This lived on a notion link that has been on my https://linktr.ee/bhopeb for five years, but I wanted it to have a more visible spot here on my website.
Bridget Bertrand is committed to building an equitable, anti-racist company. I am taking steps to become an anti-racist company BECAUSE I aspire to be a change agent against racism and white supremacy. I want to be a part of a community of micro-businesses that prioritize justice, equity, and inclusion. I will always have work to do in order to get there. This document names some of that work.
In this document, "I" means Bridget Bertrand, the owner of the company Expressive Arts Work and Bridget’s private practice (a therapy practice). I, Bridget Bertrand, as a white, gender queer dyke/lesbian, have white privilege, cisgender privilege, am able-bodied for now, and have class and education privilege. I'm committed to taking action against a system that gives me unearned privilege. I move forward imperfectly. I continue to make mistakes. I will learn from those mistakes, and I am open to and grateful for feedback. I will meet feedback without defensiveness.
Here are some of the steps I have taken and will take:
Signed The Anti-Racism Small Business Pledge in June of 2020.
Created this public document listing my company values.
I pay for and engage actively in education on anti-racism work. In addition to weekly listening and reading, I commit to investing money, time, and spirit in education and consultation on at least a quarterly basis and listing my educators/programs here.
Sonya Renne' Taylor
MNDFL
Embody Lab
Resmma, https://resmaa.com/
Liberated Life Network, Rev. angel kyodo williams https://angelkyodowilliams.com/
I commit to open conflict and to allowing discomfort. When conflict arises in my life, in individual work, and within my programs, I let it arise. I don’t try to hide it, delete it, or ignore it and I do not protect hate speech. I acknowledge the conflict, allow space for community members to be heard, and deal with the underlying issue rather than demonize the community member who raised the issue. These conversations are happening regardless, and I allow them to happen in these spaces and participate in the conversations. I am willing to sit in the discomfort of being called out or in and take action to implement the needs expressed by community members. I state these community guidelines that acknowledge these things. (Most of the language in this bullet point comes directly from the Anti-Racism Pledge listed above.
Posted the above statement within groups - previously, I have used this link in my groups:
https://eastbaymeditation.org/2017/05/agreements-for-multicultural-interactions/
Include the above language in the onboarding of all future participants as of 1/2/2021
I commit to paying for the resources I benefit from and receive from BIPOC educators. When I regularly absorb information from experts on JEDI and am not enrolled in their programs, I seek ways to pay for the help I'm receiving. I buy books, contribute to Patreon, or find other ways to invest.
I commit to investing at least 10% of the ex-arts work budget to BIPOC communities by the end of 2022 or sooner. This may include hiring BIPOC employees, vendors, and contractors, using BIPOC-owned software and services, purchasing BIPOC-authored books, donating to organizations, and more.
I will report the percent annually (or more frequently) below, usually after Q2.
Express my sincere, long-term commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization.
I will create a permanent statement that illustrates our commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism that goes on all of my external-facing documents.
Do you want to know more about mutual aid, click here and also read more about Dean Spade.
