Meet Jess
To Our Community:
Truth be told, Kelly wrote her letter before I sat down to write mine. I’m glad that she did, and that she offered the example of how she adapts her introduction based on her audience. I am so used to describing myself based on what I’ve done, where I’ve worked, the roles I’ve held – it is no wonder that when I decided to try independent consulting a handful of years ago, I felt lost, unsure and generally confused about my identity and purpose. I no longer held a title that was bestowed upon me, and I no longer offered credibility by naming the institution to which I belonged. I quickly realized I was going to have to face this issue full-on, because no one out there could or should tell me who I am, why I am here, what I am meant to do, and how I am to go about doing it. Layer on that at this point in my life I was a new mother, committed to raising a White boy who God willing would grow up to be a White man, who will know his privilege and leverage his power to advance opportunity for others. My mission in life was clear, yet I still struggled to believe in myself and move forward.
This crisis of identity and career is somewhat ironic, considering that at this point I’d spent the vast majority of my career guiding others through very similar moments. I was deeply fortunate to have the experience managing the alumni network of Teach For America. Thousands of alumni would come to me and my team to help them navigate careers while seeking to identify that magical intersection of skill and passion which would set them up to do the greatest good towards advancing educational equity. I know I offered good counsel, the best I could at the time, but as I look back, I know that I was missing a great deal in regards to supporting the WHOLE PERSON. I was treating career ailments, but not inquiring about other roots like relationships, spirituality, and overall health and wellness. The concept of Purpose is one that I’ve been studying intently for many, many years. I used to think of Purpose as a destination, a singular ‘perfect placement’. As I unpacked this concept, I found that my orientation towards Purpose was harming my sense of well-being, and was also entangled in many other limiting beliefs associated with perfectionism, with perfectionism itself being deeply entrenched with oppression. If we believe there is only one right way, we are inherently labeling anything that is ‘other’ as ‘bad’. This is not only unhelpful to individual wellness, it is deeply problematic at the societal and systems level.
Everyday I work intentionally to build out my toolbox of holistic resources to help those around me feel, do and be their best. I believe it is incumbent upon each of us to DO THE WORK that allows us to deeply know, grow, love and be our truest most authentic selves. I also believe that Black Lives Matter, and that racial and gender equity can only be achieved when White people intentionally dig in to uncover the ways in which institutionalized racism and sexism have permeated their very understandings of themselves and the word in which we operate. This is not easy work, but it is NECESSARY. I want to see BIPOC leaders going further, faster towards their goals of a better world, and I want to see White leaders doing everything we can to propel them.
Further, faster… I am, indeed, a competitive spirit. I remember stepping into my very first yoga class over a decade ago, and setting myself to the goal of performing in the top quartile of the class… Anyone who truly knows yoga will be shaking their head. It took me years to learn that the true power of yoga is within the four corners of my own mat, and that comparing myself to others is toxic for me and for them. Now within my yoga practice I focus on going deep inside. Meditation and journaling have been profoundly helpful tools for me as I continuously seek to understand myself and the world around me. I am a lifelong student. I’ve gone deep into the subjects of sociology and psychology, specifically in the domains of racial and gender identity and equity. I believe self-work, ‘the work’, is absolutely critical to advancing a more harmonious world, and I also believe that it can be both hard and fun. “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, “Why Do All the Black Kids Sit Together in the Cafeteria” by Dr. Beverly Tatum and “Pivot” by Jenny Blake are my daily workbooks, and serve as the basis for a great deal of me teaching and learning.
Working with Kelly to provide nurturing learning and growing environments is a true dream for me. I have learned so much from Kelly throughout our years of friendship and co-leadership, and trust her inherently. We are so honored to create this space for you, and looking forward to growing and glowing alongside you.
Love,
Jess
