Episode 311: 6 Psychological and Overlapping Therapeutic Themes of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Part II

Happy Valentine’s Day. Show the love for your mind by relaxing it and taking mental breaks. There is a moment before we fall asleep when our minds let go of all activities for the day. A brief pause in our thoughts. You can also notice this pause upon awakening in the morning right before your mind does a body scan or is flooded with task lists, problems to solve, and activities for the day.

A relaxed mind is not trying to control, fix, or improve anything. Take a few mind breaks and allow your mind to be in this calm state for a few minutes to rejuvenate before doing the next unilateral task, focusing on one task at a time. Move one step closer to a healthy mind with this relaxed mind exercise. Show your mind love and feel equanimity.

______________________________

Last week Guest Mentor Leah Steeger and I introduced two of six psychological and overlapping therapeutic themes we are experiencing with the coronavirus pandemic. Today, we will fortify you with the other four themes. You can find our first conversation HERE. 

We look at each theme through a systems lens, Leah’s specialty, looking at the whole person and how we live in the world. I appreciate her practical approach. Each theme starts with identifying the changes and layers on top of changes coming at us.

I begin each theme by outlining the disruptive changes. Leah adds her experiences, psychological implications, and ways to navigate each theme. She has an AND/BOTH perspective vs. a right or wrong or black or white viewpoint.

We had to make fast changes quickly, which was trauma-inducing individually and collectively worldwide.

Complexity has gray areas that overlap. We are creative, spiritual beings; the way we acknowledge and work through change is as varied as our uniqueness. Be kind to yourself and those around you. We are still working our way through the themes.

The diagram is from Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, developed in 1974. We use this diagram to give you a picture of the five systems that influence us.

Our conversation has insights and gems to fill in spaces within your experiences where understanding, clarity, and a broader perspective are necessary to move forward. Knowing the difference between rejuvenating activities and escapism tactics is an example of a useful tip. Embedded in each theme are these kinds of tips.

Leah has easy-to-listen-to wisdom I am eager for you to hear. Use the following information as an aid while you listen. DOWNLOAD

6 Psychological and Overlapping Therapeutic Themes of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Theme I – Panic and Anxiety accompanies News of a Novel Virus (disclosed nationally Mid-March of 2020)

Theme II – Social Distancing and Other Life-Altering Changes like Virtual Living

Theme III – Systemic Strain and Disruption of Well-Being

Theme IV – Semi-Opening Flurry

Theme V – COVID Fatigue and Effects of Prolonged Extreme Polarization and Extreme Tribalism

Theme VI – Long-term Effects of Misinformation about our Public Health and Freedoms 

Terms and definitions to supplement our conversation:

Objective Truth - proven through empirical data based on facts, reality, and truthfulness.

Subjective Truth - cannot be proven; there is no proof. Subjective truth is rooted in our feelings, beliefs, senses, and perspective.

Episode 310: 6 Psychological and Overlapping Therapeutic Themes of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Part I

I first learned of today’s Guest Mentor, Leah Seeger, while reading The New York Times article on January 3, 2022, entitled, “We Surveyed 1,320 Therapists Across the Nation. They’re Worried About Mental Health in the U.S.” Leah’s comment in the article stuck with me. “I believe I will be helping people navigate the effects of the pandemic for the rest of my career.” In her early-40s, Leah is a family and marriage therapist, writer, educator, and activist. I thought, wow, yes, she is correct, and that is where we begin our conversation with Leah’s comment.

Studying the article, I noticed Leah has a Minneapolis-based therapy practice, so I reached out and set up an in-person face masked meeting. During our exploratory conversation, we unearthed six psychological and overlapping therapeutic themes and nuances we want to share with you as we begin addressing the longer-term effects of our collective and individual experiences since 2020. Today we discuss the first two themes.

We need context and content to psychologically and emotionally evolve. We need Leah’s systems perspective to understand our interconnected experiences from a broader context. Before discussing the two of six psychological and overlapping therapeutic themes that emerged from the Coronavirus pandemic, I want you to discover who Leah Seeger is and how she moved into a second career as a marriage and family therapist after three interrelated events changed the trajectory of her life.

Leah grew up in a small southwestern Michigan town with 42 students in her high school graduating class. She describes her home life with two parents and a younger brother, four years her junior, as a complicated mixture of love, stubbornness, creativity, gullibility, and pride laced with alcoholism and living with her father’s chronic and progressive Parkinson’s disease. You get the picture; it’s complicated. Ohio State University provided the opportunities, and sense of belonging Leah craved while acquiring a degree in business administration and forging a career in advertising after that.

