Coaching as Activism

You chose the work you do because you want to make an impact.

Or because you see the pain, suffering, injustices in the world around you and you know that something better is possible.

Or because you want to offer what you’ve got in support of healing, growth and justice so that we can all live our best lives.

Or because it’s something that you just can’t not do.

What if there are opportunities for you to have greater integrity, deepen your impact, live out your values and truly show up for the change you wish to see?

Coaching as Activism is an anti-oppressive program for coaches, healers + leaders who want to bring their commitments to healing, justice & liberation (for all) into their work & life.

*Leaders meaning: you don’t have to be (or call yourself) a coach or healer. If your work is service-based and facilitates any kind of transformation with people, businesses or communities, this program might be for you!

There’s a reason this quote is so meaningful:

There’s been a disconnect in our approach.

We’ve taken our complex humanity and our interconnectedness and simplified it. We’ve chosen to believe and teach that the only obstacle in the way of your dreams and the life you wish to live is you. In some cases this is true – in many others, it’s not and sometimes it’s both.

As transformative leaders – people who work directly with the mind, body and/or soul of a diverse group of people – we’ve inherited a culture that has denied the influential role that cultural and institutional systems play in our ability to heal, grow and be free.

In our efforts to bridge personal growth and social justice, we’ve realized that the two are actually deeply intertwined. As the saying goes: “the personal is political.” This truth is easy to miss when we choose to only focus on the individual and not the cultures and systems that the individual both affects and is affected by.

Here’s what I know:

• Our capacities to listen, hold space, guide, question, support, envision, heal and acknowledge the greatness in others are profoundly needed in our world.
• Because we’ve chosen to use those capacities to transform the lives of those we serve, we also have a responsibility to transform the systems we live within that do not serve the whole.
• The potential of humanity lies within the systems that we navigate every single day. Our belief systems, our family systems, our educational systems, economic, cultural, institutional, etc.
• We, humans, created and sustain those systems and we’re way past due for some wide-scale transformation.
• When we bypass the sadness, rage and grief that comes with being human and the current state of our world, we miss out on the gifts within those emotions that can be harnessed for change.
• And if we’re talking love & light, “justice is what love looks like in public.” (Cornel West)
• Social change cannot happen without healing and healing cannot happen without justice.
• Our individual wellbeing is directly tied to the wellbeing of us all.
• Activism is bigger than a protest, it’s about how you show up in your everyday life.

Any of this resonating? You’re in the right place!

Have you ever found yourself saying…

“I feel like I can’t talk about politics as a business owner, coach or healer. It’s unprofessional.”

“I’ve been involved in activism or organizing work for a while and I want to bridge those concepts with my business.”

“There is so much wrong in the world! I feel so overwhelmed and exhausted. Does my work even matter?”

“I don’t see myself as an activist, but our world needs change and I want to be a part of it.”

If this is speaking to you, I’d love to invite you into this program.

But before I give you all of the details, I want to share my intentions with you:

I hope to influence you and support the impact you wish to make in your communities. My goal is for you to sign up for this experience and conversation only if it feels aligned with your vision. I also expect to learn from you – to be influenced by you. My overall intention is to infuse my commitments to justice and collective liberation for all into everything I do. I want to support you in doing the same, in your own way.

Vision + Intended Outcomes:

Wondering what you might get out of Coaching as Activism? Here’s what’s possible:

• Connect + cultivate relationships with other socially responsible coaches, healers and leaders.
• Get an embodied understanding of how Supremacy Culture plays out in your own life and in the lives of the people you serve so that you can actively take steps toward developing a practice and business that is available to all regardless of their social identities.
• Develop your vision for change in our world and articulate how your work supports your community in being a part of realizing that vision.
• Add more tools to your metaphorical toolbox for your work and life, i.e. activities, resources, strategies, questions, etc.
• Strengthen your capacity to lead and confront these issues within your community + with your clients and hold space for those who are also learning and unlearning.
• Develop non-icky, ethical practices for business like: marketing, selling, copywriting, etc.
• Create a true ripple effect by using your work as a tool for social change.

*This is all a process and it’s truly lifelong work. You won’t reach enlightenment through this program, but you will receive frameworks to draw from that you can continue to integrate into your work and life way after this program is over.

Meet Your Facilitator

Hi! I’m Andréa (she/they pronouns).

For most of my life, I’ve been living in the question: “How can I live, work and relate in a way that supports and contributes to positive social change?“

Finding my answers to this question has been my life’s journey and I lovelovelove partnering with others who are also living in this question and supporting them in finding their own answers.

I created this program back in 2016 because I SO love the transformative work that we do as coaches, healers, counselors, artists and teachers.

And if we’re setting out to change lives and change the world, I don’t want anything to be left on the table.

For my part, I’m committed to doing what I can with who I am and what I have over the course of my life. This offering is a part of my contribution. Should you decide to join me for this Coaching as Activism adventure, I hope that it’ll be a catalyst, a challenge, and a comfort to and for you, as you engage in making your own contribution.

If you’re interested in the nitty gritty about me: I facilitate. I write. I create. I speak. I sing. Very black, very queer, very into God. I’m 29 years old, living in Chicago, IL. I’m a Leo, extroverted introvert, 6/2 mental projector in Human Design and a plant mama. I feel most led by the work of Audre Lorde, Octavia Butler, bell hooks, Adrienne Maree Brown, Jenn McCabe, June Jordan, Mariame Kaba, Relational Uprising and so many more.

Program Overview:

Coaching as Activism is a 3-month intensive program complete with 7 bi-weekly, live gatherings. We start on April 4th.

This is a group container. At maximum you’ll have 25 people in your cohort.

CAA will take you through a process of unearthing the ways various systems of oppression show up in your life, work and relationships (specifically anti-blackness/white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, classism, etc) while supporting you to make shifts and decisions that better align with your values and commitments.

The content includes:

• original writings, videos and workbooks related to the topic of the module
• curated lists of resources (pdfs, articles, videos, audio from other educators)
• interviews from guest teachers
• reflection prompts and experiential assignments – ways for you to bring the questions and ideas we’re considering in this program into your work and everyday life
• and all original audio and video content will have transcriptions!

How to Join

Enrollment for Coaching as Activism is open! We start April 4th.

Coaching as Activism is a 3 month commitment to yourself and your CAA cohort. The work that we’re engaging in within CAA is lifelong, relational and slow but impactful work. When you join CAA, you’re saying “YES” to showing up for making your contribution to the world around you.

Quick review – by joining you’ll get:

• Access to a content-rich vault of Coaching as Activism goodness
• A 3-month group intensive with 7 live, bi-weekly calls facilitated by Andréa
• A 30-min welcome call with Andréa to support your leadership and business goals

For additional support, you can join the group program AND receive 3 monthly private coaching sessions with me (1 each month). These 1 hour sessions would be focused on topics most relevant to your learning and leadership journey – uprooting supremacy, vision articulation and strategy, building community/team, messaging and marketing, and more.

Ready? Let’s do this.

Choose your preferred payment option below to register.

Investment:

$500 total for Group Program (save $91)

$1,400 total for Monthly Private Coaching (save $100)

Have questions?

Send me an email at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram @andrearanaej!

*This is the only time CAA will be offered in 2024 and will likely be the final round that I will facilitate in this way. If you’re interested, but this timing doesn’t work for you, please send me a note!