Why Freedom and Fairness
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is one of the deadliest forces on the planet.
This photo of cracked earth is a representation of our humanity under the intense pressures of our ethnocentric, us-versus-them dynamics.
Where humanity is fractured and our relational bonds atrophied is where ethnocentrism has taken root in the form of:
- Group think
- Polarization
- Over-policing of speech
- Over-adherence to identity politics
- Unproductive and damaging conflict
- Subtle to gross dehumanization
- Violence
Us-and-Them distinctions are not bad. Our differences are a source of beauty, culture, and different ways of being and knowing. Further, solidarity within a group creates a safe space to be, and an empowered sovereignty from which to advocate, envision and manifest a just, equitable and humanity affirming society.
However, Us-and-Them dynamics are powerful and if not facilitated can overtake individuals and groups, leading to the atrophying and fracturing of our humanity and, therefore, keeping us from realizing our ability to radically collaborate across our diversity in service of a more free and fair world.
Facilitating a Greater Humanity at Work
Organizations are becoming spaces of cultural innovation where justice, equity, belonging and a deeper sense of human potential are being prioritized.
Processes and policies that protect and promote justice, equity, belonging and human potential are critical guardrails, but not sufficient in and of themselves.
It must be complemented with deep behavioral and mindset changes that only happen through deep personal and interpersonal work. Few leaders, facilitators and consultants in this space have the capacity to guide their teams, groups and orgs through this aspect of the work.
To become adept at this requires us to face our own ethnocentric biases, fear, and cynicism that arise when we engage historical, intense and complex intergroup dynamics. And, it requires us to discover a care, forgiveness, and compassion that informs our vision of who we can be together.
This training lays the ground work for leaders, facilitators, and consultants to develop a depth of courage, interpersonal sophistication, emotional stamina, and vision of who we can become that allows us to step into the fire of intergroup dynamics and transform them.
What You Will Practice
- Generating psychological safety
- Listening and responding spontaneously
- Relating to challenging emotions
- Integrating multiple perspectives
- Working with power dynamics
- Creative interpersonal risk taking
- Working with fear and unconscious bias
- Maintaining stable mindful awareness
- Perceiving and responding to subtle dimensions of group process
Lead Trainer
Gabriel Menegale Wilson
Gabe, founder of Developmental Design, is a leadership coach and organizational consultant, with a specialty in diversity and inclusion efforts. He is the co-author of Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart. His work takes us to the intersection of social justice and purpose driven enterprises, design thinking, human psychology and group dynamics.
Freedom and Fairness is an initiative within Gabe's work to apply Integral Theory, zen training, and adult developmental psychology to the theory and practice of group facilitation in the context of DEI and intergroup conflict.
Gabe studied adult developmental psychology and leadership through Stanford’s Masters program in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies (POLS). He was a lecturer at Stanford University for the innovative program, Designing Your Life, where he taught undergraduate and graduate students the principles of design thinking as applied to personal and professional development. He is a certified Integral Facilitator and an associate at Delta Developmental, a leadership and organizational development consultancy. He is a practitioner of meditation in the Zen lineage at the Two Arrows Zen Center.
Coaches
Nita Baum
Nita Baum’s head, heart and hands are focused on elevating the wellbeing, sustainability, and freedom of people and our planet. Drawing on 20+ years as a leadership coach, entrepreneur, teacher and consultant, she founded b*free to re-envision and re-create the Workplace as HealingSpace where freedom, sustainability and wellbeing happen at work, not in spite of it. b*free’s holistic approach mind-body-spirit@workintegrates personal development, embodied wellness and work. Nita and her team of co-creators draw on the latest insights from neuroscience, org behavior and culture transformation to provide individual and group dynamics coaching, facilitate retreats, design and deliver transformative learning experiences and advise founders, leaders and teams on developing equitable, inclusive, human-centered cultures rooted in abundant mindsets. Founding Board Chair of Solar Responders, a climate change disaster resiliency non-profit that places solar + battery storage on first responder stations in Puerto Rico, Nita’s an avid yogi from New York, and holds a BA from Columbia University and MBA from GW Business School.
Alana Felt
Alana Felt's passion lies in working with individuals and teams to transform their inner practice and interpersonal skills, and to refine their capacity for greater impact and collaboration. As a coach, facilitator and consultant, she designs and facilitates processes for executive teams, educators, and innovators in the public and private sectors. Her WholeHuman coaching approach dynamically guides clients towards becoming wholehearted, connected, and authentic with a focus on presence, embodiment, clarity, integrity and leadership capacity. Her expertise in transformative and experiential learning rests on over a decade of experience guiding in outdoor recreation and wilderness experiences for youth in therapeutic, non-profit and educational settings. She is a Certified Integral Facilitator and an Integral Facilitator Authorized Trainer, a Senior Consultant with Ten Directions, a Certified Associate Integral Coach through Integral Coaching Canada, a Wilderness First Responder, and a meditation practitioner in the Soto Zen Tradition. She brings clear insight, deep care, and grounded presence to her work. She lives in the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Logistics
Spring Training
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
Fall Training
TBA