An opportunity to work for a multinational advertising agency brought Leah to Minnesota. In her 12th year as an ad exec, three big questions brought her into therapy: career, parent’s divorce, and coping with her father’s debilitating and declining disease. You will hear how Leah asserted a new direction to pursue her lifework as a therapist out of therapy. She earned three designations: a master’s degree (MA) and two licenses. One license as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and the other as an alcohol and drug counselor (LADC). She runs her therapy practice through LynLake Centers for Wellbeing with 150 to 160 other therapists.

Here are the two psychological and overlapping therapeutic themes and some of what we discuss. Use the diagram below to understand your world from a systems lens. 

Theme I – Panic and Anxiety accompanies News of a Novel Virus (disclosed nationally Mid-March of 2020)

* Stockpiling toilet paper and other amenities. Store shelves become bare.

* Inconsistent information begins between the Medical Science of the CDC and other agencies and leadership.

* We all thought this would be a few months, and we’ll be back to everyday living. The initial panic subsided, and daily anxiety peppered our existence.

* The diagram is from Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, developed in 1974. Leah briefly describes the five systems in the chart and how this view of systems can aid in understanding ourselves and what is going on around us.

Episode 309: College Life, Self-Reliance, and Adulting with Olivia Foli

Adulting is a term first used in social media in 2008, and usage of the term increased on Twitter in 2016 by 700%. Over the last few years, it has become a ‘go-to’ word in our household. Olivia Foli, our daughter, explains the details of how she is taking on adult responsibilities at college, becoming more self-reliant, and meeting seven universal human needs.

We use a familiar tool to guide our conversation. The chart below lists the seven universal human needs included so you can easily follow our chat. You can complete the exercise in its entirety HERE.

The purpose of this WeMentor Universal Human Needs Exercise is to expand ‘relational literacy’ and facilitate your ability to nurture resilient relationships. Today we compare her first year to her sophomore year at college, what she is learning, and the feelings of isolation that linger entering the spring semester. We always begin with a self-focus.

Asserting self-leadership positions us to increase our influence with others because we operate from a place of integrity, a knowingness about ourselves. This comes from learning how to meet your needs consistently. Knowing how to meet our needs and enjoy the feelings accompanying those met needs, like being affectionate, engaged, confident, grateful, and refreshed, incentivizes us to meet those needs regularly. And we can readily identify feelings like fear, annoyance, sadness, confusion, anger, and anxiousness that surface when needs go unmet. Knowing this empowers us to regularly assert meeting our needs because we like and trust how we feel.

You can hear how empowered Olivia feels in the strength of her voice and knowingness as she describes challenges she is overcoming. She is a source of inspiration to Matthew and me.

Other topics we explore regarding how Olivia meets her needs include:

* The challenging part of being brave and dealing with uncertainty.

* Cooking for herself and a buddy system APP with roommates.

* Olivia’s definition of failure and changing majors.

* Her best experiences ever!

* Keeping confidences and building trusting relationships.

* What does Olivia understand about meaning, purpose, lifework, and what is left to figure out?

* Inspirations for joy, peace, and beauty.

CONNECTION

PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

AUTONOMY

Acceptance

Air

Choice

Affection

Food

Freedom

Appreciation/Admiration

Movement/Exercise

Independence

Belonging

Rest/Sleep

Space

Cooperation

Sexual Fulfillment/Expression

Spontaneity

Open Communication

Safety

 

Closeness

Shelter

MEANING

Community

Touch

Awareness

Companionship

Water

Celebration of Life

Compassion

 

Challenge

Consideration

HONESTY

Clarity

Consistency

Authenticity

Competence

Empathy

Episode 308: College Life through Our Daughter’s Eyes

In the fall of 2021, my daughter, Olivia Foli, and I began talking about her being on this podcast. We thought the timing was right for her to be today’s Guest Mentor after reading a December 23, 2021 article in The New York Times entitled Fast-Spreading Variant Has Campuses Fearing A Mental Health Crisis (by Anemona Hartocoliis).

We start with a trend everyone in their age group seems into nowadays: vintage clothes shopping. Olivia used to wear leggings every day in high school. Leggings are out, and baggy pants and shirts are ‘in.’ Ok, leggings will always be in for working out and casual wear. Olivia’s style is “an older, classy look,” she says.

