MY LINEAGES and TEACHERS

I am a big believer that none of us are truly self-made, that we are all influenced by the guidance and support of those who have showed us a way. I also think it’s important that practices are rooted in history, and that you know who “my people” are.

Here is a list of some of my teachers, people I have engaged with through workshops, courses, and/or coaching as well as communities I am fortunate to be a part of. I am incredibly grateful to have been blessed by encountering these gifts.

Leaders in ETHICAL, inclusive and/OR liberatory design:

Design Justice Network, Creative Reaction Lab, Data Feminism Network, Alberto Cairo, Vivianne Castillo, Alba Villamil, Rachael Dietkus, and Trauma Informed Design Group

TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE Nonviolent communication practitioners advancing collective liberation:

Miki Kashtan, Arnina Kashtan, Sarah Peyton, Roxy Manning, Susan Kaplan, and Rocky Mountain Compassionate Communication Network’s Community Based Facilitators Group

TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE Body, mind, and spirit practitioners:

Resmaa Menakem, Karine Bell, Lama Rod Owens, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Sharon Salzberg, Bayo Akomolafe, Kai Cheng Thom, Ari Felix, Lydia Violet Farshid-Harutoonian & Joanna Macy

my Scope of Practice

I am not a licensed professional, but I do have ethical standards for my practice. (I am committed to Design Justice principles, for example.)

One standard that I have for myself is that I know and can explain what I consider to be my scope of practice:

• Contribute in ways that help to cultivate spaces and relations in which people can be and move together, especially during unraveling and reweaving

• Sense and seek to integrate various intelligences, about systems at multiple scales

• Articulate connections and distinctions, including to support reflection and decision making

• Facilitate reflection, including on the frames and lenses through which issues, places, and people are viewed

• Inspire and provoke, especially feeling states that may foster compassion for self and others

• Invite imagination and offer glimmers, if contextually appropriate

• Demonstrate, through my own practice, values which support relationship, including respect, responsibility, and reciprocity

My Commitment to Anti-oppression, Anti-racism, and Nonviolence

Working to nonviolently eliminate the harms of oppression and racism is personal, interpersonal, and political, about both introspection and action. Thereby, my commitment expresses itself in the following ways:

• Ongoing, regular practices related to social justice embodiment, including cultural somatics, social mindfulness, and nonviolent communication

• Continuous proactive investigation, unlearning, rethinking, and revisioning, including consistent reflection on how white supremacy culture values shows up in work expectations, processes and relationships

• Listening to and building meaningful relationships with people from various social locations, and sharing power however possible, including through monthly financial contributions and intentional collaboration/co-design

• Engaging in nonviolent communication practices to openly and respectfully discuss power, harm, and impact

• Supporting systemic changes by advocating for policies that center the demands of people impacted by systemic oppression whenever and whereever possible

• Prioritizing relationships, engagements, and projects that directly support co-liberation