A Recap of LWPTSA Council’s March 2025 DEI Committee Meeting With Ilsa Govan
Our recent LWPTSA Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) meeting with Ilsa Govan was a deep, honest dive into what it means to foster real inclusion. It wasn’t just talk—it was about pushing past discomfort, challenging biases, and committing to meaningful understanding and listening. Here’s a powerful recap of the key takeaways and next steps:
- Meeting slides (PDF)
- Handout (PDF)
- Video referenced in slides (YouTube)
1. The Art of Courageous Conversations
Building an inclusive community starts with real, unfiltered dialogue. To have these tough conversations effectively, we must:
🔹 Lean Into Discomfort – Growth isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why it matters.
🔹 Embrace Risk & Authenticity – Silence protects the status quo. Speaking up, even imperfectly, drives change.
🔹 Stay Engaged, Even When It’s Hard – Equity work requires persistence, not convenience.
🔹 Listen to Understand, Not to Respond – True listening isn’t about reacting; it’s about understanding.
🔹 Speak with Purpose – Words should build bridges, not walls.
🔹 Resist the Urge to “Fix” – Discomfort isn’t a mistake to correct but a space to grow.
🔹 Accept Non-Closure – These conversations don’t have tidy endings—they are ongoing.
2. Creating Psychological Safety
Real conversations require safe spaces where people can be vulnerable without fear.
3. Moving from Dialogue to Action
Change doesn’t happen by talking alone. Next steps:
🛠 Normalize the Conversation – Make courageous dialogue part of our culture.
🛠 Audit Policies and Practices – Where do bias and inequity show up, and what’s being done about it?
🛠 Build a Culture of Reflection & Growth – Diversity, equity and inclusion isn’t a checklist; it’s a long-term commitment.
Final Thoughts: The Collective Action
This session was just the beginning. We didn’t cover everything, and there’s more to tackle. That’s why we’ll continue this conversation in two upcoming sessions in May and June.
“By your stumbling, the world is perfected.” — Sri Aurobindo
🔹 In April, we’ll have another facilitator leading an important discussion. Stay tuned for more details—because this work doesn’t pause.
For any questions or to get involved, please contact the LWPTSA Council DE&I Committee, including Zahra Eslami and Mansi M. Majeed, at Diversity@LWPTSA.net.