In this Q&A post, we learn from Traci Higgins, a governing board member of Kindred since 2017 and director of human resources of the Legal Services Corporation since 2012. Alexa Eason, intern with Heart-Head-Hands in fall 2019, initiated this interview with Traci, recognizing her years of work toward social and racial justice. Alexa and Traci met through the Georgetown Scholars Program: Alexa as a current scholar, Traci as a mentor. As Alexa says: On paper Traci ... Read more ...
power
Q&A with Mel Meder: Why Support generative somatics
In this Q&A post, we learn from Mel Meder about the importance and possibilities of generative somatics—a deeply embodied practice and theory for creating transformative change. I met Mel several years ago through a mutual friend in Madison, Wisconsin, and I’ve since been learning from Mel about the work of fundraising for organizations that we deeply care about and want to support. generative somatics is one of those organizations, which is why we’re highlighting ... Read more ...
3 Reasons to Participate in the 40-Day Practice on Strengthening Emotional Literacies to Counter White Fragility
Starting on November 22nd and running for the final 40 days of 2019, I’m offering the “40-Day Practice: Strengthening Emotional Literacies to Counter White Fragility.” Every time I offer this practice (this will be my third and second online), I get a lot of questions, including what this work involves, why it asks for a commitment of 40 days, and why it focuses on emotions. Though I hope the course description answers many of these questions—and I’m happy to answer ... Read more ...
Responding to Microaggressions
How do we respond to microaggressions, or those everyday and commonplace actions that convey bias, invalidate people, and reinforce structural oppression? We know from research and personal accounts that microaggressions occur all-too-frequently across contexts—workplaces, family gatherings, and community settings. From hurtful words to dismissive gestures, microaggressions do more than communicate harm. They have wide-reaching impact, for they deny access, constrain ... Read more ...
Responding to White Supremacist Terror, This Time in El Paso
I woke this morning in Ireland to news of the El Paso shooting: the latest act of white supremacist terror in the United States. My body was already aching (today’s a rest day after some seriously long walks), but the news ramped up the ache and lodged itself in my chest. I recognized the familiar heartache that comes with shootings and acts of violence, particularly against Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)—in this case, against Latinx folks in Texas. Along ... Read more ...
Toward Public Outcry: Why I’ll Keep Repeating #AbolishICE and #CloseTheCamps
Outcry: a strong expression of public anger and disapproval This week I dreamed about being detained when traveling, taken aside in an airport and made to wait and wait and wait … It became clear that I was being monitored and considered dangerous and essentially arrested. What started in the airport turned into a full detention / internment / concentration camp experience. The dream’s details are sketchy, but I remember feeling powerless. I couldn’t call for help. I ... Read more ...
My Heart Hurts on Election Day
Election day morning: I join a line that snakes around my new polling place. Like others, I pull my raincoat tighter against the cold and damp morning air, as kids squirm, jump, and cry around us. After 40+ minutes and only few feet of movement, I step out of line, knowing that if I stay, I’ll miss a hard-to-reschedule doctor’s appointment. I feel frustrated, disappointed, and angry. Election day evening: I re-join the line and, again, wait outdoors in the rain. ... Read more ...
“Pedagogical Too-Muchness,” Or a Call for Shaking up Schooling
This year I turned 39, and it’s my first in which I won’t be returning to school. I’ve spent my life in academic settings—as a child and adult, as a student and teacher, as a researcher and writer. Many of my friends are teachers, too, so I understand how August brings both angst and anticipation for the upcoming school year. Recently, I’ve been having conversations with friends about syllabi and course designs. I’ve been reading social media posts about the start of ... Read more ...
A Barrage of Microaggressions
Some years ago I began recording everyday microaggressions toward learning to recognize racism, which is so often coded and which whiteness has taught me not to see. This recording project aimed at building a repository of common microaggressions to teach with and practice interventions using Augusto Boal’s theatre of the oppressed. The project emerged from conversations with colleagues of color, who shared how often white colleagues failed to believe their experiences. ... Read more ...
Reading Martin Luther King, Jr. as a White Woman in the Work for Racial Justice
Each year, celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day in the United States brings new opportunities for mis-appropriating, mis-remembering, and mythologizing Dr. King’s legacy and the broader Civil Rights Movement. White people get the history wrong in many ways. Each year, celebrating MLK Day also brings new opportunities for re-reading Dr. King’s words and re-seeing the work that he—and so many people working for racial justice—have envisioned. MLK offers visions ... Read more ...
![The online writing group starts this Friday, and there are still a few spots open.
