Standing for Love

I was all ready to share some insights from last week with you, as I spent five days with thousands of people from all over the world graphic recording their discussions on climate solutions. 

In the midst of this hopeful and action-oriented virtual conference, the violent insurrectionist* attack on the US Capitol unfolded. It feels heavy, and also disingenuous not to acknowledge what is happening and denounce it in no uncertain terms.

I stand for equity. 

I stand with the Earth. 

I am learning to be anti-racist. 

I am for accessibility.

I stand with science. 

I stand with Love. 

*Originally, I used the language “domestic terrorist attack” here. I’m learning about how the word “terrorist” has been used in the past referring to violence committed by White people (the Oklahoma City bombing), and the resulting policy has been used largely against marginalized communities instead. I’m still forming an opinion, but my takeaway is this: moving toward anti-racism means critical thinking about language I use.

Where in the Virtual World is ConverSketch?

NCSE + Drawdown 2021: The Global Council for Science and the Environment and Project Drawdown co-hosted a beautiful and powerful virtual conference to connect research with action for global climate solutions. Here is a snapshot of the Miro Board visual synthesis I created over the course of the five-day event distilling key ideas and actions from participants. Click here to explore the board in more detail.

Accessibility Widget on the Website: I’m excited to have discovered the User Way Accessibility Widget thanks to Drawing Change. This widget supports front and back-end accessibility for people with differing abilities to ensure any website is ADA compliant. Check it out here!

One Thing You Can Do for More Successful Remote Meetings and Classes

In one form or another, many of us have found ourselves settling into the realization that we’re going to be working and learning remotely for a while longer.

As research and experience reveal that virtual meetings are hard for humans, let’s be honest. How many times have you been in an in-person meeting and felt exhausted and bored? Regardless of platform, I’d like to take a moment to remind us:

We CAN take ownership of how we design meetings for impact and energy!

There are incredible tools and tech out there to support remote work and learning, and it’s easy to narrow our focus to the technology, or fixate on not being able to work together in person.

I love the way So You Want to Host a Web Meeting reframes: Remote meetings are SUPPORTED by technology, but they are not ABOUT the technology. So start with the PURPOSE, then add the tech!

Here’s the question I like to ask myself or my clients: What is the IDEAL OUTCOME for this meeting/event/class? At first, don’t even think about the how – just let yourselves imagine.

Once the purpose or outcome is clear, THEN you can think creatively about HOW. What tools or mindsets do we have now we didn’t utilize before? How might we leverage tech in new ways to create experiences that delight participants or students and ignite creativity and collaboration?

Exhibit A: Here’s what a wonderful, authentic client had to say after a virtual session we designed together and I graphic recorded remotely last week:

What a rich and rewarding session, Karina. Thank you. The excellence that ensued, in large measure, was brought about by your presence, your skills, and your work in making this strategic brainstorm session “not just another Zoom meeting.” Your services and final output, coupled with the willingness of our student leaders to engage, dream big, and plan a great Fall 2020, left us in a really good place to move forward with executing their ideas.

- Adam J. Herman, Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University

So, what can YOU make possible?

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

Cheers,

Where in the Virtual World is ConverSketch?

iBlockBias: Last week I was honored to tune into a session hosted by Block Bias – a non-profit dedicated to facilitating important conversations and giving folks tools to work toward anti-racism. In 2 hours, these women built an environment where people got vulnerable, honest, and left feeling empowered!

Zoom Academy: Zoom Education hosted a two-day free training for teachers, school support, and administrators on how to learn and use their platform for more engaging and effective learning. Panels of experts and hands-on workshops left participants feeling better equipped for a very VUCA future.

Rice University: Working with the fine students representing the Jones Graduate School of Business to imagine what student life could look like this fall.

Black Lives Matter

The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd, which is only a snapshot in time of what Black and Brown people have experienced throughout the history of this country, is heartbreaking and horrifying.

These events compel all of us to ask whether we are doing enough, as individuals and as a community, to change the systems that are producing these patterns.

Where can we start? With ourselves and with our own communities.

By asking rather than assuming, and truly listening.

By practicing empathy, especially when it’s difficult.

By holding ourselves accountable to learn, unlearn, relearn.

There are so many resources out there, and so many people who are ready to share now that more folks are ready to listen. Where I’ve started:

• 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice.

• This post from Barack Obama.

• Reading up on my local police department’s policies, trainings, and culture.

Learning from and with each other is what I want to do. If you want to dialog, process, share perspectives or resources that you’ve found useful, please reach out.

The world, systems, and challenges we face are complex and uncertain.

What I do know is we are stronger together, and this is an opportunity to learn and be better.

Respectfully,