Our social world is divided in multiple ways and these divisions hold us back from the greatness of shared prosperity. The way that we experience these social divisions reveal their complexity. We can enjoy privilege and endure marginalization within the same social space. For example, high-achieving Black women serving on the boards of highly respected nonprofits can connect with their White counterparts on the basis of their common experiences of balancing professional and family life yet have their voices minimized in board meetings. Racialized gentrification—where the steady flow of White incomers leads to the involuntary displacement of Black residents—can yield monetary benefits to Black homeowners, contrasting with the precarity that is usually experienced by Black renters.
It is important to point out these complexities, because they are real and must be accounted for if we are to make serious progress in overcoming the divisions that stand in the way of our vital projects. We must not only account for how social divisions are experienced, it is also critical to understand the specific ways that they play out in different contexts such as the workplace, in schools, and across various neighborhoods. In other words, addressing divisions must also involve working knowledge of how specific social sites function and how their operational routines can harden social divisions if left unchecked.
A commonality across how individuals and groups experience social divisions in site-specific ways is a sense of place. The historical weight of justified oppressions and legitimized dehumanization has produced notions and expectations that people with certain bodies have particular “places” in this society. This pigeonholing of people is an affront to the inherent nobility that comes with being made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, one of the chief battles we are fighting is ensuring that the promise of being able to pursue our own happiness is universally applied and not delimited by those harboring false ideologies and baneful identities. Progress has been made, but current events make it quite clear that we must continue to fight in our own constructive ways.
Confronting and overcoming the social divisions that are impeding our collective progress opens the door to releasing the full potential of individuals. This release leads to the generation of new waves of power as actively inspired individuals collaborate with each other to further shared goals. The nonprofits that get there, the businesses that get there, the civic leaders that get there with their communities—are the chief beneficiaries of these waves. These waves allow them to sustain life-changing social impacts, build place-to-be work cultures, and construct communities that are both prosperous and compassionate, respectively. However, getting there requires expertise in how social divisions are structured, how they play out, and the opportunities to breakthrough. We provide this expertise along with the collaborative sensibilities that are critical for building powerful inquiries that capture the attention of multiple stakeholder groups. Connect with us today to explore how we can be an accomplice in your battle against social divisions.