How I’m learning how to use my power and influence

Image credit: Unsplash

I attended my first Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit over the weekend.

For those who haven’t heard of or attended Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit, it’s a “transformational day-long learning experience centered around Summit’s core values of resident voice and racial equity” hosted by the City of Grand Rapids.

The event brought together neighbors from every corner of Grand Rapids to learn and strategize together while connecting and building community.

(Also, before getting into the rest of my blog post, a key topic at Summit was the city’s master plan. This is important to know: If you live in Grand Rapids, the city is in the pre-planning phase of our new master plan. The master plan is created every 20 years and it’s a blueprint for our city’s growth. There will be opportunities for residents to share their voice and weigh in on important topics like equity, housing, transportation, the environment, etc.)

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I’ll jump right in and say Summit was exactly the type of event I needed to attend after 2+ years of absorbing headlines and horrifying racist crimes happening across our country and blocks away in my own neighborhood while doing everything I can to undo my previous world of what I thought was me being antiracist and stepping into a clearer understanding of the roots of racism and inequities in the United States.

For a long time, I have lived behind imposter syndrome and the fear of not getting it right or saying the right words. And that’s a direct result of my privilege as a white woman living in the United States. Outside of when I have conversations on racism with my social circle, I usually feel like I lack the eloquence and right words to get my point across. But I know now that getting it right or perfect before I speak up is just another example of my privilege at work.

Moving forward, I’m going to try my best to say what I mean. I can’t keep holding back my words in the fear of not getting it right (because why should me, a white woman, have any fear for not saying the right thing?). It’s time I step into the power I have as a white woman and use my words and skills to advocate for justice and equity for my neighbors.

So, as part of stepping forward, I wanted to share takeaways I found powerful at Summit:

1. The clearest definition of equity I’ve heard yet: “Everyone gets the thing they need to get to where they need to be.” (Source: Keynote presentation by Dr. Marijata C. Daniel-Echols, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation)

2. When we’re talking about equity, it’s the adjectives that matter:

   1. Safe and affordable housing

   2. Reliable transportation

   3. Green spaces

   4. Quality and affordable health care

   (Also from Dr. Daniel-Echols’ keynote presentation)

3. Our nation is founded on white supremacy, and the roots of inequality in our country include:

   1. Hope; and

   2. Idealism

   3. Individualism

   4. Capitalism

   5. Racism

   6. Sexism

   7. Classism

4. Social and political determinants of health are not random. People make choices based on what’s available to them. Watch Jessica’s story for an example of what this means.

5. I gained a clearer understanding of what it means to know my power and use my sphere of influence to create change. (I’m taking action on that by writing this blog post and getting involved with my neighborhood association.)

After attending Summit, I read The Double Terror of Being Black in America by Ibram X. Kendi in The Atlantic. Between reading this article and attending Summit, it became unmistakably and undeniably crystal clear the inequities and injustice happening in our country are fueled by racist ideologies and conspiracy theories. Not that it wasn’t clear to me before, but it sunk into my heart, mind, and soul even deeper this weekend. Our unjust, unfair systems combined with toxic ideas spread through disinformation is taking the the lives of people of color every single day.

Writing this reflection doesn’t feel like enough and it isn’t enough. But if I don’t publish it, then that’s one missed opportunity at creating change.

Find your power, own your power, and use it to influence others.