Finding Our Humanity: Embodiment, Equity, and the Power of Gathering
In a world that often feels fractured and overwhelming, how do we truly connect with ourselves and each other?
This question lies at the heart of the insightful conversation between Kym Alexander and Chad Jones on the EquitAble podcast. Jones, an organizer for social justice movements and an embodiment coach, offers a refreshing perspective on gathering people, raising funds, and fostering a deeper sense of humanity and equity in our communities.
Beyond the Gala: Reimagining How We Come Together
Forget the traditional notions of stuffy fundraisers and disconnected events. Chad Jones is reimagining how we gather, moving beyond galas to more intimate and meaningful experiences. He champions house parties and potlucks, and highlights the potential of leveraging shared calendar days like Labor Day or even significant historical dates, such as the anniversaries of lynchings, to bring people together for both celebration and solemn reflection.
Jones emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where people can “invoke both the glee and the joy and the sense of possibility” alongside “the intensity and the brutality and like the terror of what it means to be alive.” This “both/and” approach, as Kym Alexander eloquently puts it, acknowledges the full spectrum of human experience and allows for authentic connection. Imagine a Labor Day picnic that not only offers good food and company but also incorporates a moment to remember important historical events, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared purpose.
The Power of Embodiment: Feeling Our Way to Better Leadership
Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of Jones’s work is his focus on embodiment through the Strozzi Institute for Somatics. In a society that often encourages us to disconnect from our physical selves, Jones advocates for bringing more awareness to our bodies – from our collarbones to our toes. “Feel my feelings has been something that I’ve said for at least 20 years,” he shares, highlighting a long-standing commitment to emotional awareness, particularly for men who are often socialized to suppress their feelings.
This isn’t just about personal well-being; it’s a profound approach to leadership development. As Kym Alexander points out, “people are so dysregulated and leaders are not prepared.” Jones’s work helps individuals, especially leaders, become more attuned to their own bodily sensations and those of others. Noticing a flush in someone’s neck during a conversation, for example, can be a cue to coach for dysregulation rather than pushing harder. This somatic awareness fosters a more compassionate and effective style of leadership, allowing for deeper understanding and connection within teams and communities.
Jones even shares fascinating exercises that encourage participants to notice their physical responses as someone approaches them from different directions, emphasizing the importance of consent and understanding how we take up space in the world. He notes that simply “putting my feet a little bit further apart” can be a step towards taking up more space and asserting one’s presence.
Equity as Freedom: Living with Vulnerability and Joy
For Chad Jones, equity is deeply intertwined with freedom. It begins with fundamental human needs: ensuring everyone has enough food and a safe place to live, and addressing systemic inequities like unjust tax codes that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. But his vision of freedom extends beyond material conditions. He articulates it as a journey, not a destination, to be “free from fear or free from material wants,” and the ability to live on land without coercion or threat.
A truly equitable society, in Jones’s view, also fosters vulnerability. When people can express “some of the tenderness of what lives inside of here and reveal what’s inside of here,” it creates a unique form of equity. This connection, whether through shared food, drumming circles, or simply being present with one another, allows for a deeper human experience.
Finding Chad: Beyond the Screen
Chad Jones is admittedly “elusive” online, preferring real-world connections. He points to the Strozzi Institute for Somatics as one way to connect with his work, offering courses globally. But his ultimate advice for finding him, and for fostering community, is simple: “just being out in the streets and being out in public spaces,” particularly at the public library. For Jones, libraries embody the ethos of freedom and welcome, serving as vital community hubs where people can connect and learn.
In a world that often pulls us apart, Chad Jones reminds us of the profound power of coming together – whether through a picnic, a drum circle, or simply a shared moment of vulnerability. His work is a testament to the idea that by grounding ourselves in our bodies and embracing our full humanity, we can build a more equitable and joyful future, one connection at a time.
Listen to the complete episode at standpointconsulting.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
