Source: Graphics and Grain
Accountability. I used to think it was a bad word. Like boundaries, I thought accountability was something to be feared not loved. Then I learned more about what accountability really is, what happens when it is abused, and how it can show up in our lives as love.
This series explores accountability at its intersection with power. Unpacking the personal, professional, political power we have or had to hold systems accountable. Together, we will explore what power we have in our daily lives and what power do others hold over us. Whether it is the power to make the decision or the power to take it away, we know that not all power is the same.
I have witnessed the United States use its military power my entire life to ‘maintain the status quo’ and its role as a world leader. The results have been mixed by design as our systems require ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ or the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’
In this series , we will explore the origins and history of US political power that guides our social and cultural actions as we witness the intergenerational advancements towards equality be dismantled … again. We will unpack different types of power – the power to build and the power to destroy.
Ultimately, this series is designed to spark curiosity, ground our visions in the deep roots of our ancestors, and accelerate collective liberation. Welcome to the Mukuyu “Accountability is Love” series!
- Part I – I’ve Got the Power, Wait, Do I? Who makes decisions about our life and world? From the water we drink to the clothes we wear to the park nearby, who are the individuals that made the decision and did they represent all those who were impacted by the decision? The latter part of that question – were all impacted by the decision part of the decision making – is at the heart of our fragile democracy right now. Part I explores decision makers and decision making. Policy are the rules of engagement, decision making, and resource allocation. This section focuses on the US history of voting, representative government, revenue generation, and asset dissemination.
- Part II – All the Power to All the People: Farewell DEI, Hello Liberation. For decades, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion experts have raised the flag on the play knowing that what has become standard practice never got to the root causes and structural changes needed. Throughout the DEI decade there were many many many panels, workshops, and training but minimal shifts in power sharing, resource allocation, and assessing the quality of outcomes. As our country again fights its origin struggle for liberty and justice for all, I offer the following recommendations to not only weather this storm but to accelerate collective liberatory efforts: diagnostics, differentiation, continuous improvement, and accountability systems/mechanisms.
- Part III – From Hoarder to Sharers: Forgiveness, Repair, and Reconciliation – Where Do We Go From Here? From the day to day decisions we make about the food we will eat, clothes we wear, e-bike we use to get around or the smartphones we use to communicate, we are deeply connected to the rest of the world with many of the items we use coming from across the ocean. As fast fashion finally makes headlines for overconsumption. This section examines what accountability looks like across different parts of our lived experience from a governmental to a cultural perspective. Together, we will learn from the past to orient to the present and accelerate towards a future with healthy people on a healthy planet. Together, we will explore how other civilizations answered accountability’s call and the need to balance people and planet.
