We created this tool to help you identify how you are managing your own self care as you push for a more equitable world. 

Doing equity work can be incredibly fulfilling; it can also be physically and mentally exhausting. This type of work, like design, requires a high level of empathy, emotional engagement, and self reflection. 

Creating healthy learning experiences for people means having the capacity to hold brave space, and help them unpack their experiences and emotions. Equity work is heavy. As an equity leader, you need to make sure you are taking care of yourself. 

This tool was created as a part of our Island in the Storm workshop for K-12 educators who are trying to lead equity work in challenging contexts, but it can be useful for anyone navigating their role in pushing for a more equitable world.

How to use

This is a reflective tool to help you address how you manage your emotional and physical fortitude while doing equity work. This tool may be used by you or given to participants/students. The equity self care sheet is best used before having courageous conversations about equity, or when you are feeling overwhelmed with your design work. Once you have filled it out, find a place to hang it up so that you may return to it. You can also journal about any reflections or observations you had while filling out the sheet.

Update

To combat screen fatigue, we created an audio version of this tool. To visit that resource, click here.