REAL Talk Solutions

Critical race theory is not about if you use the “N” word it’s about how the social systems are set up to systematically advantage those who are not racially identified as white. If we really want to bring about racial equity, we need to examine how things became in-equitable .

As a leader who creates communities of belonging, harm and hurt to will happen to you. It shows up in many forms.

You can be excluded from decisions you helped shape. You can be pushed out of a role you were fully qualified for.
You can be dismissed, minimized, or harmed by people who do not understand your value.

And sometimes the harm comes from personal relationships that spill into your wellbeing.

When harm happens, the emotional instinct to seek revenge can be real. You may want to expose the person who undermined you.

You may want to correct the narrative publicly. You may want to make the organization feel the consequences of its choices. You may even want to confront the person who hurt you in your personal life.

These responses are human. They are valid. They come from the desire to validate your the harm. And you have the right to do this. You want to restore the balance.

However, revenge does not restore.

Revenge is emotionally driven. It is reactive and volatile and comes from the place of being wounded instead of a place of wisdom.

Revenge keeps you tied to the harm and tied to the people who caused it. It drains your clarity, your peace and your leadership.

Restoration is different.
Restoration is strategic.
Restoration is proactive.
Restoration has a plan.

Restoration asks: What do I need to do to reclaim my dignity, my clarity, and my future?

Restoration is not passive.
It is not about pretending the harm did not happen. It is not about minimizing your experience. Restoration is strategic.

Restoration also does not block reconciliation.

If you choose reconciliation, that is your decision. Reconciliation simply means you want to rebuild a relationship or re‑enter a space with new terms, new boundaries, and new clarity.

But reconciliation is optional.

Restoration is essential.

Restoration brings you back to yourself. It brings you back to your purpose. It brings you back to your light.

It brings you back to why you got into your leadership role.

It brings you back to creating communities of belonging in an aligned way.

So, choose restoration over revenge.
Because staying in your light is the sweetest revenge.

Love these tips from .bise on how you can make tiny shifts in your language that can challenge the patriarchal structures.

Creating space for women leaders to align, release, and celebrate.
Let’s go!!

We don’t talk about fun enough in equity and diversity spaces.

Joy, play, and doing something just for yourself is sacred work too.

When leaders are aligned, well, and nourished, they can actually sustain the work they’re called to do.

And honestly, we see this everyday in our nonprofit program. The SHINE Club keeps teaching this lesson.

Witnessing kids find community, belonging, and confidence through fun shows that joy isn’t optional it’s necessary and instinctive.

So, we ask again; what are you doing for fun these days?

Make joy is part of your leadership practice.

Check out this video of the amazing nominees.

In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing political climate, anxiety feels like it’s everywhere - especially for marginalized and racialized communities.

👉🏽There’s so much happening in the world, and as individual leaders, we each need to find ways to manage that weight.

👉🏽The feeling of constantly being watched, judged, or not accepted takes its toll.

👉🏽Anxiety often stems from external forces and the whirlwind of thoughts in our minds.

👉🏽But know this: not every thought of fear reflects the truth. You are a divine being, worthy of peace and joy.

👉🏽So, how do we tackle it? Move your body, connect with your community, and practice letting go of the negative while holding onto the positive.

👉🏽Take care of yourself—practise self-love. Remember: you have the power to lead, even in the storm.

Do whatever empowers you to reclaim a calm and peaceful mind.

💛