We Are Here to Meet This Moment

Equity and justice-committed leaders: This is an incredibly challenging and deeply troubling time in the U.S. for those of us who lead with our hearts to advance these values. I want you to know that I see you. I value you. I grieve with you. And I'll fight with you. I believe with all of my heart that we are here to meet this moment.?

Some of us (me!) were feeling intentionally, nauseously optimistic about the outcome of this U.S. presidential election. Our dream of an adminstration that would lead us towards a better, more inclusive future that benefits everyone in our country has been shattered, at least for the moment. Many of us are feeling absolutely devastated. Gutted. Outraged. Terrified. We're grieving for our beloved families, communities, country, and world. Some of us are desperately seeking answers as to how we got here. We may be questioning some of our deeply-held beliefs and feel at a loss over who we really are as a people and a country. Some of us feel confirmed in what we already knew to be true. Some of us are seeking activist homes, strategies, a plan, and a way forward. Amid the swirl of emotions, we are connecting with and buoying each other in both small and large ways, which are equally significant.

My partner and I sat next to a lovely man and his beloved son at a basketball game last weekend, and in a matter of moments, we openly shared our caring and concern for each other and our country. Prior to November 5th, I'm not sure whether we would have taken the risk to be vulnerable enough to forge this depth of connection as quickly. “Stay calm and keep fighting,” were his parting words. “We will; we are committed,” we responded.

I shared a meal this week with an Ethiopian colleague who I had talked with several times at meetings on global engagement. I always felt a connection with her, but this time, we opened up to each other easily and deeply. We shared our grave concerns about the level of misogyny, racism, transphobia, and xenophobia being perpetuated by the incoming presidential administration and their cabinet picks. We avowed our commitment to redouble our advocacy efforts on gender, racial, and global justice. When we left each other, we hugged and affirmed, "I see you, and I value you, sister."

I have been reflecting on the many powerful, grassroots coalitions we quickly formed in the months leading up to the elections and how we need to mobilize them to continue advancing our agenda for a country and world in which everyone prospers. In the weeks since the election, I have joined local strategy meetings with hundreds of other advocates and national organizing calls with thousands of activists who are ready to advance our shared vision for equity and justice for all.

I am clear that my commitment to equity and justice is, always has been, and always will be, unwavering. I see the same resolve in other people’s eyes. I turn towards the light of their conviction and feel it like the sun's warmth on my face. I see and feel the commitment reflected in a stranger-turned-neighbor’s smile, knowing look, clasped hands, and extra long hug, and I feel joy unfurl in my chest. One conversation, strategy session, and community organizing meeting at a time, we are restoring and affirming each other’s beliefs, hopes, and commitments like never before.

With humility and respect for other leaders who are inspiring me, I want to share some of my key practices in this moment that I hope will sustain and motivate you.

• Engage in radical self-love and care. Rest when we feel tired. Nourish our bodies with nutritious comfort food. Walk in nature. Engage in practices that return us to our bodies, innate resilience, and state of equilibrium.?
• Commit to wholehearted compassion for ourselves and each other. My compassion practice has been seriously tested in the last few weeks, and yet, like any practice, I keep returning to it as one of my core values and commitments.
• Open our hearts and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and connect deeply with people who share our vision and values. Affirm, bolster, and champion each other.
• Where possible, set clear agreements and engage in mutually-respectful dialogue with people who see our country's current and desired future state differently than we do. Listen to understand and empathize.
• Set and enforce clear boundaries with the people and media who are silent on or complicit with the powerful, well-funded campaign against equity and justice.
• Get informed, connected, organize, form coalitions, and be nimble, adaptive, strategic, and systemic with our actions. Get in community with other pro-equity and justice leaders and organizations. Global Citizen, LLC is joining forces with Showing Up for Racial Justice or SURJ (https://surj.org/), Indivisible (https://indivisible.org/), Equality NC (https://equalitync.org/), and nonprofit advocacy and immigrant rights organizations, to name a few.

What are your pro-equity and justice practices to meet this moment?

Leaders, I warmly welcome you to contact Global Citizen, LLC to discuss how we can support you and your organizations through strategic organizational consulting, leadership coaching, C-Suite, board, and staff training, and transformation for social impact at: [email protected].

Note on the graphic: This heart-shaped mosaic is extremely beautiful and meaningful to me because it features some of my most beloved equity and justice-committed family and friends and movement images. There are so many more of you beloved changemakers who I value and affirm!