Making we, us, & our inclusive.

Welcome to data uncollected, a newsletter designed to enable nonprofits to listen, think, reflect, and talk about data we missed and are yet to collect. In this newsletter, we will talk about everything the raw data is capable of – from simple strategies of building equity into research+analytics processes to how we can make a better community through purpose-driven analysis.

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This edition is special. And different.?

You and I are not exploring the intersection of data and humanity today.

Instead, the premise is simple: to remind ourselves we need people. To celebrate, to share pain and loss, to succeed.

This edition is different because I am not coming to you with mere hope for that reminder. I am also coming with anger, disgust, and hurt at everything we have witnessed in the past few years. Pandemic, gross inequities in vaccine distribution and access, all forms of hate crimes, wars, inequities in refugee settlements, genocides…, and the list, unfortunately, can go on.

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If there is ever a moment to remember who we are collectively, it is now.?

So, today is about the commitment to making the “we, us,?&?our” inclusive. Because we can only go so far by our individual efforts. Relying on humans and the humanity of our communities has always been the foundation of our way forward.?

Let us go back to the basics of how we can start making the “we, us, & our” inclusive.

• By embracing empathy.

Learning and living empathy is the first step in fostering a culture of reliance and togetherness in our communities. Leaders across all spheres must prioritize understanding and sharing the feelings of others. Leading with compassion and understanding will build connections to manage uncertainties collectively in times of uncertainty. We need to remember - empathy is not a sign of weakness; it's the cornerstone of building bridges and fostering an environment where people feel valued and understood.

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• By cultivating open communication.

Transparent and open communication is essential in building trust and reliance among people. As we learn to bring communities together, we must ensure that communication channels are always open, transparent, and allow the free flow of ideas, concerns, and feedback. To be able to facilitate and engage in trust-based conversations means we learn to articulate and differentiate between feelings and facts. This can help us find appropriate actions from those conversations.

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• By fostering collaborations of all kinds.

The power of collaboration cannot be overstated. When individuals come together, pooling their skills, strengths, and ideas, the potential for innovation and problem-solving amplifies. In making our “we” inclusive, we must encourage a culture of collaboration, where everyone feels their contribution is valuable – in a way that highlights our unique strengths more than the collective gaps. Fostering unique collaborations means collaborators can explore who they are becoming from a place of abundance.

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• By leading with a care-first approach.

The ability to place a care-first approach in how we lead is crucial, especially during such ongoing conflicts. These conflicts around us can create physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion - more than we realize and acknowledge. Commit to creating spaces where care is prioritized, sometimes more than traditional goals.?

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• By encouraging resilience from a place of strength.

Resilience is not just the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from challenging experiences. Resilience is also an opportunity – to trust your strengths deeply. In our intention to make the “we” more inclusive, you and I must commit to creating environments where the resilience of our communities is seen from a place of strength. This, in return, will allow us to live in a culture of mindful perseverance.?

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• By choosing to listen, learn, and observe before speaking.

Let’s take conflicts as an example here. Our natural reaction leans toward forming judgments and picking sides from such a conflict. We (as humans) find comfort in neat boxes – good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, true vs. false. But the reality is – when attempting to design true inclusion, we need to open ourselves to the idea that to grasp the unique contexts of this world, we must de-center ourselves. And de-centering means choosing to listen, learn, and observe before picking sides.

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If you are still wondering if this is a checklist of being human, then the answer is no, this is not.

This edition is an invitation – to leave no one behind.?

You and I share a unique moment in time – with too much happening in the world too fast.

The trauma created from this moment might be inevitable. But I want to encourage you to recognize and work on that trauma. Take that anger, hurt, confusion, exhaustion, and channel it into being human for the humans around you.?

Any answers to how we choose to grow from this moment is not in the quantities of wealth, power, and resources we may possess but in our commitment to leave no one behind.

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If there is ever a moment to remember who we are collectively, it is?now. So, commit to making the “we, us, & our” inclusive, every single day.

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***?So, what do I want from you today (my readers)?

• Share how you practice self-care and being human for your community.
• And below are four questions for your next personal or team reflection (coming from my post last week around the idea of growth):a. What are my/our values? What are those fundamental truths that define who I am/we are?b. In what ways am I/are we ensuring that the growth will be inclusive of all involved?c. Are my/our growth practices free from any oppression and discrimination?d. How do my/our growth plans promote my/our overall well-being?