As I sit to write this blog, I’m thinking about you and how we find ourselves navigating through extremely uncertain and unsettling times. You may be feeling that your fundamental values are under attack, your freedoms and rights are at risk, and/or your livelihood is entering an unknown and precarious time. The gross disrespect of good leadership that is happening within the existing US Administration might have you wondering about the harm that is currently being done and what is still yet to come. Perhaps, like me, you are feeling empathy towards those who have already been dismissed and de-funded. Or maybe you are feeling the spill over effects of the violent metaphors and language used to describe the existing relationship between Canada and the United States.
With this back-drop, now is the time to plant your feet, hold your stance and ground your actions into your values and principles. It is time to contribute locally and collectively.
Let’s talk agency
Whether you are motivated and ready to delve into your next best action, or if you are lacking confidence in your ability to speak up and engage in social justice areas that you care about, now is the time to develop a contribution mindset.
A contribution mindset is the belief that we all have valuable skills, experiences and gifts that can contribute to positive change. Simply put, it’s the belief that you have something positive to offer.
In the context of equity, inclusion and anti-racism work, a contribution mindset also includes the belief that all activity (awareness building, empathetic listening, addressing harm and exclusion etc.) even if it seems small or insignificant has an impact. In other words, there is a ripple effect when we take action. We may not see our impact immediately (or ever), but we trust the potential impacts that can occur as a result of an encouraging word, an introduction or invitation, a changed policy or a referral.
The key to fueling your agency is to lean into a contribution mindset. Here's how it can be done:
Affirm or reaffirm that everyone (including yourself) can play a role and contribute to creating equitable and inclusive spaces
Embrace the belief that your contribution matters that your voice, skills, and experiences hold value and can have a positive impact. Explore and identify your assets and strengths. What’s your unique way of being and behaving that fosters inclusion or connection?
For some this might mean identifying not only your assets, but what’s stopping you from showing-up and getting into action. Depending on your background and social location, you will want to examine societal narratives that are holding you back. For example, as a Black woman I need to rewrite stories that put limits on what I can do, say, and dictate how I “should” show up.
Be mindful of “choice points”
Choice points are decision-making opportunities to consciously consider racial equity and influence outcomes. As noted by Nayantara Sen, Terry Keleher and Race Forward in their toolkit, “Creating Cultures & Practices for Racial Equity: A Toolbox for Advancing Racial Equity for Arts and Cultural Organizations,” the cumulative impacts of many small choices can be as significant as the impacts of big decisions.
When we pay attention to our daily decision-making moments and the potential equity and inclusion impacts, we are less likely to repeat bias and default behaviours. With a focus on choice points we can intentionally inform our work and efforts in equity and anti-racism and create solutions and practices that move towards equitable outcomes. This approach encourages a proactive stance, where each decision (no matter how minor it may seem) is an opportunity to foster inclusivity and fairness. It's about building a practice where equity is not an afterthought but a foundational element of every decision.
Move into action
Keep in mind that your participation and “choice points” evolve as you do, and regular tune-ups or check-ins are vital. Our decision-making and areas of influence also change based on trends, opportunities, and issues occurring in our work places, communities and globally. Consider your spheres of influence, where you hold power and privilege, also consider individual and collective actions that you can take. Perhaps you are now in a leadership role. What values need to be fortified and modeled? Perhaps you are a new board member. What questions can you ask to centre equity, inclusion and anti-racism practices? As a decision-maker within your organization with the ability to shape and inform a procurement policy, have you considered reaching out to a diversity of service providers?
Leaning into a contribution mindset is one way to activate agency and action, and it also can help to build resilience through these precarious times.
You’ve got agency, go ahead and use it.
Chanel Grenaway & Associates Inc. is committed to helping leaders, staff teams and boards align with their anti-racism and inclusion goals through continuous learning and practice change. Do you need support to start or accelerate your equity practice and outcomes? Happy to hop on a call with you to see how I might help. Let’s chat.