Up With Community

Question: What do we say when we're asked "What does equity have to do with my mission?" Put differently, how do we respond to the following comment? "Well, I don't think equity is a part of our organizational mission." We were fortunate to sit down with Kerrien Suarez, Executive Director of Equity in the Center, to explore how she navigates situations like these. An answer: Well, it takes practice. You've got to be comfortable telling the truth to yourself before you can invite others to make their own discoveries. "The goal is to help people learn and catalyze actions so they can transform their culture to center equity." Check out our full conversation here. For more resources visit www.equityinthecenter.org!Original publishing date: December 16, 2019

Organizational Trauma can sideline our big projects and major efforts at change and growth. What is it? How do we see it? What do we do with it?Arabella Perez, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of New England has been helping teams understand collective trauma and move towards healing for years. Check out our chat with her, and here are some additional resources to help you explore organizational trauma:• Bloom, S., Farragher, B (2013) Restoring Sanctuary. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press.• Bloom, S. Societal Trauma: Danger and Democracy. In Totton, N, ed. (2006). The Politics of Psychotherapy: New Perspectives.• https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/blo...• http://rysecenter.org• https://www.abpsi.org/pdf/FamilyCommu...• The Audre Lorde Project: https://alp.org/breaking-isolation-se...• https://traumatransformed.org/tools/• http://www.traumainformedcareproject....Original publishing date: November 20, 2019

The project of white supremacy is deeply intertwined and at times is no different than the project of patriarchy. It is our responsibility to pull back the misogynistic interpretation of feminism that would have us ignore it, make fun of it, or push it aside as "not for me". What is feminism? What is misogyny? And what is the value to each of us of reclaiming a useful sense of these terms? We chat with Kim Simmons, about the multiple useful definitions of feminism and what we can do with them.Original publishing date: October 29, 2019

There are moments of change that completely redefine who we are - to the world, and to ourselves. How do we walk through these moments with grace and courage? How do we explore connections to race and gender that influence these changes? Check out our conversation with Professor Leslie Hill.Original publishing date: September 29, 2019

Where do I need to relax more? Where could I bring myself joy? Comedy improv has always been a tool that helps me in those reflections. I wanted to spend some time with my lovely sister-in-law talking more about our experiences as women of color in comedy and what it brings us in life. If you're in Pittsburgh, check out her shows at:https://www.arcadecomedytheater.com/Original publishing date: July 30, 2019

How do we manage when parts of ourselves (our power, courage, warts, energy) scare us? How do we find the humility and grace to fully see ourselves, and share ourselves fully with the world? Check out our conversation with Cathy Kidman!Original publishing date: June 13, 2019

What is integrity? How do we find it in our work and community? How do find our way back to it when we get off track? I've been thinking a ton about how I rarely hear folks talk about ethics and morals in our trainings and workshops, and I'm hungry for more of that. The word integrity has been bouncing around my mind. I couldn't think of any one better to speak with than, Eowyn Corral, Program and Development Director, Dakota Rural Action. www.dakotarural.orgOriginal publishing date: May 13, 2019

What does it mean to organize for climate change solutions in your own backyard? What can we do to live our racial justice values in organizing with our neighbors? Every time I sit down with Devon Hall, Executive Director of Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, I learn something that I can take back to the hard work of organizing back in my own community in Lewiston, Maine. We hope this chat shines some light into your backyard. For More on Devon's work: https://www.ncruralempowerment.org/Original publishing date: April 15, 2019

How do we build foundations of empathy for shared power and racial justice in rural communities? We loved our conversation with Adam Mason on some of his work in action at Iowa CCI.Original publishing date: March 21, 2019

How can you want something for someone else if you don't want it for yourself? Listen our conversation on transformation with Reiney Lin, organizer, educator, consultant.