When you are gathering people together with the hopes of unifying around a shared intention, you are literally creating community. Difference among people is a given, whether it is visible or invisible. With this understanding, inclusivity shouldn’t be based on exceptionalism. With this understanding, people can be welcomed to be known as they wish to be known.
If the group is new to one another, offer name tags. Name tags can facilitate ease and learning, especially in gatherings when people assume a bonded connection but rarely see one another. Adding a creative flair (stickers, different color markers) can make this less officious and more engaging, which will make it more compelling for guests to comply. Offering the option to honor pronouns-of-choice on a name tag gives your community implicit guidance that instantly supports respectful inclusivity.
Celebrations can be a chance for nurturing a chosen family. They are also sometimes an opportunity to share expansively and build community. They can be opportunities for hosting a new colleague, for welcoming a newcomer to town, or for hosting those who are far from home.
As we shape community gatherings, we can center unity. There are a few guidelines that can really help facilitate greater ease and unity through the seen and unseen diversity among people. Keep in mind that ALL people relate to content and community in different ways. Just as classrooms may benefit from acknowledging diverse learners, we can benefit from predicting diverse modes of operation in our own chosen community.
- Make inroads for diverse participants by adding visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and contemplative elements to events you create.
- Adding gestures to songs can make them meaningful to younger, older, or more kinesthetic participants.
- While you may choose to engage your participants in a “go around” of sharing their own word, wish, offering, or idea about something, always make the option to pass to honor the free will of all participants.
Personal Pronouns
To understand the value of personal pronouns more fully, visit Pronouns Matter. Different generations have differing levels of exposure, experience, and interest in pronouns, so sharing the value of personal pronoun usage publicly can help create a common reference point, instead of triggering opinion and resistance.
