Today marks the launch of the #StepUpTogether community, a space born from deep reflection on the work still ahead of us. During one of my daily meditations, a quote stood out to me:
"This, my dear, is the greatest challenge of being alive: to witness the injustice of the world, and not allow it to consume our light."
The past month has been especially challenging for me to keep my light shining. I've experienced countless nightmares triggered by fears around recent policy changes—particularly about how they might impact my daughters. The violence driven by gender and race hits far too close to home.
As I worked through these fears through intentional engagement and thoughtful reflection, I realized something important: these struggles aren't new. I've faced them before, and because of that, I have the tools to navigate them. What's more, I can now serve as an anchor for those experiencing these fears for the first time.
The strong anti-DEI sentiment we're witnessing today isn't new to me. My very first consulting project included an assessment of an organization where the prevailing narrative was that increasing diversity would mean lowering standards. But there were also leaders committed to evolving, not only because it was right, but because they couldn't afford not to—they were already facing workforce shortages that would only worsen.
I share this to illustrate that the currents we are navigating today have always been there. Perhaps that's why I started having nightmares—because after 12 years of working to advance equity in the workplace, I've encountered all the forms of injustice you can imagine. From people of all backgrounds—white, Latino, Black, Asian—I've had countless moments where I've felt overwhelmed, even sickened by some of the interactions I've had.
I still remember one of those moments—the drive home after a particularly hard interaction. I cried all the way home, not because I was defeated, but because I questioned, "What's the point?" Then I thought of my mother and my daughter, who was just three years old at the time. I realized that if I didn't have these difficult conversations and advocate for equitable workplaces, she would inherit the same challenges I faced.
At that moment, I made a decision: I couldn't be defeated.
The change we are working toward is multigenerational, and I owe it to my mother to continue fighting against machismo, and to my daughters to lessen the burden. I reframed the work to focus on signs of change and transformation, rather than solely on the outcome. I accepted that I can only do my part to the degree that my human limitations allow.
I realized that not facing this work, not confronting the injustice, is the real defeat. So, I committed to finding healthy ways to process these interactions—through emotional intelligence, yoga, meditation, and creating space for myself. I knew that if I didn't process intentionally, it could overtake me.
This past month, when the nightmares returned, I reminded myself I've been here before. I've been in this space of feeling defeated, feeling hopeless. But I remembered the promise I made to myself, and I centered my 'why' once again.
As I did, I remembered the faces of transformation I've encountered over the past 12 years—those moments and people who have given me so much hope. The sum of our collective efforts, our ongoing transformation, and our determination to face the truth with compassion and resolve—that's what keeps me going.
There are so many of you who believe in:
It's because of you, my friends, that when I wake up in the morning, I can take that nightmare energy and transform it. I can show up to everything within my power and continue this work.
This is why I've created Step Up Together—a community where we strengthen each other to step up together. Your voice, your actions, and your commitment matter. Every step you take brings us closer to the change we need.
Our community offers:
Let's keep moving forward. Together, we can. Together, we will.
Learn more about joining our Step Up Together community and become part of this transformative journey.
Your source for impactful stories, practical DEI guidance, and the latest on our journey.
.png)
