JEDI Reflections
Illustration by Charlie Mackesy
On our Community Call this week, retreat center leaders gathered to reflect on the personal and organizational shifts we’re experiencing as we apply a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) lens to our retreat centers, organizational culture and leadership, programming, partnerships, and communities.
Jenyng Wu, our facilitator and a member of the RCC Steering Committee, shared an embodied lens of JEDI in a reflective continuation of our Introduction to JEDI conversation in September.
We danced to music, shared a guided meditation, and followed along with the pictures as Jenyng read us a beautiful story. Because JEDI spaces are built on trust, intimacy, vulnerability, and openness, we didn’t record video or audio of the discussion. Highlights from the call are outlined below, including upcoming events and timely resources.
The Retreat Center Collaboration is preparing to launch a JEDI Circle for retreat center leaders. We’ll be sharing more information and starting registration soon!
JEDI Spaces and Circles
JEDI Space agreements:
Deep Listening — rather than relate or expand, just hone in on the moment
No Response — participants tap into their own agency, brave and safe space
Say “Ouch” — instead of responding and reacting, we can say “ouch,” hold that
Personal responsibility — for what is shared into the circle and how we show up
Full participation — each participant brings their whole selves, identity, and experiences
What a JEDI Circle is/isn’t:
This is not a circle for comfort or compliments
This is a space to lean in to learning new muscles and deep reflection
This is a marker on a broader journey
Objective of JEDI:
JEDI is not what we aspire to be, but it is who we are
JEDI can be and is: joy
Additional Resources
The People’s Inauguration: 10 days to activate revolutionary love
A free transformative journey of healing, joy, and justice for all
Jan 22-31, 2021
Host: Valarie Kaur, activist, lawyer, filmmaker and founder of Revolutionary Love Project with a lot of diverse amazing presenters
Embodied Social Justice Summit (free)
Exploring the intersection of oppression and embodiment. Belief that embodies social activism is sustainable social activism.
Hosts: Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Karine Bell, Rae Johnson, Dr. Sara King & Dr. Scott Lyons, and many more diverse presenters
Jan 27-31, 2021
Food, Farming and Healing our World
A unique series of gatherings exploring how food and farming can heal our world.
Speakers: Vandana Shiva, Martin Shaw, Leah Penniman, and many more leaders/visionaries/experts
Jan 27-Feb 17, 2021 – four Wednesdays
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, an illustrated book by Charlie Mackesy
Not specifically or explicitly JEDI, but it’s all about it!
Connect to inner wisdom, how we look at the world, to see different perspectives, to be creative in solving a problem or meeting a need
Facilitators:
Jenyng Wu, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC), Holistic Centers Network (HCN)
Justine Johnson, Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, Retreat Center Collaboration (RCC)
Jenyng formally began the JEDI work at OAEC in 2017 and then has been part of the growing JEDI work within HCN. Having come from the private sector (prior to OAEC), Jenyng brings pragmatic business processes into the social movement landscape. She enjoys creating containers for reflective inquiry with accountability and action for social change.
We’re grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow together with her guidance.
More notes from this session are available at the link below.