Olivia and her classmates, now moving out of their teen years, were born into the aftermath of 9/11. Three of her classmates, triplets, were born before, during, and after the Twin Towers in New York City fell.

“On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defined the presidency of George W. Bush.” (September 11 Attacks: Facts, Background & Impact - HISTORY)

Olivia’s graduating class was born into a world that changed overnight. We chat about flying before and after 9/11. TSA checks and extensive security measures like taking off shoes, belts, and jackets and packing liquid items in 3-ounce containers are normal. No big deal.

The Class of 2020 is the first high school graduating class to have online graduation ceremonies nationwide. No surprise to them that the world would change again.

From The New York Times article I mentioned above, college students have been requesting more counseling options with the rise in mental health concerns such as an outbreak of suicides. More than 9,000 people signed a petition asking for more mental health services at Saint Louis University. “Over the past decade, the rate of depression, anxiety and serious thoughts of suicide has doubled among college students according to Daniel Eisenberg, a professor at U.C.L.A. and a principal investigator of the Healthy Minds Study, an annual survey of thousands of students across the country.” The pandemic has intensified those trends where students report lower levels of psychological well-being. The Healthy Minds Study also reported higher levels of resiliency (meeting needs of safety, satisfaction, and connection).

Olivia talks about feeling the heaviness of anxiety she had never experienced before. It happened when a friend picked her up for a road trip to Duluth. Her peers are also dealing with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. They are a generation finding resiliency in talking about what they are going through, finding satisfaction in meaningful activities, and cultivating deeper connections within themselves and other relationships.

As Olivia continues reflecting on her journey so far, she is more precise about what happened in 2020. Her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is more fun. She settled into double majoring in psychology and Spanish, plays in the school orchestra, and is on the University rowing team. Paciencia y fe are her words for 2022: patience and faith. Enjoy our encouraging conversation.

Episode 307: 4 More Business Junk Drawers to Organize with Sarah Becker

The Process Ninja, Sarah Becker, is back, adding four more business junk drawers to organize. Yes, we have seven total business junk drawers that cause us stress and need our thoughtful attention. Crisis-to-crisis leadership is the consequence of ignoring or not taking charge of these business junk drawers. Severe criticism can accompany our lack of astuteness, along with added pressure and disgruntled co-workers and employees.

Here is an incentive to take charge of your business junk drawers. What if addressing four more business junk drawers reduced errors and increased profit margins, plus provided you the time to scale your business with greater peace of mind and confidence? What if your employees could cut their jobs from 40 hours a week to 20 hours like Sarah did when she worked at Target Corporation for six years before founding Clear Simple Business, LLC in 2016? Surprising outcomes can be discovered when you take charge of your business junk drawers.

Sarah also started a family as she became a new business owner. That takes a level of organizational fortitude begetting a Process Ninja title. Cody is now 8 years old, and Hannah is 6. They both love hockey, like their parents. I appreciate how Sarah works her schedule and gets virtual assistance (Angie Glotzbach) to keep on top of her business junk drawers.

I start with a brief review of the first three business junk drawers: financial anything, customer service issues, and quality assurance. We then add four more business junk drawers listed below. These take a little longer to describe but are worth hearing the Process Ninja’s investigative explanation and solutions to manage them.

* Tasks Simply Not Getting Done – things fall back into the business owner’s lap. Great ideas in a meeting, and no one takes ownership of moving the ball forward.

* Odds and Ends Tasks. Do projects end up back in your lap? We have all had this happen, especially if someone leaves the company. What do you do with reports, say 50 reports in which 8 of them are being used? Great ideas here about delegating and assessing workflow processes and expectations.

* Email Clutter. We all have it. Get strategies to gain control of your inbox and ideas for project management.

* Personal Items into Business: This involves prioritizing your needs first and working through ‘unrealistic sense of urgency’ projects. Can you identify the unseen norms you have in your business? Make them visible. DOWNLOAD

 

NEXT STEP: Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below.

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Episode 306: 3 Business Junk Drawers to Organize with Sarah Becker

New Year. New Inspiration to Organize. What do you do with tasks, chores, problems, and issues that cause worry but you don’t have time to address? Do you put them in a ‘business junk drawer,’ hoping to get to them after the volcano stops erupting with daily emergencies? Today we will get ideas about organizing three business junk drawers from Sarah Becker, founder and Process Ninja of Clear Simple Business, LLC.

