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Welcome to Leading-Within Wednesdays. Once a month, I will share a little bit about one of the 10 competencies introduced in my book, Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color.
This month….
Practice Self-Care
I was presenting at a conference recently and we started talking about the competency, “practice self-care.” A participant asked how one could find time for self-care if we are trying to transform systems? My mind immediately went to countless community organizers who have died young because they have the same mentality.
As others in the workshop shared how they make room for self-care, I talked about how much I’ve leaned into collective care.
Collective care is about seeing well-being as beyond the individual but as something that all members can contribute to and shape together. Collective care contributes to the growth and sustainability of the individual members and the communities in which you are a part.
Self-care and collective care are closely linked because self-care cannot be sustained if collective care is not maintained. Collective care is hard to cultivate and sustain if you don’t prioritize and understand self-care.
When I think about the connection between these comments, I think about how my colleague Dr. Kendra Washington-Bass has created a monthly gathering of women who can connect, nurture, and support each other. She has built her self-care by creating a community that is purposefully building collective-care.
A reflection question for you to think about this competency:
How are you practicing collective care?
More explanation of this competency, how to practice it, and additional reflection questions and resources are in Chapter 3. Two study guides are also available on the ASCD website - one for leaders of color and one for white co-conspirators.
See you next month, when I give a brief overview of Competency #5: Engage in Authentic Dialogue.
How to Continue to Support Leading-Within:
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.
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 for starting 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’.
If this is your first time reading, please go back and read my Introductions post.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. If you like it, please share it with your network!