anti-racism-commitment - live and updated link

  • Please reach out to discuss this commitment or ask questions.

  • I am delighted you are here.

  • https://expresiveartswork.notion.site/Bridget-Bertrand-s-Anti-Racism-action-Plan-12e8855472094a6381c2f30d6b33cdec

  • The text as of January 13th, 2025.

  • Bridget Bertrand is committed to building an equitable, anti-racist company. We are taking steps to become an anti-racist company because we aspire to be a change agent against racism and white supremacy. We want to be a part of a community of micro-businesses prioritizing justice, equity, and inclusion. We have work to do 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 / Transformation Collective Space and Bridget’s private practice (a therapy practice).

  • I, Bridget Bertrand, am the owner of these companies. As a white, cis, queer/dyke/lesiban woman have white privilege, cisgender privilege, I am able-bodied, and I 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 6/10/20

  • *Created a public document listing our company values, including a link to this action plan (updated here where you are).

  • We 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

    • 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 on-boarding 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 am regularly absorbing information from experts on JEDI and I 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.

  • We 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 am are also queer-identified and queer loving.

  • We 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 our external-facing documents (website, job announcements, publications, contracts, etc). It will be written using realistic language about where we are and aspirational about where this business is trying to go. It will outline specific steps that we are taking and will take to get there. This is that document, and it is a work in progress. Its first version was created in June of 2020. New newsletter information often includes links to this Anti-Racism Action Plan. For my coaching clients, I will include a link during the onboarding of new participants. Over the years (2020-2025), more than 10% of my funds (earned via spousal support, earned through my businesses, and my unearned wealth as a white person) have been directly given to the Global Majority through mutual aid.

    Do you want to know more about mutual aid, click here and also read more about Dean Spade. https://www.deanspade.net/