Anti-oppressive Practice is about Critical Compassion and Reflective Practice, which in turn is also about how we treat the communities and people we work with in a therapeutic or organizational setting.
My Commitment....
In all of my efforts to collaborate for change, I value relationships, and approach my work with respect for all people. I strive in both my perspectives and practices, to challenge racism, sexism, homophobia, and oppression in all its forms.
I challenge power structures at all levels. I am committed to becoming a better ally.
Holistic Analysis: Social, economic and ecological issues are interconnected and interdependent. The problems are interrelated, and so are the solutions.
Analyzing Power: Through the analysis of institutional power, I identify and unpack the systems of oppression, and analyze the narratives that help to legitimize and hold these institutions in place. I will bring a power analysis lens to all of our work.
Undoing Racism: I commit to create and promote an anti-racist practice in our work, and challenge and make visible the internal and external racism and oppression that may impact your healing.
Listening: I take responsibility for making a safe space for your voice, listening deeply to your experiences, stories, and histories, while being sensitive to each other’s perspectives and identities.
Acting: I will work consciously and consistently to challenge historic patterns of marginalization and oppression including racism, sexism, homophobia and discrimination in all its forms.
Appreciation and Gratitude: for the whole of each other’s personhood. I will respect and nurture your culture, class, gender, orientation, racial, and religious differences. I will do my best to own my stuff and bring into the work our sameness and differences in a way that celebrates who we are. I am committed to being a visible ally.
Anti-Oppression Practice is a clear theoretical and value base that promotes egalitarianism and power-sharing; • an understanding of one’s social location and how it informs relationships and practice behaviors; • a challenge to existing social relationships in which powerful groups maintain power and influence over less powerful groups; and • specific practice behaviors and relationships that minimize power imbalances and promote equity and empowerment for users of service.
(from http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/members/sites/default/files/documents/Larson.pdf)
““A real humanist can be identified more by their trust in the people, which engages them in their struggle, than by a thousand actions in their favor without that trust.” ”
