In this conversation with Kyla Hartsfield, spring reflects on her leadership journey. From testing the system in the military to helping CompassPoint become a laboratory for a decolonized, Pro-Black leadership practice. She names the courage it takes to do something that doesn’t yet exist, and invites us to honor intuition and lead in ways that seven generations from now will thank us for.
We share this conversation with deep gratitude for spring’s contributions and with a hope that it sparks reflection in you. 

Enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about our commitment to Black Leadership?

Read CompassPoint's Black Affinity Group's Discussion on Black Leadership: https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/getting-critical-mass-conversation-pro-black-leadership 

As a staff and board, we are deeply reflecting on the lessons learned as we navigate this time of change and transition. We are accountable and committed to sharing our reflections and insights to our community throughout this year, as we know much of what we’re experiencing is not unique to CompassPoint. 

We are excited for Liz’s next chapter in her career, and offer congratulations to her as she steps into this new role focused on Black movement building.  

When it comes to conflict, are you competitive, accommodating, avoidant, compromising, or collaborative? Which response or style have you been taught is “bad”? In this rich, reflective audio episode, CompassPoint Project Director Kyla Hartsfield and CompassPoint Teacher Team Member Laura Eberly discuss Kenneth Thomas and Ralph Kilmann’s “Conflict Styles” framework together, offering personal storytelling and social justice analysis along the way. They unpack how these different approaches to conflict can work for and against us, depending on where our identities are situated within systems of oppression, our positionalities within power dynamics, and what our goals are when working towards liberation collectively. 

Enjoyed this episode and want to learn more in a supportive space with peers? Check out our Conflict Resolution workshop: https://bit.ly/cpconflictres

We’re thrilled to announce that Asha Mehta has joined Liz Derias and Shannon Ellis as CompassPoint’s newest Co-Executive Director.  
 

This past year, CompassPoint set out to take on our budgeting season in a different way: using principles from participatory budgeting to inspire new practices for distributing power. 
 

We’re excited to re-introduce the CompassPoint board to you—six experienced leaders who are co-creating governance with us in ways that challenge traditional notions around the power of boards, and helping us activate our commitment to racial justice as a multiracial organization that centers pro-Blackness. 
 

Grappling with feedback without considering power dynamics can replicate the systems of oppression we should be dismantling. Our vision for social justice should not be limited to our mission statement and our programs; it should apply to our workplace culture and norms, too.
 

We're excited to launch a new online, two-day training this summer: Liberatory Principles and Practices for White Supervisors. Read more about it here.