Redefining Professionalism, NCORE Style, 2023

Welcome to NCORE, 2023 in New Orleans! Now, let's talk about that dreaded word, "professional".

We all know at some level that even a well meaning goal of demographic diversity in any organization is simply not enough. What happens when we are at the table? Suddenly, our hair is not up to “standard”, our word choice is too rich, we are too loud or too quiet… Instead, today we define what ‘professionalism' means. Institutionalizing equity invites the redefinition of what it means to be qualified: What “competent” looks like, sounds like, and yes, behaves. Of course we all need assurance of expertise, but how we choose to validate competency and then work together is our decision.
So let us share this moment together and answer the questions our future asks of us. Comment and answer the question for us all below, it's your turn! We ask:
"What in your daily life will change when all feel free to just be us?"
Yes, it's a tough one. Pain is easy to recognize, but what about ease? From the moment you wake up (when is that?), to how you get dressed, to how and what you work, learn, and play, eat, and how we share. What would be different if you were truly free to be your whole self? Let us prepare ourselves for your freedom. That's Equity.