“If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

- Lilla Watson

I have always been curious and keen to be part of positive social change. During my undergrad, Watson's words supported me to start unlearning the idea that it is my place to 'save' or even 'help' someone and that this approach can be even more damaging. 

I began to understand how 'disadvantaged' folks weren't simply 'unlucky' individuals, but rather that there are systems in place that perpetuated exclusion, oppression and exploitation. 

This learning supported me, as someone with many privileges, to consistently consider how I could be part of creating systems change. To me, that looks like understanding how white supremacy, capitalism and patriarchy play into my everyday life and resisting or challenging it where possible. Regularly reflecting on what beliefs I can let go of, and what books I can read (both about DEI and fiction) to broaden my perspective? Who can I learn from? What courses can I take to support my business to be more inclusive? Where can I challenge the 'norm'?

During ten years of work in the field of community development,  these learnings came up over and over again. A prime example of this was when asked to speak on behalf of the youth I was working with; I would regularly ask myself: How could I bring youth voices to the table? How could I get youth paid for their time? Where could we let go of practices simply because "that's how it was always done?" I was consistently trying to find a balance between being conscious of when to speak up and when to step back in order not to centre myself and my privileges. 

I know there are times when I have gotten it wrong, but I am grateful for those who have supported me, lovingly called me in, or respectfully called me out. 

My Commitment

As a coach, I am committed to learning and prioritizing how I can continue to support meaningful individual, community and systemic change moving forward.

I am passionate about supporting my clients to (re)connect to themselves and their communities, remember how powerful they are, fuel their confidence and self-belief, and prioritize their joy. I believe that joy is something we all deserve, especially those who have historically and systemically been robbed of this right. Joy is radical. To foster joy is to give you space to soak in the goodness of your life but also to fuel your energy to create the changes you want to see. And my goodness, we all deserve so much joy.  

I believe that we are stronger together, so I am committed to creating community spaces built on openness and respect, where you feel safe to show up as your full self and forge meaningful connections, spaces that support you to feel seen, heard, lighter, alive, and inspired.

I am committed to holding coaching spaces where all folks, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ability, race, and ethnicity, feel comfortable to bravely share their dreams and feel supported to courageously take action toward bringing them to life. 

I have learned that to be part of supporting change, I must recommit over and over again, to keep learning how I can be supportive and unlearning how I unconsciously center myself or perpetuate oppressive and exploitative systems. I know I won't always get it right and sometimes I will make mistakes, but that won't stop me from engaging and contributing to a positive social change.