Reflections on Buddhist Contributions to Social Justice [Main Post with PDF]
Cultivating Trustworthiness [9 of 10]
Cultivating Trustworthiness [9 of 10]
B. Conclusion
The I+U HALT Injustice is a tool offered to promote people’s ability to share their power well in order to promote conscious, inclusive social change. These six building blocks of capacity are not sequential, they are dynamic and mutually informing. As we cultivate these capacity, we build the ability to share our power, which in turn supports collaborative, inclusive problem solving and conscious, inclusive action for social change.
If you want to cultivate your capacity, consider beginning your focus on a realm within your life in which you feel the most empowered – your work or your family. We all have much more power than we are aware of. As we deepen these capacities, we discover the power that we have..
If we do not create an inclusive problem solving space, then we will not be able to share our power with those we seek to benefit. When efforts to ‘assist’ others depend upon the ‘others’ being ‘helped’ or ‘assisted,’ then we are not transforming the environment. We say that we want social change, but until we effect social change in a way that shares power, we merely perpetuate inequities, disparities, and the status quo. We must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that our efforts do not arise from a hidden agenda based on our unresolved needs.
When we commit to conscious, inclusive action, we release control over defining the problem, the strategy, and the solution. We let go of our ‘notions’ about what the ‘right way’ looks like and how things ‘should be,’ and we enter into a dialogue of learning. Most of all, we commit to being present for a change that will change us, and we show up for change that includes sharing our power, relinquishing our privilege, and releasing our role as the ‘advocate/activist/care provider’ – instead we become a collaborating partner.
It is my hope that this capacity building tool provides the means to support people to live the change as social architects - to be collaborating partners in learning and to create inclusive problem solving spaces. As you discover the power that you hold, you can use the Mind the Gaps framework to further share your power for the benefit of all.
The I+U HALT Injustice is a tool offered to promote people’s ability to share their power well in order to promote conscious, inclusive social change. These six building blocks of capacity are not sequential, they are dynamic and mutually informing. As we cultivate these capacity, we build the ability to share our power, which in turn supports collaborative, inclusive problem solving and conscious, inclusive action for social change.
If you want to cultivate your capacity, consider beginning your focus on a realm within your life in which you feel the most empowered – your work or your family. We all have much more power than we are aware of. As we deepen these capacities, we discover the power that we have..
If we do not create an inclusive problem solving space, then we will not be able to share our power with those we seek to benefit. When efforts to ‘assist’ others depend upon the ‘others’ being ‘helped’ or ‘assisted,’ then we are not transforming the environment. We say that we want social change, but until we effect social change in a way that shares power, we merely perpetuate inequities, disparities, and the status quo. We must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that our efforts do not arise from a hidden agenda based on our unresolved needs.
When we commit to conscious, inclusive action, we release control over defining the problem, the strategy, and the solution. We let go of our ‘notions’ about what the ‘right way’ looks like and how things ‘should be,’ and we enter into a dialogue of learning. Most of all, we commit to being present for a change that will change us, and we show up for change that includes sharing our power, relinquishing our privilege, and releasing our role as the ‘advocate/activist/care provider’ – instead we become a collaborating partner.
It is my hope that this capacity building tool provides the means to support people to live the change as social architects - to be collaborating partners in learning and to create inclusive problem solving spaces. As you discover the power that you hold, you can use the Mind the Gaps framework to further share your power for the benefit of all.
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