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See link in bio to learn more and register.
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[This image shows a cup of coffee and red flowers alongside a blank sheet of paper and ink pen. It also includes event information: “5 Spots Open! Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #techwriting #supportforwriters #writingsupport #writerssupportingwriters](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/82891878_1396704527156823_5636243404575326129_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=CxExKx4fvYIAX9oZ9bi&oh=50668fd21639e6355b1ac60049445e32&oe=5EB6F378 "The online writing group starts this Friday, and there are still a few spots open.
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See link in bio to learn more and register.
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[This image shows a cup of coffee and red flowers alongside a blank sheet of paper and ink pen. It also includes event information: “5 Spots Open! Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #techwriting #supportforwriters #writingsupport #writerssupportingwriters")
![Food and writing. Writing and food.
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These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
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Register for one or both: links in bio.
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[This image taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco shows a print journal alongside matcha and mochi (sweet and caffeinated treats): a representation of writing and food.]
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#food #writing #writingcommunity #writers #writersofinstagram #writer #writerslife #blogger #foodblogger #veganblogger #vegan #mindfuleating #foodasmedicine #healing #webinar #writinggroup #writinggroups #conversation #talkaboutfood #relationshipwithfood #journal #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #ongoingeducation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c3.0.1434.1434a/s640x640/81439807_458531971720100_2874986313181887003_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=eOtIrvy_qHMAX8Ji1m3&oh=814b79183c67219d3980e7ca1d10697a&oe=5ED261B7 "Food and writing. Writing and food.
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These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
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Register for one or both: links in bio.
.
.
[This image taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco shows a print journal alongside matcha and mochi (sweet and caffeinated treats): a representation of writing and food.]
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#food #writing #writingcommunity #writers #writersofinstagram #writer #writerslife #blogger #foodblogger #veganblogger #vegan #mindfuleating #foodasmedicine #healing #webinar #writinggroup #writinggroups #conversation #talkaboutfood #relationshipwithfood #journal #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #ongoingeducation")
![Thanks to @FSUEnglish for the invitation to share “Not Just a ‘Plan B’: Exploring Alt-Ac, Non-Ac, and Post-Ac Careers” today. I’m excited for today’s conversation about commitment-driven career discernment.
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[Image Description: This flyer for today’s workshop shares the title, a bio and photo of me/Beth, and event information, including: “Spring 2020 English Department Placement Workshop: After outlining her own trajectory through and beyond academia, and discussing possible alternative career paths, Beth will lead us through a series of short reflections before taking questions from the room. Beth brings to this conversation many experiences and has fulfilled many roles beyond higher education, including K-12 instruction, community-based learning, and non-profit work.”]
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Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
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#HigherEd #CareerDiscernment #Coaching #Support #GradLife #ProfLife #withaphd #gradschoolproblems @gradstudentselfcare @beyondtheprof #gradschool #gradschoollife #altac #tenuretrack #tenured #tenuretrackgrind #teachersofinstagram #faculty #facultylife #workshop #gradstudents #highereducation #higheredjobs #careergoals #careerchange #careeropportunities #commitment #whatsnext🤔 #whatsnext #fridaymotivation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.44.1440.1440a/s640x640/81720434_155061649263146_4272814565202230046_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=5VP5Wu_VK8gAX9PJiTr&oh=1b093bd21b351c6d4287c41667b8a8a9&oe=5EB9FB29 "Thanks to @FSUEnglish for the invitation to share “Not Just a ‘Plan B’: Exploring Alt-Ac, Non-Ac, and Post-Ac Careers” today. I’m excited for today’s conversation about commitment-driven career discernment.
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[Image Description: This flyer for today’s workshop shares the title, a bio and photo of me/Beth, and event information, including: “Spring 2020 English Department Placement Workshop: After outlining her own trajectory through and beyond academia, and discussing possible alternative career paths, Beth will lead us through a series of short reflections before taking questions from the room. Beth brings to this conversation many experiences and has fulfilled many roles beyond higher education, including K-12 instruction, community-based learning, and non-profit work.”]
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Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
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#HigherEd #CareerDiscernment #Coaching #Support #GradLife #ProfLife #withaphd #gradschoolproblems @gradstudentselfcare @beyondtheprof #gradschool #gradschoollife #altac #tenuretrack #tenured #tenuretrackgrind #teachersofinstagram #faculty #facultylife #workshop #gradstudents #highereducation #higheredjobs #careergoals #careerchange #careeropportunities #commitment #whatsnext🤔 #whatsnext #fridaymotivation")
![I’ve been listening to requests to host writing groups, and here’s a first offering—an online writing group to meet Friday mornings, January 31st through February 28th.
