Equity is Love in Action

We were proud to be selected as one of the presenters at the San Diego Department of Education equity conference last week. Our presentation on the intersection of asset-based community building and cultural competency was well attended, and as one of our first conference presentations, we felt accomplished and relieved!

Several presenters emphasized the importance of focusing on assets rather than deficits, a challenge many of us face despite having the will to do so. I shared a tip I always found valuable - strive to eliminate the word "needs" from your vocabulary. While it seems simple, we are so accustomed to prioritizing the needs of our community, students, or family first, rather than focusing on their assets first.

The phrase "Nothing about us, without us!" perfectly encapsulates both the equity focus of the conference and the asset-based approach. It asserts that those facing problems or challenges have a voice, opinions, ideas, and a crucial role to play. An asset-based approach ensures that the people with the challenges lead the change, with allies and partners being invited in only after the community has identified all their existing assets and the gaps in their assets or knowledge.

Now is the time to decisively focus on discovering and mobilizing assets. With ongoing confusion and unrest surrounding federal decisions on education, diversity, and equity, each day presents new challenges. An assets-based approach empowers us to identify our resources first and then collaborate with others to complement them. In an environment of uncertainty about external support, this approach makes sense and grants us control over our circumstances.