February 2022: taking a learning stance
there is abundance
in the boundaries. freedom.
i am enough. rest.
hey yall…
After officially re-launching my consulting company in July, I’ve been busy. AND I’ve been resting, healing, and recovering from over 10 years of work life that was unbalanced and lacked healthy prioritizing of what means the most to me. These first six months have been successful and I hold a lot of gratitude for those of you who have supported my work and invited me into your communities. Part of my success includes all that I’ve learned over the course of this last season; from the new content I prepare for my sessions to the feedback you all provide immediately following. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
something you should try out…
How could I not take a moment to amplify the Above and Beyond Black History Month Calendar + Workbook?
Chéleah and I rereleased the calendar + workbook yesterday and are excited to have a new set of folks join in on the learning, reflecting, and action. It’s our hope that this resource doesn’t become a “weekend read”, but a resource that people use and return to, integrating their learning and celebration beyond the month of February.
Our calendar + workbook is split into weekly themes and offers reflection questions and various points of learning. This week we’re amplifying the Black Lives Matter at School movement, which you can learn more about here.
If you downloaded a copy last year, we encourage you to open it back up and deepen your learning into one of the areas that was new to you. Invite a colleague or friend to purchase the calendar + workbook so that you can do this work in Community.
The calendar + workbook will remain at its sale price until our (free) virtual meetup next week. Join us to learn and share about ways to integrate Black history and culture into your curriculum, above and beyond Black History Month. Registration link at the bottom of this newsletter.
what I’m learning about + who I’m learning from…
After watching a video about Theodor Wonja Michael, a Black survivor of forced labor camps in Nazi Germany, I went down a small rabbit hole of discovery around the life of Black folks in Germany during that time. I listened to Theodor’s story and was struck by the parallels still present in today’s society, nationally and globally. It was a reminder to me that by not knowing the past, I get shocked by the present, instead of seeing present day actions for what they are and remaining vigilant.
I then learned about Hans Massaquoi's story and was reminded just how easy it is for young minds to be in awe of power and presence, not fully understanding what that power represents and the pain it wields. How many of our young people are watching mass disenfranchisement at work without a guide to help them navigate the slick messages being shared to explain away its impact?
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust site was the last stop on my learning journey. It was a reminder that I still have so much to learn about the atrocities of the Holocaust, the subsequent genocides that followed, and the layers of healing needed across our world. I hope that books like Black German by Theodor Michael, and Destined to Witness by Hans Massaquoi, can serve as tools for increased awareness as we visualize and build the world in which all can thrive.
share a resource…
Each month you’re invited to share resources with our Community on our Collective Resource Bank. As February blossoms, let’s share tools and resources we use to celebrate Black history and culture. Resources that center Black joy and genius.
Thank you to our Community members for sharing additional resources in December.
what I’ve been up to…
Assessing the sustainability of my work. Creating more space for projects that energize me. And updating my website of course! (Do you like?)
Beyond that, I’ve been in a learning stance. In October I joined an African dance company started by my former instructor (after not having danced for 9 years…I’m rusty yall). In November I began a picture book writers workshop with author Valerie Bolling. In December I signed for a 6-month coaching certification program and last month I took a workshop and built a handmade clay vase.
It feels both thrilling and slightly vulnerable to be a student in so many different ways. I often reflect on who I am as a student after each experience. My compassion is growing for folks in my sessions, who come to those spaces excited to learn but frightened to mess up and do harm.
I value the learning spaces I’m in. I don’t just take in the content (the choreography, the revision tips, the scoring techniques, etc.). I also take in the factors that help me show up and fully immerse myself in the learning, take risks and try out new things, and stay open and be responsive to feedback. I have three different instructors, all so very different, but at their core, you can feel their passion for their craft, their authenticity, and the care and love of their “students” above all.
I’m the instructor and facilitator 99% of the time these days. It feels good to shift my perspective. When was the last time you learned something completely new? How might being in a learning stance enhance your ability to lead/teach with compassion and love?
