Your organization already has a political identity.

An organization that does not address the oppressive systemic dangers inherent within or in which it is entangled is going to feel the cost of that dismissiveness. 

To be clear: racism, especially anti-blackness, sexism in all its permutations, classism (often viewed as poor communication across hierarchy), ableism, capitalism and last but not least, environmental concerns. 

To be even clearer: there is no “organization” and only humans can address this. That means you if you pull any weight hierarchically or financially in that org. Or enrolling someone who does if you do not.*

It’s going to show up in various ways but don’t be fooled into thinking because your org is “founded on” some lofty mission of vision that it is not susceptible to the same forces that are shaping the rest of our ways of looking, thinking and being together. 

Just because your org has “better” health outcomes for Black maternal mortality or more POC percentage wise than others in your industry or progressive policy support of lgbtq concerns that you are immune. In fact, mission based businesses are sometimes more in danger because we think we are paying attention. 

And by “address” I don’t mean a stand alone workshop on anti-bias. I mean a committed stance on following up and following through. 

A holistic recognition of the irreplaceable human beings in your body of work who are personally bearing these concerns. A commitment not just to shifting your org’s stance but to recognizing you are the connection from the macrocosmic system at work to the microcosm of individual human impact.

Moreover this is not a one-way feedback loop. By committing to the people (btw humans are not resources- that’s another post. human existence is not designed for pilfering the way we’ve been accustomed to “acquiring and allocating” “resources”) we have the distinct possibility of creating new systems. 

* Note: If you are in a system where your value may be dismissed along with your paycheck or your wellbeing for speaking up I am not talking about you in this case. Maybe talk to others who can support but please take care of your own needs first where possible.