As we approach the middle of May and reflect on AAPI Month, I am reminded of the unfortunate reality of the disconnection between people who find themselves pushed to the margins of society based on some dimension of their diversity. Instead of recognizing the connection of lived experiences and the challenges faced, marginalized communities have historically existed in silos of similarity. Groups of people, whether they are Asian, Black, Latinx, members of the gender and sexual diversity community, or any group that faces discrimination, have historically adopted the mentality of “us versus them”. It is no secret that communities of color across the globe have suffered alone in individual silos. We have not been as supportive of one another as we should or could be.
When we approach conflicts around our different dimensions of diversity many people revert to an “us vs. them” or a “me vs. you” perspective. The predisposition toward disconnection has become a natural way of navigating challenges for most of us, and if we are to evolve as a species we must be willing to acknowledge our connectedness as a single human race.
No one wants to occupy the lowest rung of the ladder. But if we intend to repair the divides our global community is currently facing we must dismantle the ladder completely. Marginalized people can cultivate the awareness needed to move past disconnection and competition and find common ground to come together and work towards equity and justice. I have realized over the years that my work must extend outward beyond my own sphere of diversity and include all people who find themselves pushed to the margin. To illustrate this I would like to share another excerpt from Know Justice Know Peace: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram:
Very early in my career, I gravitated toward work that created opportunities for marginalized communities. While living in El Paso, Texas the path for the youth held limited access to opportunity. I took a job working for a government-funded program and began mentoring and tutoring Mexican-American students to help them find jobs after they graduated from high school. The job included driving an old school bus to pick them up and drop them off in the evening. I was pretty proud of my ability to get that bus down these little tiny narrow streets.
When students disappeared from the program I’d worry. I was aware of their comings and goings across the border but I had no clue as to who was at risk for being detained at the border crossing. I learned a lot about your personal lives and the circumstances that you had to navigate. I worried about your safety and well being.I wondered where you went or who you turned to when things got rough at home. This inquiry led me to look for a runaway shelter so that I could add the location to my list of resources. I discovered that there was not a Runaway Shelter anywhere in El Paso. I had some strong thoughts and feelings about it and I was determined to fix it. I took the anger in my belly, the love in my heart, and the God-given intelligence of my brain and went to work. I became a consultant for the City of El Paso and began reviewing social service programs that operated with City and/or federal funds. I was able to broker a deal between Lee Moor Children's Home and the City of El Paso for funding for a new runaway shelter. The private funding that came from Lee Moor Children's Home would enable a runaway shelter to sustain itself when there were gaps in the government funding
When I say I was determined to “fix it”, I wasn't playing around.… When the City gave me the green light and Lee More consented to the partnership I sprung into action. I secured a location, interviewed, hired and trained the staff, and ultimately resigned from my job as consultant for the city and became the Director of the Runaway Shelter of El Paso. My [Enneagram One] energy was tested so many times as I watched young people come in and out of the shelter. The daily flow of underage youth who had been abused by people who should have been better humans was heart-wrenching. As a human who stands at Point One the anger that I felt coursing through my veins was unbearable. I felt the need to do something that would provide protection for these young people and I was hell-bent on changing the system. Fortunately for those young people, I was not a bridge burner so I was able to find allies. I was a force to be reckoned with. I recognized that the anger that I was experiencing served me well as a call to action …The shelter has gone through many highs and lows over the decades. The last time I checked, the runaway shelter in El Paso still exists.
Let's continue this conversation and find ways to bring all communities together for a more equitable and peaceful existence. Check back next week for another glimpse into my life and into my book Know Justice Know Peace.