When I think of a junk drawer, I think of stuff placed in a drawer to be forgotten about. Unused stuff that I don’t have any other home or spot to put it. Actually, I have a junk closet where I stuff decorative boxes, both small and large, ribbons, wrapping paper, fun bags, and tissue paper. You wouldn’t be alone in thinking it is a waste of space. I agree, but I can’t seem to give up the space for another purpose. Unless I stop giving gifts. I just did the annual organization of the closet and threw out a bunch of stuff. It felt great.

A junk drawer usually doesn’t cause much stress as a business junk drawer can. Even though junk drawers don’t necessarily disappear, there are ways you can deal with them to relieve stress, save time, and increase profitability.

 In business, we have metaphorical junk drawers that cause us and others anxiety and lead to inefficiencies in our businesses. Sarah calls the first one our Financial Anything junk drawer. This business junk drawer is about tracking and processing money going in and out of the business; and how those processes allow or hinder growth. Processes we start with aren’t necessarily the processes or the software that will support the next company growth spurt. We consider the length of time it takes for business owners to make financial decisions. Only your bookkeeper knows for sure. Sarah has lots of ideas here.

 

 Find out the customer service areas like speed and quality you can organize and update in the #2 Customer Service business junk drawer.

 

 

 The #3 business junk drawer is Quality Assurance. Become aware of what needs thinking through before hiring more people.

Sarah works with businesses employing 10 to 300 people. She has many examples of how many days, hours, and work weeks she has saved companies, working her way out of jobs.

Sarah’s inspiration comes from being raised by two highly efficient computer programmers. And, maybe playing hockey for the College of St. Benedict shaped her unique perspective and ability to know her competition. Could it be that completing her MBA coursework in London and Thailand expanded her business savvy, widening her perspective of business cultural practices and boosting her business competence? How about working at Target honing her Process Ninja investigative skills and applying her unique expertise in saving Target and other companies time, valuing talent, and improving profit margins? These experiences and skills are integrated with Sarah’s aspirations: to help clarify and simplify how you do business and make money.

Use our conversation to get inspired and lower your stress and the stress of those you employ by tackling one or all three business junk drawers we discuss. Next week we will introduce four more business junk drawers to facilitate how you efficiently run your business, so get started by addressing those junk drawers this week. DOWNLOAD

Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below.

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Episode 305: Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency in the Trades with Karin McCabe and Wendy Sullivan, Part III

What is your word or phrase for this New Year? My phrase for the year is where today’s conversation begins, increasing cultural competency through meaningful conversations. Find out what today’s Guest Mentors’ words are for 2022.

Karin McCabe of McGough Construction and Wendy Sullivan of Wenrich PD Construction, LLC. Our three-part series focuses on learning the plight of these two industry pioneers in the trades working toward inclusion, diversity, and cultural competency. They are forging pathways to facilitate a multicultural mindset in the trades.

This work is done together with many voices heard, meaningful conversations asserted, action taken to change policies and procedures, and hiring and promotional practices examined. It encourages looking at every aspect of the dominant culture through a multicultural lens.

Today Wendy and Karin share how their practical approach to addressing systemic change is working and what still needs to be done. I refresh our memories with three terms we hear together regarding systemic change: diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency. A fourth term Wendy discussed regarding her ancestors is generational trauma. Trauma can be passed on from one generation to the next. I have included the definitions below.

Wendy starts our conversation by identifying her key learnings and where she feels progress is being made. Having a growth mindset keeps learning at the forefront of pioneering change.

Bravery and being genuinely curious are Karin’s companions for lifelong learning and bringing continuous change to all her circles of influence. Karin says, “2022 is a watershed year at McGough with new leaders who want to play an active role in our work internally. Statewide, we will continue to dismantle systemic racism, with more businesses driven to do this work in meaningful ways. We will continue to bring leaders of those communities, like Wendy, who is at the foreground helping us understand what members of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People Of Color) communities need to thrive.”

We discuss their goals and aspirations for the year. You will learn how appreciation for each other has blossomed over the years and what they are curious to learn about each other next. They role model the strength of togetherness we need to become multiculturally competent. Their inspiring energy and determination motivated me to revisit my goals for the year. DOWNLOAD

DEFINITIONS

Diversity means a unique mix of differences: race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity, physical abilities, age, relation, national origin, beliefs, political affiliations, and life experiences. Karin’s definition: Diversity is the multi-varied experiences and world views we all bring to the table, the lens through which we view everything. We address diversity at McGough as a benefit to the company, a tool for innovation, and a challenge to achieve.”

