Jana Marie Foundation’s next Mokita Dialogue will focus on equity, belonging
Jana Marie Foundation and its partners will shine light on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion during its next Mokita Dialogues session from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Jana Marie Foundation and the Center for the Performing Arts invite the community into a Mokita Dialogue on “Putting the ‘You’ in Equity: Taking Action in Our Communities,” facilitated by Seria Chatters. Come and join us for a discussion on how we can move forward collectively to make real and substantial progress in our communities on equity and belonging. This Mokita Dialogues session will happen the day after the Center for the Performing Arts’ presentation of Mwenso and The Shakes’ “Hope-Resist-Heal: A Celebration of Black Joy,” and we are thrilled to include their perspectives in the conversation.
For the past few years, we have witnessed a wave of civil unrest in the United States, bringing increased awareness to systemic racism and oppression that exists in our country. However, the cries for advancements in creating equity and inclusion often fall short of action.
Reaching common understandings between people from different cultures, politics and organizations is fundamental to our democracy, yet how do we go about making space for conversations that touch on contentious questions of race and society? What can the real work of dismantling oppression look like when we develop relationships with people that don’t look like us, that don’t come from the same background as we do, that don’t share the same history as we do?
Chatters shared the following quote from James Baldwin, which is important to keep in mind when discussing race and equity: “We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
These conversations are challenging as they force us to be vulnerable and encourage us, at times, to sit in discomfort. They cause us to reflect internally and challenge ourselves and the world around us. However, we must be willing to be vulnerable and stretch ourselves outside of our comfort zones if we are going to move forward in taking action and dismantling systems of oppression.
When we allow ourselves to not judge or not to have expectations on how these conversations “should” go, the more we allow ourselves the compassion to show up authentically and ready to connect on deeper levels. The following tips are particularly helpful when connecting with others in this way:
Empathize with the other person
Start from a place of humility
Approach the conversation with an interest in finding common ground
Focus on what you’re hearing and reflect back non-judgmentally
This important Mokita Dialogues will take place in person on Thursday. During our time together, we will explore what it will take to create change, how we can support one another in taking the next steps, and ways to be spheres of influence to make a difference in our community.
For more information or to register, please visit https://forms.gle/DdAdgsUPC8uiZq8X6.
For the past five years, Jana Marie Foundation’s Mokita Dialogues series has shined a light on a variety of topics of vital social concern that often go unaddressed or unnoticed. Held the fourth Thursday of every month, these discussions include a brief presentation, engaging activities that encourage thought and conversation, and suggestions for ways to continue the discussion.
The word “mokita” comes from the Kilivia language, spoken near Papua New Guinea, and means a known truth left unspoken — think of it as the notion of the elephant in the room. Join us to learn, to listen, and to be engaged in finding solutions for these important issues.
It is time to come together to acknowledge the “elephants” that exist across our community and how we can address them.
For more information about the Mwenso and The Shakes’ “Hope-Resist-Heal: A Celebration of Black Joy” performance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, visit https://cpa.psu.edu/events/mwenso-and-shakes-march-2022.