Three Ideas for Collective Strength - and Resistance - Right Now
This week, many of us are feeling discouraged and disgusted - and possibly fearful and anxious - about the policies and actions of the new administration.
Several of our nonprofit clients who rely on Federal funding are wondering about future funding. Many leaders who work on immigrant rights, climate, legal aid, and education are determining their most effective actions at this moment.
Here are three steps we recommend you take to lead at this time:
Create space for grief - and all of the emotions
Many of us - especially those of us with a history of past trauma -- but even those of us who believe in honoring, protecting and affirming our planet, people of all genders, and people of all backgrounds ---- will be triggered by the violence, hatred and chaos that is being expressed right now.
If you are having big feelings about any news, that seems normal.
Since there have been so many challenging moments in our time writing this blog, we’ve written extensively on acknowledging and managing these feelings, including Three Important Questions for Resilient Leadership and For Productive Meetings, Name What is in the Room
We each must take care of ourselves - so that we can have energy to stand up for our values and what we want to bring into the world.
2. Look towards others who are taking leadership towards justice at this moment - and take action with them
ID: Blue background, six yellow people holding up a rope together
Many of us are collecting examples of people, organizations and businesses that are resisting. Close to my home, the City of Berkeley is a Sanctuary City and voted last week to reaffirm that sanctuary status, “voicing that our community believes in protecting all of our residents and letting them know they are safe, regardless of their immigration status.” Costco recently defended their respect and inclusion work. There are many other examples.
As we shared in 2017 (!!!), “This is a time for nonprofit leaders to “say what you stand for and how your vision for the world will make things better at this time.” We need to hear from people and organizations who affirm the rights of all people - and join alongside them.
3. Stay the course - and use your voice and power to keep moving us all towards justice
As a white person, I work on equity alongside Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues and leaders because I envision a nation in which people of all races and backgrounds have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive - and because I know there are many barriers preventing that right now. I feel that my obligation is to first listen to understand and to empathize with the lived experiences of people different from mine. This work, the work of elevating the voices of BIPOC colleagues and leaders so that they can be amplified and heard, is difficult in the best of times. Given proposed policies of the new administration, that work becomes much, much more complicated - and also that much more important.
For all of us, our mission remains the same. If anything, I’ve doubled down on these values.
Despite all of the hard stuff, one of the highlights of my week was speaking with several colleagues who said their approach is not changing now.
Another highlight was facilitating a daylong retreat with a workforce development organization that is creating pathways for all people - especially those who have historically had less opportunity - to find jobs that pay a living wage. Their work, and the need for this work, did not change between last week and this week.
So to summarize:
This is hard. Resisting your discomfort will only cause more anguish.
Find others who are aligned with your values, and offer mutual support.
Stay the course and use your voice and power to keep moving all of us towards justice.