Shared power requires that we see power as abundant, not scarce. We must think about what power is and dominance as two different things. We must see power is being available to all, regardless of identity.

Mia Henry interviews Erin Butler on how and what it means to use data and data collection to improve justice + equity training and serve social movements.

A reflective and sincere apology is a necessary first step for any possibility of shifting a relationship. In the workplace or at home.

I personally love podcasts! Interesting audio content soothes my heart, keeps me company, and feeds my constant curiosity… and I know I’m not alone.

The number of available podcasts is growing each year, and the number of podcast listeners has grown exponentially throughout the last year.

Since I mostly work from home, I like to listen to podcasts while taking a break from work to walk around my neighborhood - or sometimes in the car, on road trips. When I listen to really good episodes (or read interesting books and articles), the ever-curious student in me wants to share what I’m learning with you!

My hope in sharing these 3 podcast episodes is that they serve to expand our conversations about identity and power (in the workplace and beyond).

When it comes to justice & equity training, the hybrid (recorded & live) approach wins hands down. As a seasoned facilitator, I still believe strongly in the benefits of live, synchronous learning.

One of the ways my own relationships have suffered in the past is that I moved forward in my work and personal plans quickly… without checking in with myself. I tend to want to just get it done or keep it moving. So learning to pause and check in with how I am feeling, to survey my options, and get a little advice before taking my next steps has been a critical lesson for me. This has been particularly important learning for me during this last trip around the sun.

You know it’s important, but it can be hard to find time (or choose the “right” time) to train your team on justice and equity. Plus, there are so many choices out there, it’s almost impossible to know what will work for your people and what won’t. You might feel like it is simply easier to put off this decision until later (much later).

A community interview is one part within the final phases of the hiring process, where community members (from within the organization or those who are impacted by it) will be invited to participate in selecting the best candidate for the open position.

Too many teams wander aimlessly toward justice. After working with dozens of organizations that have attempted to institutionalize JEDI leadership through committees, we have witnessed various degrees of success. We have seen some organizations create a team that fizzles out in months, and others have people seeing success within weeks. Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to create a successful JEDI team.

Justice does not only ask who is represented at our table but moves us to inquire about who is served at the table that has been set. Further, it asks: Are there any barriers that prevent certain people from being served? It requires that we name and examine historical and current systems of oppression. It helps us expand the conversation beyond diversity and embrace the complexity of addressing oppression in all its forms, not just marginalization.

You don’t need to get on a bus with us to make this journey—but a road map always helps. So here are our tips for planning travel to many Civil Rights Movement sites in the Deep South.

This will be my last year regularly leading civil rights tours through the Deep South. I’ve always said that I identify more as an educator than as a tour operator, and since the onset of the pandemic, I’ve leaned into that. However, it’s with deep appreciation for the opportunity I had to be a part of transformative travel for so many people that I look forward to this transition.

In recent years, I’ve started thinking about Memorial Day differently.

Traditionally, it’s always been a time to acknowledge members of the military and civilians who have died in this nation’s declared wars. But lately, I’ve also been reflecting on those who have died in America’s undeclared wars — those who have lost their lives to state violence, systemic oppression, neglect, and hate stoked by lies.

War is all around us.

We’ve just updated our Exploring the Civil Rights Trail padlet to include everything you need to plan travel with your own group, or with your family. Scroll left to see it all and learn more.

The Justice at Work Discussion guide is here! Get the most out of your training with Freedom Lifted with this guide.