“Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and [to] be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow’s world is yours to build.”
— Yuri Kochiyama (one of my personal heroes)
My approach includes embarking on a journey of growth and discovery, inviting and embracing new ideas and perspectives, and increasing your overall consciousness -- your awareness of who you are, including your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, etc., and your relationship to the world around you through a social justice frame.
What does this translate to?
Setting and achieving your goals individually or as an organization
Working more collaboratively with the people in your life (professional or personal)
And ultimately, living more aligned to what matters
I draw upon the following frameworks to ground my practice around coaching, consulting and learning design:
Racial equity-centered.
I believe in keeping racial and social equity front and center. I can support in understanding power and privilege and unpacking how we’ve internalized particular messages around race and gender, no matter our racial and gender identities. I can support individuals and organizations to grow their capacity to navigate the dynamics of oppression and systemic racism. I employ intersectionality (term first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw) as a lens, engage with emotions, and embrace discomfort.
Focus on systems.
I engage in a practice of systems thinking, a framework and methodology introduced to me by a former manager — a racial social scientist and expert — who has been the most influential figure in my adult professional life to date. This enables me to understand the complex dynamics at play in an organization, apply root cause analysis to issues and proposed solutions, and work to shift conditions.
Mindfulness.
“We practice mindfulness in order to realize liberation, peace and joy in our every day lives.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
I draw upon mindfulness practices that bring awareness to our thoughts, our feelings, our body, and our perceptions. I create spaces for you to let go of judgments and interpretations, stay open in the moment, and better understand pain and suffering.