Community

Our purpose is rooted in serving communities through hope, vision, and humanity. We champion systems change to dismantle factors that hinder growth, flourishing, and community well-being. We unite people for creative collaboration and focused problem-solving, driven by a noble purpose unburdened by bias, bigotry, ignorance, racism, and hate.

We Must Build Community

We want to start laying the groundwork to build authentic communities that intentionally address gaps in how we engage, interact, treat, think about, and behave towards one another. These gaps are often steeped in undercurrents of race/bias/prejudice/ignorance institutional and structural discrimination, demonstrated through exclusionary practices. We must be intentional in a process that endeavors to develop trust, embodies humility, rooted in humanity, and empowers us collectively toward a genuine community—not just as leaders, but as people.

Some key points are necessary for us to start developing an Authentic Community:

1. An enduring community requires trust. Trust must be at the heart of our community, and trust can only begin when we start to be open and honest with ourselves.

2. We must leave behind egos based on inwardly and outwardly dominant cultural standards.

3. Recognize our shared interests, missions, and common ground, and passions.

4. Do not blush over our common threads steeped in humanity.

5. Engage in inclusive conversations, not just sharing opinions, but truly sharing.

6. Keep the communication ongoing.

7. Speak to one another, and not to narratives.

We start by creating an Authentic environment:

1. We must model/live the behavior, treatment, and change we want to experience in the world.

2. Open, caring communication is not always easy.

3. Embrace the fact that we all come from diverse backgrounds and challenge assumptions in our thinking.

4. Encourage responsible truth-sharing while acknowledging it can be uncomfortable.

We will struggle to build these habits, and we must critique ourselves internally: 

1. Be mindful of our thoughts, where are we harboring false narratives.

2. Work starts within, before we can truly practice it in our actions, deeds, and works.

3. Are our actions aligned with our Core Values and Beliefs?

4. Stop and reflect before responding in tense conversations.

5. Do not shame or blame for alignment.

Authenticity, Transparency, and Vulnerability

We have to be courageous to engage one another thoughtfully, with respect, leveraging a trust-centered commitment. We will not be perfect. Relationships are built with constant investment from a place of sincerity, a level of security, and transparency. Each of us must model it, putting in the work to grow as leaders. This is not about the hierarchical structure of how an organization is designed. A position, a role, and/or title is not leadership.

Leadership comes from a place of purpose-driven commitment to invest in people, cultivating their potential, skills, and abilities through a collective connection to a mission that serves the community from a place of humble strength. We need people who are leaders that are willing to demonstrate their humanity, which in some instances will be very vulnerable moments coupled with thoughtful transparency when appropriate.

No one has it all figured out, nor are they going to get it right every time. We all make mistakes and can mess up along the way. The key is whether we learn and grow from it and authentically acknowledge those junctures of growth. In turn, there is value in those lessons, and as we unpack them, we can channel them in insightful ways to hopefully help others grow. We mustn't wait for some false notion of perfection or to know every aspect of things before we can contribute to a space of community.

Perfection Holds People Back from Showing Up

We fear showing up because we might be found lacking in some way, because we do not have it all together. Whether it is not knowing all the details, intricacies of a process, understanding all the concepts or terms, or feeling as though we have not studied something enough or been trained on this or that. You are not superhuman. We all make mistakes, and if we are applying ourselves and giving sincerely, that is our best at that moment. That is showing up, leading from within, without arrogance, entitlement, leveling, or ranking against others.

We must challenge the belief that we know more, have a unique burden, or possess some super special experience, projecting that onto others as if they are supposed to know our story simply because we walked into the room. We deny each other community when we show up as if we are a gift to the situation, and everyone should recognize our specialness. That ego, tinged with arrogance, overshadows what we might be able to contribute. So, showing up means actively unpacking that baggage, not just in a group, but individually, coaching and training ourselves towards our better selves. And if we believe we are already our Best Self and do not need any more work or growth... congratulations, this might not be the appropriate platform or forum for you.

Growth is based on participation, not passive consumption.

Now, do we have to always give? No. There are times to absorb, taking in the information and processing it at our own pace. There are times we need to be energized, while other times we are the ones giving energy. On other occasions, we might be learning something interesting, considering different perspectives, or navigating complex concepts and applications. That is perfectly fine. Still, growth in a community is truly based on investing in one another, building a collective connection with each other through opportunities to participate, share, and connect beyond just consuming information.

We want to focus on exercising deep conversations, facilitating the sharing of stories, experiences, and thoughtful questions, creating extended conversations that will hopefully bring us closer together as a cohesive community. We are here to build together, learn, challenge, model, and ultimately grow as we invest in one another.

This is how we experience community: by sharing, working, and adding value through investing in our community. This does not mean we necessarily have to agree completely on everything to experience community with people. Rather, we have a unique opportunity to share deep value and our highest treasures by investing in one another. We must be mindful that it takes time to develop a community and it takes more than just time to deepen it.

Showing Up

Community requires time and work. It is no different than working out, training, preparing, and conditioning oneself for a marathon, a test, or accomplishing a goal. Leadership and community are not sprints. We must be determined and invest in the right training regimen from where we are starting. Because guess what? We are not all starting from the same mental, physical, emotional, and experiential place. So, our expectations must be aligned with where we are. But we must be honest within our hearts, even if not openly acknowledging it with a group or someone else. At the very least, we need to be honest with ourselves. And yet, for some, it may appear they are ahead or just beginning. That is okay... we are all on a journey together.

