Inclusive Activism

Well HELLO! It has been a moment – I took a bit of a summer sabbatical but I am back now.

New News – going forward the podcast will update and publish monthly now to give a bit more life balance for me as your one and only in this effort.

Today we talk about labels! Are labels good – well sorta yeah in a way – they comprise the slices of us that make us a unique us! Are labels bad – well yeah sorta in a way – they are ideas of who we are or “should” be based on a concept of a person who isnt a full human at all.

They are good and bad – but moreso the goal is get to know the full human with which you are interacting. Don’t get weird like I used to be when I was so hung up on the concept of “girls” and “women” that you miss out on the true amazing human in front of you. It is at once so hard and yet so simple.

Thanks for your ears and it is good to be back! Please rate and review the podcast and please continue to listen and support this effort if you find it of value as I move to a monthly format.

Be well and bless others!

Todays podcasts is a rebroadcast podcast of an interview done with Eddie Webb with their New Media Lab Experience at Mesa Community College.

In this podcast we learn about the work happening in Fall 21 with a series of virtual workshops on how to implement more indigenous practices in the spaces and places we work!

PC to Host Indigeneity Workshops this Fall with MCLI Horizon Grant

Funded and sponsored by the Maricopa Center for Learning and Innovation (MCLI) through the Horizon Grant, the Phoenix College Committee on American Indian Initiatives, Programs, and Projects (CAIIPP) is hosting a series of guided online/virtual workshops that center on “Implementing Indigeneity: Co-creating Institutional Spaces for Indigenous Collaboration.” The workshops are scheduled on three different dates for Fall 2021 (see details below).

The CAIIPP is an entity driven to improve the quality of Phoenix College and greater Maricopa by engaging in positive dialogue relative to the initiatives, programs, and projects on campus that affect American Indian faculty, staff, and most importantly, students.

Reflecting on a formal statement provided by the MCCCD Chancellor entitled “Commitment to Indigenous Community”, the goals of the workshops encompass an intent to culturally, holistically, and sustainably Indigenize both our campus and the MCCCD system by incorporating systems and processes of mutuality and reciprocity rather than relying on those that exploit and marginalize.

The workshops take an innovative, trans-disciplinary approach, bringing together individuals of diverse disciplines to address critical topics and issues that affected Indigenous peoples in the past, that affect them in the present day, and that will, more than likely, affect them in the future. 

“Historically, the federal government mandated colonial paternalistic policies for educational institutions to create experimental structures based on forced assimilation to mainstream Indigenous students into Western society,” says Roland R. Walker. Mr. Walker is one of the Tri-Chairs of the CAIIPP as well as American Indian Studies Faculty at PC, and member of the Diné Nation. “The outcomes of these policies resulted in generational Indigenous cultural trauma and loss. In today’s America, there is no escaping the effects of the trauma and loss that occurred; unfortunately, they have become a part of the Indigenous identity.”

The workshops provide a holistic experience about the navigational journey of Indigenous students in higher education in terms of equity, inclusion, and accessibility – much of which include many barriers for Indigenous students to succeed and achieve.

“The remnants of colonization still heavily burden the everyday lives of Indigenous Peoples. To move forward and progress toward a better Native America for Indigenous peoples, decolonization as an impetus for institutional change and Indigeneity in education needs to be the immediate center of discussion. Time is of the essence for the cultures of Indigenous Peoples,” adds Walker.

The journey of the Indigenous student, at the forefront of the workshops, includes colonial entanglement and decolonization, which speak to the current forms of tribal and inter-tribal governments (e.g., as trustees/stakeholders of education) and the contemporary positionality of intertribal narratives on higher education. 

“Education, like any system built by colonial powers, suffers from patterns of hierarchical thinking, systemic exploitation, and marginalization, says CAIIPP member and PC Communication Faculty, Rowdy Duncan. “While efforts to move toward decolonization are underway, this workshop posits: what exists beyond decolonization?”

Moving beyond decolonization, and instead shifting toward Indigeneity, a concept that recognizes the vital contribution and inclusion of Indigenous culture, religion, perspective, and holism in institutional spaces to spark and empower indigenous innovation, creates a more positive experience for the Indigenous college student and others.

The workshops also address matters of importance to the MCCCD’s United Tribal Employees Committee (UTEC) surrounding the issues of equity, inclusion, and access in a manner that provides a balanced pathway to high-quality learning to implement a paradigm shift in perspective on how to better serve our Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Examples include providing Indigenous students with a culturally, holistic and balanced learning environment, increasing the visibility of Indigenous cultures on campus, acknowledging current cultural and historical Indigenous contributions to society, and broadening educational and career opportunities by providing Indigenous students with meaningful connections to tribal nations).