Inclusion is, for our purposes, how differences are addressed in the workplace. This means going beyond meeting outside directed quotas like hiring a certain number of minorities. It means finding ways to respect and find ways to honor their contributions and having a voice in decisions that affect them, the company, and the community. To summarize, each person is seen, heard, and respected.

Cultural competence has to do with the skills used to understand and communicate across differences effectively.

Episode 304: Your Top 3 Favorite Conversations This Year and More

In this last episode for 2021, Mike Kabeya interviews me asking questions about the biggest lessons, updates, and personal challenges I overcame. Also included are your top three favorite conversations and our favorites.

I have found book writing to follow the emotional rollercoaster of innovation. Extreme highs and brilliant ‘ahas’ along with visits into the pit of pain like feeling inadequate, confused, and overwhelmed, to sittings with the writing imposter. Mike invites a brief update on where I am after missing a self-imposed deadline and my goal in 2022.

Out of the 100 or so book titles, my working title is this, Self-Leadership Mentoring: The Explorer’s Dual Innovation Practice. A practice-based on how we can evolve as a leader while redesigning our businesses. I developed the practice from working with thousands of entrepreneurial leaders since 1992. You will also hear where I am getting writing support.

Two books I Highly Recommend

* A novel that explores themes of teamwork, coaching, family, and economic class. “The Boys in the Boat,” writes author Daniel James, “is a book that tells the story of nine American rowers who won an Olympic gold medal in 1936.” The book became a best-seller and adapted into The Boys of ’36 documentary.

“The novel follows Joe Rantz’s journey to the Olympics, during the Great Depression and Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. It begins in 1933 when Joe attends the University of Washington and tries out for the rowing team.” This book was inspired by my daughter, Olivia, who joined the UW-Madison rowing team this fall. 

* The other book, given to me by a neighbor, is Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them by Dr. Karl Pillemer (2020). A rare book that explains the landscape of estrangement affecting more than 65 million Americans and how those he researched found a path to reconnection. I discuss an idea I am implementing to reconcile with my dad. Even if reconciliation doesn’t happen, this book broadens understanding and helps in conscious decision-making when relationships become strained.

Milestone Birthday Blunder Insights

Milestone birthdays have been challenging to plan with loved ones during this covid pandemic. What do you do? Who do you invite? How big or small? When under so much stress, do we allow for different ways we make decisions? How are we redefining expectations and handling disappointment?

My idea for celebrating my 60th birthday this year flopped. The thought was to do something low-key, so I wrote down numbers from 1 to 60 on a piece of yellow tablet paper. I started the list by appreciating the vegan meal I made. I told Matthew and Olivia they could add to the list by writing down something they appreciated about me or did for me or a gift they bought. This spring (April) was still so stressful that I didn’t get the buy-in, which led to a hurt that triggered unnerving feelings about my self-worth. I discuss my learnings that included loving acts of forgiveness, understanding, and healing. Mike also shares how his celebration plans went for his wife, Sylvie Kabeya, on her 50th birthday. Our conversation was surprisingly nurturing. You will hear what we both learned about ourselves and our spouses.

Before moving into your favorite podcast conversations, we discuss is a 21-Day Abundance exercise I did with a friend. Deepak Chopra created the exercise. I share the shocking results. Mike was so impressed with the results that he wants to go through this free 21-Day Abundance program. If you would like to join us, email me at [email protected]. I will get you the details.

Your Top 3 Favorite Conversations This Year

Episode 303: Mike Kabeya and I Reflect on 2021

 

When asked how long Keanu Reeves will act, he says, “work is life.” The Kabeya family appears to have the same perspective. To work is to live.

Today, you get an unusual look into Mike Kabeya’s life as a father, creator, husband, and business owner. Mike shares his parenting secrets. I admire him and Sylvie’s approach in raising four accomplished and well-adjusted young black men.

Idleness is not what occurred at the Kabeya household in 2020 and 2021. You will hear how his family operates as a creative hub enriching every community they find themselves in. They turned life’s challenges into creative endeavors. They seized opportunities to create and produce music, videos, draw, and design upwards of 30 cartoon books, advanced in their studies and spirituality, played soccer and other sports.