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To learn more, see link in bio.
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[This image shows writing tools (phone, keyboard, journal, pencil, and pen) along with the event information: “Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport @iwca_writingcenters @uwmadisonwritingcenter @writing_inspiration @awpwriter #fridaymotivation #fridaymorning](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/81661580_214516276238860_6826750115944246944_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=zifcYDxiCGkAX9gaFP7&oh=34ebce0d85af4598609da7895c06c21e&oe=5EC9F4E2 "I’ve been listening to requests to host writing groups, and here’s a first offering—an online writing group to meet Friday mornings, January 31st through February 28th.
.
To learn more, see link in bio.
.
[This image shows writing tools (phone, keyboard, journal, pencil, and pen) along with the event information: “Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport @iwca_writingcenters @uwmadisonwritingcenter @writing_inspiration @awpwriter #fridaymotivation #fridaymorning")
![Friends in the Midwest:
I’ll be keynoting the MnWE (Minnesota Writing and English) Conference in March, and I’d love to see you at the conference. Proposals are due January 26th, so there’s still time to submit.
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Here’s information about my talk -- link in bio -- and I’ll be facilitating an interactive workshop with Jasmine Kar Tang, too!
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About the keynote:
This interactive presentation engages the dialectic of critique against and critique for: both problematizing “civic engagement” and pointing toward literacy education aligned with justice (social, racial, and environmental justice).
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Together, we’ll consider where investment in civic engagement comes from, particularly at a time when civic participation, civil discourse, and related constructs of citizenship and national borders provide justifications for excluding and dehumanizing people. Power functions in these discourses, people are marginalized and written off, and unintentional acts still do harm, as research on microaggressions show.
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How, then, do we interrupt these injustices? What learning and unlearning is needed now—not only in the context of “21st century literacies” but also within white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, settler colonialism, and interlocking oppressions?
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[This image shows a photo of Beth Godbee on the left and text on the right: “MNWECONFERENCE.COM – Keynotes and Plenaries – Breaking Civil Discourse: Cultivating Productive and Receptive Literacies for Responsible (Response-Able) Engagement.”] .
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#MnWE #Conference #Keynote #Presentation #CFP #Speaking #Facilitating #LiteracyEducation #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Writing #English #WritingCenters #RhetComp @iwca_writingcenters @nctegram @uwmadisonwritingcenter @rhetcompdaily #writingcommunity #writingstudies #highered #highereducation #21stcenturyliteracies #committedtojustice #critique #action #teaching #pedagogy #writingteacher #wednesdaymotivation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/c81.0.176.176a/80791550_479728156064920_9207582473884025899_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=7si-atJMBPIAX-XfCKB&oh=150ee3c0e514ddb241e0bf8f9269a2ff&oe=5ECFFA75 "Friends in the Midwest:
I’ll be keynoting the MnWE (Minnesota Writing and English) Conference in March, and I’d love to see you at the conference. Proposals are due January 26th, so there’s still time to submit.
.
Here’s information about my talk -- link in bio -- and I’ll be facilitating an interactive workshop with Jasmine Kar Tang, too!
.
About the keynote:
This interactive presentation engages the dialectic of critique against and critique for: both problematizing “civic engagement” and pointing toward literacy education aligned with justice (social, racial, and environmental justice).
.
Together, we’ll consider where investment in civic engagement comes from, particularly at a time when civic participation, civil discourse, and related constructs of citizenship and national borders provide justifications for excluding and dehumanizing people. Power functions in these discourses, people are marginalized and written off, and unintentional acts still do harm, as research on microaggressions show.
.
How, then, do we interrupt these injustices? What learning and unlearning is needed now—not only in the context of “21st century literacies” but also within white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, settler colonialism, and interlocking oppressions?
.
.
[This image shows a photo of Beth Godbee on the left and text on the right: “MNWECONFERENCE.COM – Keynotes and Plenaries – Breaking Civil Discourse: Cultivating Productive and Receptive Literacies for Responsible (Response-Able) Engagement.”] .
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#MnWE #Conference #Keynote #Presentation #CFP #Speaking #Facilitating #LiteracyEducation #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Writing #English #WritingCenters #RhetComp @iwca_writingcenters @nctegram @uwmadisonwritingcenter @rhetcompdaily #writingcommunity #writingstudies #highered #highereducation #21stcenturyliteracies #committedtojustice #critique #action #teaching #pedagogy #writingteacher #wednesdaymotivation")
