Video of Competency #7
Written version of Competency #7
Welcome to Leading-Within Wednesdays. Every other Wednesday, I will share a little bit about one of the 10 competencies introduced in the book, Leading Wihin Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color.
Today….
Create a coalition.
This is one of my favorite competencies because although this competency is a stand-alone, it is also undergirds this whole book. I could have written a whole book just on this competency. The importance of leaning into our collectivism has been the basis of our communities since the beginning and it is how change happens.
I give Ella Baker all her flowers in this chapter because her community activism during the Civil Rights Movement influenced many movements after her- the women’s rights movement, Chicano movement, and cultural studies movement, all of them looked to Ella.
Coalition building is not just good practice but it’s necessary for survival. In the United States, we love a good superhero but Spiderman was stronger with the Avengers than by himself.
In the words of Audre Lorde, “Without community, there is no liberation.”
Some reflections questions to help you think about this competency:
How are you centering students, families, and community members in your coalitions?
What coalitions do you need to join to broaden your exposure to different intersectional identities other than your own?
More explanation of this competency, how to practice it, and additional reflection questions and resources are in Chapter 6 of the book.
In closing…
If you started reading the book, here are a few ways you can spread the word:
Post about the book on social media using the hashtag #leadingwithin. Even better if it includes a picture of you WITH the book!
Host a book club with your affinity/ERG group. Two study guides are also available on the ASCD website - one for leaders of color and one for white co-conspirators that are perfect to start a group conversation. For book clubs with participants who have purchased and committed to reading the book, please reach out to me so I can support your journey!
Connect with me to speak to your organization or group about topics covered in the book, like ‘practicing love and rage’, ‘building a coalition’, and ‘taking a stand’.
Go to Amazon and rate or review the book there! Reviews are a great way for others to see that this book is worth the time to read.
Thank YOU so much for all of your support!
See you next time when I give a brief preview into Competency #8: Be Patient but Persistent.
If this is your first time reading, please go back and read my Introductions post.
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think. If you like it, please share it with your network!