Jesse is passionate about issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, and prides himself on his engagement with people and communities different than him. Jesse identifies as a white man and is personally committed to immersing himself in spaces where he can connect with women and people of color, in particular, spaces where women and people of color are discussing and organizing for social change.
In addition to engaging diversity, equity and inclusion issues through community, Jesse is an avid reader and committed to his own self-study. Increasingly, Jesse is noticing blogs and articles discussing the phenomena of white men “taking up space” in places intended for women and people of color to connect and find community with one another.
Jesse begins asking himself if his own propensity to enter into groups of women and people of color has an adverse impact. Jesse recognizes that he has never been forbidden from participating. He is always welcomed. However, with added mindfulness, Jesse is able to recognize how his presence at times influences the comfort, authenticity and sense of security of his peers.
Jesse personally commits to being more judicious about where and how he shows up in community spaces that were not specifically designed for him. While he remains engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion work, he resolves that some of the best ways he can serve as an
- The Issue: Jesse becomes aware that his enthusiasm for diversity, equity and inclusion work has resulted in him attending gatherings and participating in spaces that were not designed for him and adversely impacting his peers who identify as women and people of color.
- The Deliberation: Jesse raises his consciousness through self-study and mindful reflection and is able to explore and reach these conclusions on his own.
- The Growth: Jesse finds ways to continue his engagement with diversity, equity and inclusion work that reduces his interruption of spaces for women and people of color spaces, and further gains the motivation and confidence to organize diversity, equity and inclusion spaces for men and white people.