 Did you know that karate can curb snoring? It did for Mike. Not only did he stop snoring, but Mike won a gold medal when competing in a traditional form of karate through a program at the University of Minnesota. The details are worth hearing.

One in 100 elders over age 65 has passed away from covid-19. Mike asked an important question when the covid pandemic hit their household in 2020. What are we going to do now, when we live in a space where we can’t quarantine, and everyone will get covid? Who is going to help who? Find out what the Kabeya’s did. In 2020, Bobby was 20 years old, Dginn was 18, Cristal was 16, and Sundy was 14 years old. This experience became their life-changing event in 2021.

Have you ever had people in your life that the more you learn about them, the more you admire them? The kind of people that bring out your best and inspire you to be more? The Kabeya family are those kinds of people. The photo below is Matthew, Olivia, and me with the Kabeya’s at UW-Madison. Bobby Kabeya performed with his band, Miloe (Olivia also goes to school at UW-Madison). 

We pack in a delightfully productive and fun conversation about overcoming challenges and staying fully engaged in life. One of the fastest hours I have experienced. Happy Holidays! “Spread the season of love.” DOWNLOAD

A gift to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy is a gift that keeps on giving; every week. Please consider a donation to this podcast HERE! 

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Episode Resources

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* What do Winona Ryder and Pop Rocker Bobby Kabeya Have In Common? | WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST* Musings from Teen Pop Rocker Bob Kabeya | WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST* Becoming Bob Kabeya, Teen Pop Rocker | WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST

Episode 302: Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency in the Trades with Wendy Sullivan, Part II

An easy way to infuse inclusion into traditions organized around the Winter Solstice — Hanukkah, Christmas or Yule, Feast of Juul—is through language. Have an enjoyable ‘holiday season’ is an inclusive phrase. It includes religious traditions and the like. A phrase you can personalize in conversation and prompt another to share their traditions.

Language and feedback from others give us clues that reflect our mindset. Movement out of a monocultural mindset happens in stages from denial, polarization, and minimization to accepting our differences, even celebrations, and adaptation that brings systemic change. An intercultural mindset takes empathy and a desire to understand another’s journey.

Our three-part series focuses on learning the plight of two industry pioneers in the trades working toward inclusion, diversity, and cultural competency.

Karin McCabe of McGough Construction and Wendy Sullivan of Wenrich PD Construction, LLC are forging pathways to address systemic racism. This work is done together with many voices being heard, asserting meaningful conversations, and taking action to change policies and procedures, and examining hiring practices. It encourages looking at every aspect of the dominant culture and applying a multicultural mindset.

A step toward systemic change is acknowledging that the construction industry was built through a monocultural mindset. White males created a dominant culture through their point of view. Makes sense when thinking in that way. No blame, just naming what has brought us to this point.

Inclusion in action could mean gently nudging the dominant culture of business leaders to move through the stages of denial, polarization, and minimization as they reach an acceptance of ownership in how they perpetuated the dominant culture. To be inclusive, we need to know how we have been exclusive, explore ways to stop excluding others, and provide reparations to minorities from now on, if possible.

Karin and Wendy agree that the construction industry has a long way to go. That is why their life mission is to bring inclusion and diversity into the limelight by creating pathways to cultural competence within their companies and externally in their communities.

Wendy Sullivan is today’s guest mentor. She is biracial. Her mother is a descendant of slaves and knows generational trauma, and her father is Caucasian.

Imagine if your family were descendants of slavery. Taken from their home country and ripped from their lives with their families, never seeing them again. Tortured and beaten. Organized to live with others speaking differing tribal languages and traditions. Being forced to work and live together for their lifetime. They were not allowed to accumulate or build wealth or even build a better future for their offspring. What’s inherited is enslavement to a family that controls every aspect of your life.

Imagine further dehumanization by being assigned a number to replace your name. Your voice is not heard, and your humanity goes unacknowledged. There are no reparations for a lifetime of suffering. The family you bring into the world suffers the same indignities. Where do you find your self-worth and sense of belonging? Where is your place in the world? How do you embrace your humanity and build a legacy where generations can prosper? How do you free yourself of these atrocities that are never acknowledged? 

 “Generational Trauma is precisely what it sounds like,” according to Dr. Melanie English: “trauma that isn’t just experienced by one person but extends from one generation to the next. “It can be silent, covert, and undefined, surfacing through nuances and inadvertently taught or implied throughout someone’s life from an early age onward,” licensed clinical psychologist and parenting evaluator