Woke Isn't Enough

More and more people are discussing the potential fall of democracy in the US as the 2022 mid-term elections creep ever closer. However, those conversations often happen in a vacuum, seemingly disconnected from issues of equity and inclusion. During this episode, Jess and Fiona tie it all together. They highlight how the varied attacks on our democracy are really about the attempts of some to hold on to power at all costs to prevent equitably sharing power with those currently living at the margins of society. We hope you join us for this lively and sometimes snarky discussion! Potential title- More Than "Democracy" Is At Risk!

Special guests, Zoe Flowers and Cassie Whitebread, join Jess and Fiona to invite you to our upcoming healing retreat. During this episode, we discuss why it is crucial that we prioritize our well-being in order to sustain the work. We cannot dismantle oppression when we are burnt out!Learn more about our racial healing retreat at https://healingequityunited.com/healing-retreat.

Mixed-race individuals (folks whose parents or ancestors are of more than one ethnicity and/or race) have a unique experience in processing and claiming their identity as compared to monoracial individuals. In this episode, Fiona and Cassie discuss the struggles that mixed-race people face because they do not fall neatly into our society's socially constructed boxes for race and ethnicity. They discuss how we as mixed-race folks can strive to fully embrace their identity and how monoracial loved ones can support mixed-race people in their identity-processing journey.Monday, April 4th

In today's episode, Jess and Fiona discuss Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court.  If approved, she would become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. But why is it taking so long for the Supreme Court to be composed of justices who reflect the growing diversity of our nation?  Join us as we strategize how to spur and sustain a seismic demographic shift of the nation's highest court.

As co-conspirators and aspiring allies we often ask ourselves what we would do to interrupt every day acts of racism and oppression.  Unfortunately, the HEU team recently had opportunities to find out.  During today's informal conversation, Jess and Fiona discuss how they responded to racialized acts of oppression and the emotional impact of such encounters.

Two huge verdicts came through last month - that of Kyle Rittenhouse and also for the three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery. What do these verdicts mean for white America and for BIPOC folks? What have we learned (if anything)? What do we need to do to move towards justice and accountability? 

Is your nonprofit ready to do away with traditional hierarchy? How can shared leadership models work while still being a part of the harmful nonprofit industrial complex? During this episode, Healing Equity United speaks with special guest Cassie Whitebread about the shared leadership model at her nonprofit, Seattle Works. Cassie shares about why her team decided to distribute leadership, the benefits and challenges, and some crucial characteristics that team members need to buy into in order for this model to work.To learn more about Seattle Works visit https://www.seattleworks.org/

What does the "checklist" of becoming an anti-racist organization include? Fiona and Jess discuss the "checklist" of items and why we need to move beyond performative actions to really embrace the internal work that all of us need to do to embrace a culture that is anti-racist.

Nonprofit human resources has origins rooted in racism and the enslavement of Black people in the South. In this episode, Jess and Fiona discuss how we move beyond the oppressive systems and structures that have been developed to actually look at equity and inclusion in nonprofit HR (aka people and culture).

What is racial trauma, how has it manifested over the past year, and what are the impacts? There's a saying that "hurt people, hurt people." In this episode, Fiona & Jess talk about how racial trauma shows up in nonprofits and in leadership while discussing the important work that ALL of us need to do to incorporate racial healing and care into our lives.  Without individual and collective healing, ongoing systemic injustice and oppression can lead to compounded emotional harm. And unfortunately, our race-based traumas can sometimes lead to division within the BIPOC community.

Those of us reimagining a society truly rooted in equity have to anticipate backlash from those seeking to maintain the status quo. They will ramp up efforts to silence and marginalize our voices. They will turn our words inside out and upside down to use against us. During this episode, Jess and Fiona discuss how equity related terms like WOKE are being weaponized to disrupt our movement and what we can do to stop it. 

During this episode, Healing Equity United tackles the controversial issue of whether Critical Race Theory (CRT) should be taught in schools. The team discusses what CRT is and what it is not.  It also addresses how CRT has become such a contentious issue that multiple states are proposing legislation which would prohibit teaching it.  Finally, Fiona, Jess, and special guest Cassie Whitebread suggest ways that you can take action in your community.

What is wealth privilege, and why does it matter? How do we change philanthropy and the way that funds are distributed to non-profits? Fiona & Jess discuss the dynamics behind wealth and philanthropy and what we need to consider when it comes to equity and inclusion.

Grief. Rage. Relief. Overwhelm. Sadness.  People of color have felt all of theses emotions and more as we have grappled with mass murder, rising hate crimes, and repeated murders committed by police.  It is only natural that these events leave a scar. In this episode Jess and Fiona discuss what racialized trauma is, how it may manifest and what we can do to support those of us impacted by it.

