CULTIVATING A SHARED PURPOSE
Co-Creating a Collective Vision
One integral part of building a shared sense of purpose is coalescing around a collective vision of the future. A shared vision acts as a north star, something that provides a glimpse of what’s possible, and why people should work to achieve it.
Getting to a shared vision is most meaningful when co-created with various stakeholders. The multiple voices and stories of their experiences help to illustrate a new future. Once that desired future is articulated, thoughtful storytelling can serve to anchor the vision for the group while also enticing new folks to join the work.
Furthermore, co-creating a vision for change increases stakeholder buy-in, helping people gain greater clarity on their own individual roles and how their respective actions can lead to collective change.
Embedding Equity AS CORE TO systemS change
Too often, equity in educational improvement strategies is an afterthought. However, when we center the work around an equity orientation, we’re better able to inquire together into the social, political, and cultural dynamics (such as the interplay of power, race, and socioeconomics) within the system — helping to build a collective sense of purpose for moving forward.
Designing for equity requires a continual process of exploring our own assumptions and biases and being willing to engage one another on difficult subjects. In addition, embracing the goal of an equitable system means that we need to utilize disaggregated data and understand the various relationships in a system, including the power differentials between them.
Exploring interdependent social forces through an equity frame helps us see gaps and root causes of larger systemic issues. Addressing these deeply entrenched causes gives us a better chance at creating the lasting change we want to see.