It is Risky

Community requires risk. Have you always known everything going into a new situation? More than likely, if we are being honest, no. Getting together, openly sharing ideas, concerns, answering questions, and sharing perspectives about how we think, would act, and what we expect opens us all up to risks. We must be brave. Bravery is stepping into that uncertainty and navigating the maze. Nothing of real value is gained by playing it 100% safe, guarded, and from a distance.

Interacting, learning, sharing, growing—it is a contact sport. Some days it is going to seem awkward, get messy, be offbeat, and be tiring. But when we really care, we give of ourselves because something deep down tells us it's worth it. And along the way, we will probably disagree with someone. Now, how we work through those disagreements, temporary barriers, or gaps depends on us. Stepping up and owning it is part of the process. There are elements of risk in every interaction, encounter, experience, and moment. More broadly, life is risky. Relationships are risky. Love, respect, trust, and service are all risky. But the potential return on stepping into these risks has unmeasurable rewards in growth and development, gained from investing in one another. That is the power of community. With time, communication becomes more meaningful, trust deepens, and it opens the door to collective strength, empowerment, and authenticity.

Do not avoid the messy stuff

These are the points and situations that tend to give us immediate pause when they arise. In those moments, our initial response might be, "Oh, I'm not going to touch that one." And yes, there is a time and place for everything. But not finding the time and not making the space for it is avoidance, and it allows things to fester to a point where it becomes much worse than if we had addressed it head-on in the beginning. The struggle is real, and so are the responsibilities and the decisions that accompany it. Yet, struggle, when approached from the right place in our hearts, can deepen a sense of community much faster than fair-weather situations. The key is that when those demanding situations present themselves, we come together as a community to address them, not allowing them to fester and get out of control until the harm outweighs any sense of initial discomfort or the perceived advantage of avoidance. Leaders do not continue to avoid the hard stuff because they know the work is the mission, and the higher purpose makes us stronger as a collective.

Authentic Self

Secretly, we want to be our whole selves. We want people to see us, understand our stories, our values, what we stand for, and our contributions—our innermost selves. But we recognize this community does not necessarily transport with us everywhere we go. Yet, if we do this right, invest in one another, and build that muscle of courage, mutual respect, and love for humanity in general, we will be able to show up as we want to be known. That is when we can summon that inner strength and power to express it outwardly like a-light, even in challenging times. Becoming known over time; being a catalyst that accelerates positive impacts and outcomes.

Power of Purpose

Approaching community and leadership from a guiding principle of positive societal impact, centering on the "power of purpose." It is a shared or collective pursuit, connected to a mission and cause bigger than any one individual, and in many cases, bigger than any one community. Our goal is to leverage our collective community to invest in one another in ways that add value and create a positive impact, so we have the collective strength to shine as brightly as we can to advance that higher purpose. It may seem nuanced in wording, yet we are embarking upon a distinct shift toward impact beyond individual contributions.

Yes, through our collective leadership we serve, but that is a part of it, not the whole. We are not people pleasers, saying yes to everything, lacking the ability to determine when to give a firm "no." We are thoughtful, with a learning, growth mindset, challenging the status quo and systems while being strategic in our thinking about our efforts, actions, and deeds, aiming to for constructive impacts for the greater good. This is where we draw motivation and altruism from, serving a higher purpose, connected to positive impacts, and collectively striving to overcome difficult odds for maximum growth.

We do this by:

• We prioritize genuine listening to create a space where people feel heard and valued.
• Maintaining sensitivity and responsiveness to critical social concerns.
• Recognizing how intersectional identities and diverse perspectives shape individual experiences.
• We champion evidence-based approaches, using clear explanations backed by research, science, and historical context to drive informed choices.
• We employ a comprehensive approach to conceptualization, considering diverse possibilities and outcomes.
• We empower individuals by investing in their skills, talents, and abilities, recognizing these as their unique superpowers.
• Collaboratively unpack challenges, anticipating concerns and strategically raising questions to drive informed solutions.
• Fostering inclusive environments where everyone's contributions are valued, regardless of station in life.
• Committed to truthfulness and candor, even in challenging circumstances.
• Transformative vulnerability, creating deeper connections and understanding.
• Actively working to build spaces where respect, openness, and psychological security are paramount.
• Advocating for systemic reforms to achieve equitable access to resources.
• Embracing a growth mindset, through intellectual curiosity and ongoing development.
• Guided by an unwavering commitment to human rights and dignity for all.

Humanity thrives through purposeful partnership. We strive to dismantle exclusionary practices and create pathways to prosperity for all. As pillars of change, we prioritize understanding communities authentically, fostering trust, and co-creating solutions that deliver tangible value and impact. We make accessibility central to our approach, ensuring that our actions genuinely empower community members to thrive.

The power to transform our world lies within each of us. We must find the courage to use our voices, our actions, our votes, and our shared humanity to stand against ignorance and fight for a more just future. Love and courage will guide us in building a world where everyone has the opportunities to thrive.

Shabazz Rah-Khem, Ph.D.

Head Evangelist & Advocate, Change & Innovation