Safety and Inclusion: What can you expect here? 

1. Everything is designed to be a safe place to learn, make mistakes and do better when we make them.

This means you’ll be supported with plenty of knowledge and experience, as well as an openness to blind spots, stumbles and mistakes. 

I will not tolerate persistent or intentional disrespect or harmful behaviour, however I recognize that harm can be done when we’re learning. Repairing harm and learning how to do better is part of what we’re learning together. So we’ll model that in our interactions and when in doubt, I expect us to communicate – early, fully and transparently. 

2. My take on racism, equality, and politics is intersectional.

#BlackLivesMatter #StopAsianHate #DifferentlyAbled #IndigenousRights #LoveIsLove are more than trendy hashtags. These are systemic problems and intertwined, not in competition with one another.  

If we address abuses of power, violence and justice, we will go far, no matter what the specific issue is.

Everything here is consent-based and done in a ‘power with’ manner. I personally reject the top-down guru approach and will be excited to discover where we agree and disagree.

3. I’m Canadian-born, of Taiwanese heritage, and a cis-gendered woman (she/her.) who has been brought up with white privilege inside the model minority myth.

I’ve been brought up with white privilege and the experience of the ‘model minority.’ I’ve experienced both sides of the victim-perpetrator cycle of domestic violence.

Historically, my classes and events have been attended by an average of 20% people of colour. I’m not a diversity and inclusion expert; my teachers in this arena have been Dr. Amanda Kemp, Leesa Renee Hall, Danielle Coke, and Trudi Lebron.

4. Here we practice being fierce, outraged and bold, while also being kind.

Systemic change is a marathon not a sprint. Being kind while we work for change – so we can stay the course and get ‘all the way through’ (a Buddhist tenet) – is important. Candidly, people (maybe you?) sometimes find this irritating. That’s okay.

Other people say they learn a lot from how kindness and fierceness can look together.

The final word: I look forward to the day when none of the above needs to be said, and unashamedly hold the vision of that possibility.

Meanwhile, I’m energized to work together to get free from what cages us.

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Here are some suggestions for other fabulous teachers:

For heart-based racial justice training, Dr. Amanda Kemp. To dismantle your implicit biases, Leesa Renee Hall and for diversity and inclusion training at a corporate level, Jennifer Brown.

If you’re a non-Black or Brown person getting started understanding racism, or you know someone who is, I recommend Danielle Coke. For a more advanced take, Jamal Anthony Taylor.

For a feminist education through a Korean-American lens, Evelyn Nam. Anti-oppression education, YK Hong. Trans and non-binary life education, Alok Menon. 

For safe spaces to build your lifestyle business using the media for Black and Brown people: Dr. Avis Jones DeWeever. For business-building with a queer-friendly spiritual approach: Mark Silver, a Sufi teacher who founded the Heart of Business.

For support with neurodiversity, Dr. Irena O’Brien. For help with relationships in conflict, including queer relationships: Dr. Eric Schneider. And last but certainly not least, for emotionally-abusive relationships, Dr. Beverly Engel.