“How can we work to adopt practices and create indigenous spaces where we co-create opportunities to create more outcomes for ongoing relational maintenance, mutual reciprocity, and flat non-hierarchical leadership?” Duncan continues. “All these outcomes from implementing indigeneity help us to also address conflict through consensus building and proactive peacemaking. Let us all learn and teach one another how we might implement indigeneity in all our circles of influence.”

Workshop Details:

• Workshop #1:  Understanding Indigenous Practices (covers colonial thinking versus Indigenous thinking with both historical and current implications) on Friday, August 20, 2021, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Register here: https://maricopa.webex.com/maricopa/j.php?RGID=r13fffa994bee78178aa6d18cfccfe6cf
• Workshop #2:  Returning to Indigenous Cultural Values (focuses on Indigenous cultural thoughts, ideas, and concepts in which Indigeneity has preferable and more efficient practices for learning, e.g., understanding the expectation of working in Indigenous relationality) on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Register here: https://maricopa.webex.com/maricopa/j.php?RGID=r42eb2e5d4f7c2f808152f1194b8edd76
• Workshop #3:  Applying Indigeneity Across Maricopa (concludes with peacemaking, mediation, and ongoing reconciliation through forms of Indigeneity – initiate consensus gathering ideation to Indigenize Maricopa) on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Register here: https://maricopa.webex.com/maricopa/j.php?RGID=r757acc8bdcc13122963ca9f82a4c41d7

If this podcast was of benefit or of blessing to you LET SOMEONE know about it. You can also rate and review the podcast or this channel which helps get the word out as well! Or email me at inclusive [email protected] or learn more about me and what I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com on Facebook at The Inclusive Activism Podcast, on Insta @rowdyduncan or twitter @RowdyD

In todays podcast we take a deep dive into the ideas that make me a me and you a you! We cannot understand anything without understanding ourself first!

We look at the need for an accurate self concept – we have to own really who we are right now and stop pretending to be what we are not putting effort into being or becoming.

We look at the need for self awareness – the more self aware we are the more accurate we can be with our self as we stand today, This give us the knowledge of where we are and what gaps are keeping us for who we want to be!

Then and only then can we have a positive self esteem. We cannot have a positive self esteem from pretending to be something – because WE know we are not that thing – which makes us have to acknowledge at some dark moment we are NOT that thing.

Then we need to keep practicing self awareness to understand – we are in the process of “becoming” our best self – and the process is NEVER finished – we just get better and better with time!

If this podcast was of benefit or of blessing to you LET SOMEONE know about it. You can also rate and review the podcast or this channel which helps get the word out as well! Or email me at inclusive [email protected] or learn more about me and what I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com on Facebook at The Inclusive Activism Podcast, on Insta @rowdyduncan or twitter @RowdyD

Today we unpack the concept of perspective. For it is only through the lens of our own perspective that we have the ability or capacity to experience the world.

We will look at the FACT that for YOU or someone else – your perspective IS your experience of reality. That is it – its all of it you cannot experience something outside your perspective. So in effect your perspective IS your TRUTH.

We discuss that you DO however have the ability to change or shift your perspective by focusing on what you want to experience. If you focus on being cursed, or what you “have to” do, or your experience of oppression – this is the sum whole of your reality. If you focus on how your lucky, your gratitude or all the things you have – or if you are oppressed how to work around or find others to help with your or others oppression – you start to see more opportunity too!

Lastly the only way to find more real and actual TRUTH is to widen perspective by meeting different people or getting exposed to new experiences. When we widen our perspective we widen our experience of truth in the world and then new opportunity is possible!

If this podcast was of benefit or of blessing to you LET SOMEONE know about it. You can also rate and review the podcast or this channel which helps get the word out as well! Or email me at inclusive [email protected] or learn more about me and what I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com on Facebook at The Inclusive Activism Podcast, on Insta @rowdyduncan or twitter @RowdyD

In today’s podcast we welcome Anti-Racism expert Daryl Davis. Mr Davis has made as a part of his life goal to prove you cannot hate someone you do know know. To this end Mr Davis has befriended many current and former self avowed white supremacists (KKK members or Neo-Nazis). And to that end he has also been gifted 20+ former Klan members robes as due those friendships they have turned from their former thinking.

