Let's Unlearn Together

Written by FLOWLab? Member, Kara Smith

BIG NEWS!!

FLOWLab? is excited to announce the launch of The FTP* (F*ck the Patriarchy) Book Club.? The majority of FLOWLab? identify as neurodivergent, so we’ve designed the Book Club to work with our multifaceted, varied ways of processing information.

In service of creating an accessible space for neurodivergent people, we’re? hosting a members-only,? synchronous and asynchronous conversation on a private Slack channel. Once a week, we’ll come together 1 hour a week on Slack for a conversation in real time. ?Your Book Club guide (me!) will share a prompt to kick off our Slack chat where we’ll be discussing the chapters we just read. In addition, we can interact as we read anytime throughout the week. (No spoilers though.)?

I am a FL5 member and will be facilitating our conversation and managing questions asked in advance, as well as checking in with everyone during the week. The first book we’ll be reading, “I’m Tired of Racism - True Stories of Existing While Black” , was written by fellow FL5 member Sharon Hurley Hall.?

A bit more about the first book:

From the first page, I felt as though Sharon had been living in my skin as she was writing it.? It is definitely a folk tale; anyone who is a human will relate to every single story. It gets at the core of what it is to be a Black person and what everyday racism is really like. Sharon's stories are riveting, revealing and beautifully vulnerable. Reading it has me moving through emotions and opening myself to love and appreciation on multiple levels.

You’ll want to sign up early, start reading, and taking notes so you can begin engaging with fellow members and start your own thread!

When we finish the book, our esteemed author, Sharon Hurley Hall, will join us for a live, 2-hour Slack AMA (Ask Me Anything) conversation. This will be your chance for Q&A without the pressure…all over text rather than video.?

We’ll kick off reading together on March 22nd.?

Reading is over 6 weeks, dividing up the 33 chapters. They're short, quick reads, but they're riveting.? We’ll be connecting via text on Slack, not Zoom or IRL (in real life), for this book!

You can purchase the book in both hard or soft cover print and ebook. We recommend ordering the e-book version to ensure you have it in time to start reading. Our first convo of the first X chapters is? March 26th!

FTP* Book Club Vision

You may be wondering why we ask that you join FLOWLab? in order to be part of the FTP* book club.

The primary reason is that we provide a safe space to talk about difficult subjects, and with the creators or other experts in that field directly.? FL5 members are crafting careers recovering from toxic, corporate “bro culture'', microaggressions, harassment, and workplace PTSD. If you’re craving some connection and routine while loving the peace, solitude, and flexibility of solopreneurship, this is your group!.

FL5’s? founder Emily O. Weltman,? envisioned the FLOWLab? community as a refuge from burnout, where diverse creators and over-thinkers are enabled to make it through the first 5-years working for themselves, (and past the dreaded Startup “Valley of Death”). As a writer, consultant, social entrepreneur, and parent—she knows how hard it is without capital or the right support, and so do I. We’re better together. Period.

As a member of our beta cohort, you join a group of trusted advisors and peers in mutual learning who are committed to lifting each other up and amplifying the work of fellow members. Feel seen, heard, valued, and inspired.

Ready to join us in unlearning together??

Become a member now.

Still not sure? Come to our Friday coWORK for Q&A. Or check out office hours on Tuesdays to see how we learn together.?

Please see Kara Smith's LinkedIn Profile to learn more or PM Kara to get answers to your questions!?

Sponsors wanted!??

To help cultivate more leaders who thrive and expand the services (like this book club) that we provide to entrepreneurs, we need funding. This work can’t happen without people like you, giving support to the artists and creators that work independently or in micro-businesses.

FLOWLab? is fiscally hosted nonprofit sponsored by Open Collective Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit. All contributions to FLOWLab? including monthly membership dues are tax deductible. Even if you aren’t ready to join, you can still support this labor and our members. Donate here.