apologize – Take responsibility for harm caused, whether intentional or not, especially toward marginalized communities.

3. Listen – Value the voices of children who have been excluded; their wisdom holds the key to transformative change

4. Acknowledge – Recognize that not all children are treated equally, but also that we have the power to change that

5. Relate – Create safe spaces where children can express their whole selves, if you can do this for yourself, you are also paving the way for children to follow suit

6. Invest – Expand your language. Challenge yourself to learn new terms

7. Repair – Ensure that all children have access to mentorship and guidance, even if it’s from other children

By applying these steps, we can begin to heal the divides and restore balance in our approach to parenting, teaching, and mentoring. This path requires ongoing reflection and action, but it ultimately strengthens our communities and ensures that all children, regardless of their background, feel seen and valued.

In the podcast interview, I said that intersectionality is like a web, and we can slide it up or down. These seven steps or suggestions are not meant to be linear but points where we can intersect when we witness a hate crime on TV or when we see someone on the streets asking for money. These simple steps can help you reflect and then talk about it or hold space for when your kids talk about tough things they witness.

Call to Action:

Are you interested in learning how to bring these principles to life in your workplace or community?

I offer interactive workshops for Employee Resource Groups designed to explore intersectionality and its practical applications in creating inclusive spaces. Reach out today to schedule a workshop that empowers your team to engage with diversity in meaningful and lasting ways.

Happy fall! Remember to read about diversity--I have found that reading about racial relationships is easier through picture books! Feel fee to share your favorite picture book!