I am committed professionally and personally to recognizing the unique value of every being on this planet. Collectively, we bare many identities, experiences, and understandings of the world. These identities may include or be defined by ability, age, class, community, education, employment, ethnicity, expertise, gender, nationality, philosophy, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and other categories. Some of these identities, such as ability and race, are socially constructed categories that are the bases for not only systemic oppression and individual acts of violence but also self-empowerment, community building, and social justice work.
I believe we are weakened when we forsake love, understanding, and humility in favor of obtaining and maintaining power through devaluation, discrimination, and oppression. And we are strengthened when we challenge power and celebrate and support one another with the aim of building equitable communities.
As a white person with class, education, and gender privileges, I believe my commitment is to not only sustain but also to grow in love, understanding, and humility so that through my self-education, relationships, work, and service I can be more than an ally: I aim to be a co-conspirator who can hear others’ perspectives and needs and work alongside them to build a stronger, more loving world.
