Greetings friends,
I did a scary thing, launching Leadership and Learning Letters in 2021.
If you would have asked me a few years ago, if I’d someday write a blog, I’d have scoffed and quickly said “not a chance!"
I was petrified to write.
Yet, there were big grapplings occurring: things you and other leaders like you were asking, and I listened to that small voice that invited me to write about it.
As women, our voices are deemed too shrill, intimidating, loud, bossy, or bitchy. Those narratives seek to silence us, to drain our power and wisdom.
I wanted to hold space with you:
To embrace vulnerability,
To learn and grow,
For human connection,
To help leaders know they aren’t alone,
To share struggles, celebrations, lessons, and learning,
To get to know myself,
As an expression of my light,
To be more fully me,
As an extension of myself, contributions, my craft,
To embrace NO RULES,
To express,
To thrive.
You responded in kind, with graciousness, openness, curiosity, and bravery. Your texts, emails, and conversations about the topics brought me so much joy. Thank you.
In that spirit of sharing, here are my top three blogs from 2021:
3rd place: Wait, Are You Saying I Have Power?
2nd place: Let's talk about whiteness - Part 1: Who are you, white person, to work for racial equity?
1st place: What Do You Mean Brave Spaces? I Want Safety!
I’d like to send a special thanks to Malika Williams, founder of The Center for Women's Voice, and Holly Bechiri, founder of Handwritten Studio. Malika helped me unpack my fear and connect to my bravery and strength. Holly helped me with editing; a great editor is priceless. Thank you, friends.
As I design Leadership and Learning Letter’s focus for 2022, I know this: it’ll focus on power dynamics, applying intersectional and anti-oppression frameworks to leadership and learning.
As Grace Lee Boggs shares in this moving quote, I commit to not shrinking from my responsibility for my belonging to society. I believe we can bring about justice and liberation.
I’m deeply grateful to be learning and leading alongside you.
Fellow leaders and learners, I wish you courage and resilience for the journey.
Peace to you,