In an increasingly diversifying society, our lives and identities are hyphenated and nuanced, posing a challenge to our capacity for identity-driven leadership. The paradox of being part of the “in” group at times and being seen as the “other” at other points adds to the complexity.
Do you struggle with authentically being yourself in any context? Perhaps your conversation, use of language, and expression are different with your coworkers as opposed to with your friends? Code-switching, the practice of shifting the languages you use or the way you express yourself in your conversations, serves to provide an explanation for this behavior.
Though this ability to blend in and adapt in order to survive in our various surroundings could be likened to a superpower, it’s not without trade-offs. Working overtime to assimilate and acculturate can create a sense of isolation and diminish our self-knowledge and self-trust.
Join LOCUS on Tuesday, May 19 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits for a stimulating conversation at “Intersectionality with Intentionality,” where we’ll explore code-switching, the inherent compromises it places on our authenticity, and a framework for understanding and navigating the implications of intersectional identities.
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Light refreshments will be provided. Register early as there are a limited number of seats!