Encore! Redefining Professionalism, March 2021

We all know at some level that a goal of diversity in any organization is simply not enough. What happens when we are at the table? [See Aspects and Assumptions of White Culture in the USA] We've been told to "Bring your authentic self" but when we do, it's misunderstood. [See Seattle's very own Jodi-Ann Burey's TedTalk, "The myth of bringing your authentic self to work"] It's our turn to define what "professionalism' means. We need assurance of expertise, but how we chose to work together is now our decision.

April 1, 2021 Reflections on Learning (by Julia)
We asked on March 30, "When have you found yourself needing to stray from 'professionalism' and how was it received?" The images of 'professionalism' no longer fit what we need. WE are the '100% professional', that's why you hired us, and we know what we're talking about. Too often, we're invited into spaces for diversity, but there is no interest in what we have to say. Tests, credentials, titles alone are no longer able to accurately gauge a person's ability to do the job. We add layers of humanity, the ability to: look at bigger pictures, play well with time, question the role of capitalism, see the person, and more that is still unknown. 
As we come back from break, we ask, "When we have our way, how would your working world change?" [Or something like that...] To be completely unprofessional, let's free flow this one...slow down...DJ, slow it down....yeah...like that...
solidarity   democracy  input  collective   redistribution   power   decisions   manifest   solidarity   seamless   teams   tasks   workload   management   defined   flexible   bold