Powerful Change

If you are like me, you are heartbroken about where we are as a society. Police brutality continues to go unchecked despite video evidence that proves officers are not in clear danger and the federal government is separating refugees fleeing violence and putting them in cages. On a global scale, the rate of environmental destruction has accelerated. 

We know that change is needed, but how do we do that?

Leaders working for a more just world: you have a unique role to play.  You are working hard every day for what you believe in, but moving through the day-to-day and achieving the impact you want is hard.

Our society is at a crossroads and you want to know how to best serve the community.

The problems we are facing are rooted in a culture that severs our connection to our true selves, to other people, and to the natural environment. Just because we ended up this way, does not mean we have to continue to be this way. We need each other, now more than ever so that we can develop a way forward. 

In November 2018, I made the decision to change my career, and in the months that followed, I identified how I could help provide opportunities for people and leaders to collaborate in shaping a society that is more people and earth-centered, more connected. I borrow the words from Adirenne Maree Brown’s book Emergent Strategy where she beautifully describes what is needed:

“I began to realize how important emergent strategy, strategy for building complex patterns and systems of change through relatively small interactions, is to me--the potential scale of transformation that could come from movements intentionally practicing this adaptive, relational way of being, on our own and with others.”

Launching the Colibrí Collaborative

In the fall of 2019 Maddie Orenstein, a fellow educator, organizer, and leader, and I launched the Colibrí Collaborative, a woman-led collaborative strengthening connection so that communities can flourish.  We are committed to fulfill our vision by supporting leaders like you make the systems change you want by working with your community and powerfully centering the voices of people who are most impacted by inequality.

We do this by supporting you to:

Get clear about your values, vision, and purpose. Your everyday actions must align with your north star, intended impact.

Lead with a shared purpose by letting go of the idea that you are the primary driver. Social change is a team effort. As leaders, you may feel scared to release power, there is less control of the outcome and there is so much at stake. We can help create courageous spaces for you and your teams to identify a path forward with shared purpose. When you return to, and are firmly rooted in your intended impact with extraordinary partnerships, you will arrive at creative and elegant solutions.

Develop extraordinary partnerships with those who are most impacted. Their perspective is essential to creating solutions that are complete and enduring. Many times I hear leaders who work for and believe in community leadership share that they are afraid of community engagement. That is because there are many types of “engagement” that don’t work. Colibrí offers a roadmap towards strategic and authentic connections with your community.

Listen to and plan with those leaders. When you listen, really listen, to the expertise of those leaders you need to be courageous and generous enough to change your behavior based on the feedback you hear. Community will, in turn, feel more trust and work with you through the harder murkier stuff. The initial investment might feel difficult given competing needs, but your plan will outlive any one person or group of people. 

We provide opportunities for leaders and teams experiencing change to get clear and stay grounded in their shared purpose, create extraordinary partnerships, and develop smart plans. By partnering with Colibrí, you will deepen your impact, center your work in equity, and nurture a more adaptive and resilient culture.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Set up a 30-minute conversation with me to learn more about Colibrí and how we can help you. Click on the link below to schedule a time. 

I commit to sharing what I learn from people like you through these blogs. To sign up for our newsletter to get our latest blogs (we promise not to send too many emails!), click on the link below. 

Like the colibrí (hummingbird), we will work hard, cross-pollinate ideas, and help living systems bloom. Let’s stay connected.

In community,

Mirella Rangel

*Side note:

Why a picture of giraffes? Giraffes are the land mammal with the largest heart. Teachers of NonViolent Communication use the symbol of the giraffe to remind us to use our giraffe hearts to listen for understanding and connection.