A Recap of the LWPTSA Council DEI Committee’s January 2025 Session, Breaking Barriers: Understanding Systemic Racism
Our Jan. 8, 2025, DEI Committee meeting was a powerful exploration of “Courageous Conversations for Diversity and Inclusion,” featuring the invaluable expertise of Ilsa Marie Govan from CulturesConnecting.com. Together, we explored practical strategies to engage in transformative dialogue about race and inclusion while fostering a compassionate and brave community. [View meeting slides]
Meeting Highlights
🌟 Building Courageous Conversations
Guided by Glenn Singleton’s Courageous Conversations About Race, we focused on the essential norms for engaging in challenging yet productive discussions. These included:
- Taking Risks: Embrace discomfort as an opportunity for growth—Lean in!
- Staying Engaged: Foster understanding by asking thoughtful questions like, “Can you say more?”
- Listening for Understanding: Focus on balancing intent with impact to build trust.
- Speaking Your Truth: Share your authentic experiences to create space for others to do the same.
- Accepting Non-Closure: Acknowledge that some conversations don’t have immediate resolutions, and that’s okay.
🛠 Tools and Insights for Meaningful Dialogue
Participants explored actionable strategies to navigate complex conversations:
- Replace phrases like “It’s not that bad” with supportive, open-ended questions such as:
- “What was that like for you?”
- “How can I support you?”
- Apply the R.E.S.T. Framework:
- Recognize: Take a moment to pause and reflect.
- Embrace: Sit with silence and discomfort.
- Say: Speak what needs to be expressed.
- Think: Consider whose comfort or pain is being prioritized in the moment.
💬 Our Brave Space Commitment
Drawing inspiration from Micky ScottBey Jones’ Brave Space poem, we collectively pledged to:
- Amplify voices that are often silenced.
- Embrace imperfection as part of growth.
- Work side by side to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
📚 Resources for Growth
We encourage you to deepen your learning with these tools:
- Inside Out: The Equity Leader’s Guide to Undoing Institutional Racism by Caprice D. Hollins
- What’s Up with White Women? by Ilsa Govan and Tilman Smith
- Caprice Hollins’ compelling TEDx Talk on equity and inclusion
Stay Connected: Sign up for the Cultures Connecting Mailing List to access more resources and insights.
💡 Looking Ahead
Let’s continue our commitment to courageous growth:
- Reflect on the norms discussed—What resonates most with you?
- Approach future conversations with curiosity, empathy and intention.
- Stay tuned for our next meeting as we keep building an inclusive and thriving LWPTSA community.
Thank you for your dedication to creating a braver, more inclusive space for all. Together, we are making a difference.
Warm regards,
Zahra Eslami & Mansi M. Majeed
LWPTSA Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Co-Chairs