This podcast is a deep dive at the process of seeing how it is possible to connect to the humanity behind the person with the extreme view. How to listen for the fear behind the position. To understand the human who holds the point of view. Though Mr Davis is not without his critics. The ability to hear through the fear is something we all may need to practice with others from time to time. That being said if this podcast was interesting to you check out his documentary “Accidental Courtesy” free on Prime and Kanopy (streaming free though many libraries) or go to https://www.daryldavis.com/​ or on twitter @realdaryldavis

If this podcast was of benefit or of blessing to you LET SOMEONE know about it. You can also rate and review the podcast or this channel which helps get the word out as well! Or email me at inclusive [email protected] or learn more about me and what I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com on Facebook at The Inclusive Activism Podcast, on Insta @rowdyduncan or twitter @RowdyD

In today’s podcast we will look at how to set and enforce personal and relational boundaries with others. We all know about the concept of “house rules” the guides and expectations that help us get a sense what we should and should not do in a space.

Boundaries work the same way with people! For this podcast is was guided and inspired by an article by Psych Central on 10 ways to set and enforce boundaries https://psychcentral.com/lib/10-way-to-build-and-preserve-better-boundaries#1 1. Name your limits. 2. Tune into your feelings. 3. Be direct. 4. Give yourself permission. 5. Practice self-awareness. 6. Consider your past and present. 7. Make self-care a priority. 8. Seek support. 9. Be assertive. 10. Start small. and I added 11. At First your boundres are not going to be popular with anyone, don’t focus on the RIGHT NOW – focus on the why this matters later!

If this was a blessing to you EMAIL me at [email protected] or keep track of me and the good I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com or comment your thoughts below too! Share with someone you want to change the world with. And you can help me change the world with a referral to someone else or a review of the podcast too!

In this episode we will examine the idea that we literally “pay” to things with our focus, with our listening, and with our attention. This attention and our sense of focus is vied for with millions to billions of dollars as our time and attention is SO precious and valuable.

We look at the hard truth of the fact that if we are REALLY honest we don’t “pay” attention or listen to the people we love the most to deserve their love and attention. We look at how we need to have a much better sense of value for our own time, attention, focus, and listening. Our devaluing of our attention is costing us those who care about us the most.

Lastly we look at the idea of “bids” for connection. Bid for us to Pay Attention with the opportunity of connection.

Because if we could REALLY listen – and really care for the person in front of us – what issue is not immediately solvable with that level of attention “paid”? Thanks for your time and attention.

If you want to let me know what stuck out for you email me at [email protected] and learn more about me and this important work at www.inclusiveactivism.com

In this podcast we will look at the idea that we need to own the responsibility to be our best self. In our Heart first, then in changing what we think and believe, then speaking that belief (or Be-life) into being.

It starts by creating the new opportunity of a new reality into being within us just by dwelling on what we want to be, what type of people we want into our life, by adding our belief to what we want to see.

Then it starts to over time, the more we think it, the more we say it, over and over it starts to attract who we want in our lives. As well as the thoughts and ideas we believe in as well.

It will start to change the people already in our life as they will no doubt are personal attempts to be our best self around them. They will have an inner want to reciprocate our ways of being back to us.

Or they will chose to leave by not appreciating the energy we are doing around them! They won’t enjoy your presence any more because you and the “world” around your presence is no longer amenable to them! That way the world changes! It starts with that heart change, then the mind change and with our speaking and acting that new reality into being.

If this was a blessing to you EMAIL me at [email protected] or keep track of me and the good I am up to at www.inclusiveactivism.com or comment your thoughts below too! Share with someone you want to change the world with. And you can help me change the world with a referral to someone else or a review of the podcast too!

This week we have yet another interview with our good friends at the Inclusive AF podcast Jackye Claton and Katee Van Horn. Both are Diveristy Inclusion and Equity Experts!

This roundtable discussion will touch on the highlights and low lights of what is is like to “do the work” day in and day out. We talk about ideas relating to reverse racism, notions of meritocracy, recruiting for diversity, and culture change in organizations.

If you enjoyed this podcast please catch our friends at the Inclusive AF Podcast available on any pod server you like. As always if this made you think of anything or you have questions or comments email me at [email protected] and you can learn more about me and this organization at www.inclusiveactivism.com!

In this podcast and the next we will look at the cultural concepts of Indigenization.

We will talk about Indigenization, What is it? (systems of nonviolence, no harm, non-marginalization, and non-exploitation). How each of us has been helped by Indigenization and Indigenous Thinking. This podcast attempts to help us unpack what I feel the antithesis of so many issues of racism, sexism, classism, patriarchy, white supremacy, oligarchy come from and why and how they eliminate these problems.

That being said if this was a blessing to you go to www.indigenousvision.org and donate to this amazing 501c3 and aid their attempts to indigenize the world for the betterment of all. Or register for the cultural humility trainings for FREE at https://www.indigenousvision.org/culturalhumility/

If you want to learn more about me and this organization go to www.inclusiveactivism.com or email me at [email protected]. Please rate and review the podcast on your pod server of choice and if this was helpful or educational for you please share with a friend. Blessings!