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¿Qué necesita para permanecer en este trabajo a largo plazo, dados nuestros continuos tiempos de incertidumbre y agitación, debido a la historia no abordada, la sociopolítica, la violencia local y global, la crisis climática, etc.?

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¿Cómo podemos crear una comunidad auténtica y solidaria, tanto dentro como fuera de esta ITCC?

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¿Cómo podemos recordar y evocar los movimientos históricos y actuales hacia la liberación y nuestra humanidad colectiva?

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Para las personas blancas: ¿Cómo están trabajando para mejor comprender y apoyar activamente a las personas BIPOC que enfrentan mayor vulnerabilidad?

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I need intentional moments of rest, time to recharge spiritually, and spaces where I can safely process the emotional toll of the work. Surrounding myself with like-minded people who are equally committed to this work gives me the encouragement I need to keep moving forward.

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Fostering spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. For example, shared moments of vulnerability where we acknowledge our fears and challenges alongside our hopes.

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I believe we need to learn from and amplify the voices of those who came before us. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of injustice today, but history reminds us that change is possible. Celebrating even small victories and staying rooted in the stories of resilience help me remember the power of our collective humanity.

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I need to be in connection with others who also see the urgency of doing something about the harmful effects of racism. I have found a community of people (at work and in my personal life) who are also fighting for justice and equity, and I am grateful that my workplace believes in this work and gives us support!

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I have made it a priority to learn and understand the true history of colonization and it's impacts, and how my privilege and positionality plays a role in keeping the status quo and in changing systems. I try to use my skills (within counseling, research/publishing, teaching, and connecting) to add to people's understanding of historical and current day racism and their own privilege, while uplifting marginalized cultures and strengths.

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Personally, I am going to need to definitely practice serious self-care to avoid burnout; physical and mental health must be a priority.  And while this work can be exhausting, celebrating the victories of the work, no matter how small, can be a boost of energy.  I know there is no end to education, so I want to continue to learn and grow in the work.  I also continue to advocate for environments where difficult conversations can happen.

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The key here is authentic. I know for me I am not wired to turn things off and on; dedication is 100% of the time.  We must move differently by encouraging open and honest dialogue. Being open has to be normalized by sharing experiences.  Diverse voices must be represented.  Regularly review progress and adjust strategies based on feedback from the group. I think we are addressing the beyond by partnering with other community organizations that are working toward the same goal.  This collaboration has the ability to share best practices, lessons learned and to build networks to amplify collective impact.

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First off, TRUE history must be acknowledged honestly.  For that to happen, history has to be studied and taught.  I can’t tell you how many times I have mentioned a historical figure for someone to look at me strangely and ask me who that is. (example Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hammer, even Joan Mulholland).  We must challenge whitewashed or incomplete narratives.  I would even like to see spaces dedicated to the memory of events, people, places.  Many cities have had historical significance that people might not know about.  (example; Cory United Methodist Church in Cleveland Ohio- Dr. King’s visited on May 14, 1963...I went to preschool there and the fact that Dr. King touched that space was an important fact for me).  Reflect on how systems of oppression operate in our lives and organizations and commit to dismantling them; the work doesn’t stop until the oppression has been eradicated.  To say something happened in the past is disrespectful to those who are still living who experienced it and if the issues are still happening.  Remember the past and stay engaged in the now. We have to remember that this IS a movement and not just a moment, and support contemporary movements for racial justice, climate justice, gender equity, reproductive justice etc.  To be silent is to have your rights trampled upon.

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To stay in this work for the long haul, I need a deep sense of purpose and alignment with my values, particularly a commitment to equity, justice, and healing. At the heart of this, there's a huge need for a sense of community and support. Knowing that we are not alone in this work helps me feel motivated to continue doing what I do. Shared experiences, collaboration, and mutual care provide both motivation and resilience

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Creating a supportive and authentic community begins with fostering trust, openness, transparency, and vulnerability. It requires creating a space where people can feel free to share without a fear of judgment. Among other things it requires mutual respect, active listening, and empathy. Communicating that we are all in this together and learning and growing as well will be important.

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We can remember and call forward historical movements towards liberation and our collective humanity by acknowledging and honoring the struggles, stories, and victories of those who came before us. Through this, we can recognize their resilience and strengths. Reflecting on the similarity between these past experiences and our current ones, we can keep these movements and the lessons we have learned from them alive and fuel our current and future work.

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A personal commitment to continue the effort no matter what resistance is faced. The support of my employer and network of like-minded individuals, which I hope to increase through involvement in the ITCC. This work must remain a top priority and not lose emphasis to other issues which vie for time and attention.

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One key point is to meet people where they are at without judgment so that everyone feels supported in their growth efforts and welcomed regardless of where they are or how far they have come. Honesty and transparency are important in creating authenticity.

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Be active in self-education efforts and research. Seek information from different, nontraditional sources. There are so many positive examples of marginalized persons and groups overcoming tremendous challenges. Seek them out and talk about them! Also, becoming an Anti-Racism trainer has enabled me to learn and relearn, to deepen my understanding and improve my memory of events, movements and relevant history.

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Spending time with marginalized persons (contact theory) and discussing issues and how they feel about them or are dealing with them. Listening. My employer has provided many opportunities to better understand and support marginalized persons through trainings, book clubs, committee work and courageous conversations. Also self-education whether ted talks, articles, movies etc. We have also made policy changes in a subcommittee which directly support marginalized persons.