It seems like someone is getting canceled everyday. But have we gone too far as a society? Join Fiona and Jess as they discuss cancel culture and the differences between calling in and calling out. 

During this episode, Jess and Fiona discuss the intersections of race and gender. More specifically, they focus on the significant number of white women who have historically used their unique societal position to perpetuate oppression against women of color.  Today's call to action: Woke, White women, change that dynamic!

During this episode, Jessica and Fiona discuss the number of anti-Asian crimes which have sky-rocketed over the past year. Why aren't more people taking to the streets? Protesting? Outraged? Maybe the answer lies in our country's deep anti-Asian roots. Listen and then tell us what you think!

In this episode, Jess and Fiona take on everything from the NFL to the resounding silence of many White allies in the wake of innumerable acts of anti-Blackness. As usual, they call on allies to move beyond being "woke" towards consistently and vociferously speaking out to promote equity and dismantle racism.

In today's episode, Jessica and Fiona discuss what we should do as co-conspirators in the wake of the national political call for unity. Does unity mean that we have to pause the movement? Does unity mean that we have to temper our demands for equity? Does unity mean that we have to collectively sacrifice accountability? Our short answer is "NO". Listen to the episode for the longer, feistier answer.

The attack on the Capitol is another moment of awakening for some White folx in America today. But for most BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), it's not surprising. At this pivotal moment, you're either racist or you're antiracist. Hear from Fiona and Jess on how to take action so that we don't continue to perpetuate systems of oppression.

If our ultimate goal is to become accomplices and co-conspirators, how do we get there? What This week, Fiona and Jess share Healing Equity United's Five A's model which discusses the steps between ally and accomplice. Through examples in nonprofits, they'll share how each step shows up in racial justice work.

During this episode we were honored to have special guest, Michele Leonard join us. Michele discussed her decades of activism in the Native American community. She also shared her wisdom regarding the continued erasure of Native peoples from our history books and our consciousness. Finally, she schooled us on how we can show up to act as co-conspirators in solidarity with Native siblings. Believe us, this is a conversation that you don't want to miss!

The Black Lives Matter movement and protests are sparking questions from kids today. How early should you start talking to them about race? Where should we begin the conversation? Hear from Fiona Oliphant and John Nguyen-Yap (in a moderated discussion by Jess) as they share tips and strategies on how they navigate race-based conversations with their children. 

This week, Jess interviews Helen Kim Ho, a fierce Asian American activist in Atlanta who founded the first Asian Pacific American civil rights organization in the Deep South. Listen as they discuss the tokenization of people of color in nonprofit organizations, the impact of COVID-19 in Georgia, and the impact of the John Lewis' passing on his community. Learn more about Helen Kim Ho's work by visiting her website at: https://www.hkhlawllc.com/

We're reading all the books, going to trainings, and following the news. We've been awakened. But why isn't being woke enough in this moment? This week Jessica and Fiona discuss how we need to move beyond allyship to become co-conspirators in this moment.

Congressman and civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis charged us all to "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America." It is clear that there is a significant need for all of us to take up his call given the widespread and flagrant disregard for Black lives (e.g. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many more). This week Jessica and Fiona discuss how BLM protesters are marching to redeem America's soul and the federal response in Portland.Since recording this episode on July 22, 2020 an article regarding the Wall of Moms has been posted accusing them of engaging in anti-blackness by leaders of a Black-led community group. We encourage you to read this article to learn more.

Are you keeping a running list of all the things Black and Brown people cannot do without being harassed and having the police called on them? If not, then don't worry. A very helpful Karen or Ken will be sure to remind you of each verboten activity! During this episode, Jessica and Fiona will discuss Karens & Kens, the impact of their behavior and much more.

Can you remember how you were taught about the myriad of ways people of color contributed to US history? Were Black folx relegated to a few paragraphs abut slavery and the Civil War? Were Asian-Americans only discussed for a few moments during Asian Pacific American Heritage month? This week Jessica and Fiona tackle these questions and many more as they debate whether people of color have effectively been erased from US history and the implications that erasure has for attaining racial equity.

Performative allyship is often not helpful and can actually do more harm than we intend it to. How do we know when we are engaging in it? And what are some ways that we can recognize impact as we move towards fully embracing allyship while learning to become co-conspirators for racial justice?

The murder of George Floyd is another example of the police brutality and killing of young black men in America every day. What does it mean for Black and Asian communities? And what are some ways that we can take action as co-conspirators?