Belonging

What is required from us to maintain and sustain hopefulness in this moment of sustained trauma and loss from the COVID 19 pandemic, the images we may still harbor from the insurrection, and the courageous words of National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman? What is required of us to heal as a nation, as a community, and within our own organizations and families?

The practice of envisioning is a cornerstone of social justice work because it allows us to literally envision what diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice may look like within our homes, communities, organizations, and country. When I practice the art of envisioning, I see a country, a community, and an organization that lives in the space of brave dialogues. In these spaces, through our interactions with one another, we hold each other empathically accountable from a place of compassion.

Imagine you’re in a Zoom call with work colleagues when the conversation becomes racially charged or fraught with emotion, and instead of hesitating or shying away from the emotion you hear and see in that Zoom box, you lean in. This may mean you pause. You may put the agenda and business as usual aside for a moment. You may ask a question, acknowledge the emotion, and ultimately create space in the discussion to build community and deepen the level of engagement with one another. These very moments are the threads that develop, foster, and nurture the sincere relationships that move organizations and leaders closer to a more safe and inclusive culture.

Part of this practice is also understanding that we are all on a different part of this journey because the Latinx identity is rich and complex. We are a people of diverse lived experiences, backgrounds, countries, skin colors, and ideologies.  And so, we must remain in a place of non-judgement and acceptance. Acceptance, not from a place of submission, but from a place of compassion.

Personally, I strive to live in the space of curiosity, a place that feels ambiguous and open to growing and learning. I call this having a growth mindset. That is a mindset that is not fixed and stagnant but fluid, flexible, and curious. The practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion are practices in creating organizational cultures where there is a shared feeling of Belonging in the face of our complexity as a people. How do we, as leaders and members of our organizations, create the opportunities to open up mindsets and build dialogue spaces to foster growth and belonging? Can we be more intentional about our interactions with one another everyday so that we lean into connection? Having a growth mindset is paramount, and so I ask, are we able to let go of our fixed ways of knowing and being to embody the principles of social justice and, ultimately, belonging?

I will strive to sustain hope in this moment by practicing deep listening, by striving to enter all spaces in my home, organization, and community judgment-free, by honoring curiosity, and by actively trying to disrupt the status quo. Through this, I can make room for the complexity of the human experience. I will strive to use my skills to create and nurture brave spaces in collaboration, where I/we can build and work across differences from the foundation of compassion and healing. I encourage you to enter into these same practices to uncover what your contribution will be in this moment. Amidst the complexity of our culture, how do we build community and sustain hope?