#needs — Blog — Co-Creating Inclusion

Navigating unsteady ground: honoring your needs in times of change

I know that we’ve all been holding a lot of mixed feelings these past couple weeks. You may be somewhere on the spectrum of grief, openness, protection, anxiety, and hope. Finding yourself in that nebulous place where the ground feels unsteady can be difficult, and especially hard to navigate as you show up to work and are expected to do well.

I’m LaVoya Woods (ve/ver)—but you can call me V. I’m the Director of Trauma-Informed Methodologies at CCI, and I’m honored to bring my voice to this space alongside Alethea’s. This post marks the start of a new series where I’ll be sharing insights monthly from my own perspective as a Black, Queer, Trans Non-Binary, Neurodiverse, Disabled leader navigating complex systems and supporting folks in recovery and transformation.

The Deep EndLaVoya WoodsNovember 24, 2024#traumainformed, #needs, #alignment

Goals we can control

Try this - think about three things that would make the rest of your day great. Jot them down on a piece of paper or a note on your phone or computer.

Now, take a look at them and consider, how many of the things you wrote down are completely within your control?

Co-creating inclusionAlethea FitzpatrickFebruary 25, 2024#needs, #systems, #goals, #atomichabits

Equity can feel “unfair” to those who already have advantages

The support that other folks need that we don’t can feel unfair because that support is very visible, whereas the support that comes to us in our privileged identities is often invisible, especially when that advantage often comes in the form of a lack of obstacles and barriers.

Dismantling oppressionAlethea FitzpatrickDecember 10, 2023#equity, #needs, #littlefireseverywhere

Creating a trauma-informed personal safety plan

Trauma is everywhere, both “big T” and “little t” trauma, much of which has been exacerbated these past two years of a global pandemic.

I do believe some of the shifts have also created opportunities for healing. In my experience, the exacerbation of certain trauma means that we have been forced to confront and address it rather than continuing to white knuckle our way through it.

And yet there is still so much unhealed trauma, and new trauma layered daily at the systemic, institutional, interpersonal as well as internalized level.

Part of the work of diversity, equity and inclusion is to heal ourselves so that in our trauma, we are not causing further harm to ourselves or others.

Co-creating inclusionAlethea FitzpatrickApril 17, 2022#trauma, #traumainformed, #takefive, #needs

Revisiting burnout

I won’t lie - I’m tired, although it comes in waves, and it’s hard to know if its from covid or just... all this. Burnout is coming up with some of our clients too, especially those on the frontlines of putting DEI to practice in their organizations. The work is tiring, and it can be hard to pinpoint what exactly is exhausting us the most.

I think, to some extent, it doesn’t really matter, or if you need an answer but can’t figure it out, it is probably all of the above. Figuring out the source can be helpful, but only to a degree, because what if we can’t change the source?

Inclusive LeadershipAlethea FitzpatrickJanuary 16, 2022#pandemiclife, #needs, #burnout, #selfcare, #DEIinapandemic

What do you need?

I'm feeling very fortunate to have shifted into what feels like a new phase of quarantine. It feels like my brain is working again and wow, what a relief!

Inclusive LeadershipAlethea FitzpatrickMay 18, 2020#pandemiclife, #needs, #zoneofgenius

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