Building Community Statement
At I-Think we focus on building community because we are all in an education system where too many students are disconnected as a result of systemic oppression and racism
We originally shared our Building Community Statement during Black History Month in recognition that we must re-think and re-understand the act of building community from “being nice to each other,” to creating classrooms that better serve Black students and other students with identities the education system was not built to affirm. We also recognize that this month is about the celebration of Black joy, liberation, heritage, culture and thinking – as it should be year-round.
Because We Love:
We bring our critical consciousness to de-center ourselves and our positionality
We center and affirm the lived experiences of identities that have been negatively impacted by existing systems of oppression
We bring our critical consciousness to our learning
We focus on problem solving that improves the community
When we do the work to de-center, we will center the voice of groups who have otherwise been silenced. Continuously developing our critical consciousness, allows us to be mindful of the work that must always be done. What we, as a community, center matters. What we center needs to affirm the beautiful, intersecting identities of its community members.
Our critical consciousness asks us to consider and act on the ways in which our conventional norms do not meet the needs of the community we are in. When we love, we are ever-evolving our models: it is active, questioning, and unafraid of the change.
Solving problems is an act of building community driven by love because we are not satisfied with the status quo. “When we are filled with love… injustice becomes intolerable.”7 Because we love, we are implicated to come together to better our community.
Because We Take Action:
We are showing that another world is possible
We wrestle with complexity
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of impact
We change
We, as those with power, can take action. When we take action, we are modeling, demonstrating and creating another world where every person can belong.
Change is complex and we must be willing to dive into that complexity. We need complexity to question individual bias, interpersonal struggles and institutional oppression. Without complexity, we will not be able to appreciate, acknowledge and affirm the identities and gifts that every individual brings.
Building community is not easy. We will have conversations and do activities that feel uncomfortable. We co-create the space for feedback where community can hold us accountable for the impact we are creating.
When we know better, we do better. 8 We celebrate the joy and process of change.
Because We Are Joyful:
We take action
We stay accountable by seeking feedback
We reflect
Community building happens through process and in the journey, we find joy. You can’t just learn and reflect. It is not enough. Building community is an intentional, continuous act. As we de-center, we center and affirm every identity and lived experience. We will not be perfect on this journey. 9 However hard, we will find joy because as we transform and build anew, we learn.
Being held accountable strengthens relationships, and through relationships we hold one another accountable. Building community is not a formula that can be applied, year over year. Actively seeking feedback from the community that we are working to build and from those with other perspectives ensures that the work of community building is ongoing and never ending.
Taking meaningful action means that we take the time to reflect and learn. Reflection is core to a deeper understanding of our mindset, our choices and what we choose to prioritize and focus on. Reflection is how we integrate our learning into our actions. That it is never ending is why we must find joy in the process of reimagining and reinventing.