Each month I facilitate conversations with inspiring individuals about how we can build a food system that feeds everyone. These conversations often have food at the forefront because food is a part of each and every one of our lives and is at the core of FRN’s work, but they also explore other topics that intertwine with and impact our food system. With this fuller picture we can begin to understand why 34 million Americans currently do not consistently have access to the food they deserve, and how we can work to address the structural inequality that makes this possible. 

On July 20, 2021 I had the honor of talking to three incredible humans about the role of compassion in our work. As I note in the video, compassion should be a key element of how we conduct our work, and during times of duress or constant strain, compassion is sometimes lacking. When we lead with compassion, we open ourselves to more meaningful and comprehensive conversations; we can perform better as teams; and ultimately, we can open our collective eyes, hearts and minds to challenge a system that wants us to believe that 34 million people living without the food they deserve is simply a by-product of our society. We cannot be complacent about a food system that allows so many people to suffer, and conversations like the one I had with Dominique McMillan, Matt Scott, and Corey Loftus are key to inspiring us to act. Below are the themes from each speaker and their call to action for each of you. My hope is that you read their thoughts below, share this with others, watch our video (even if it’s just parts of the conversation) and my call to action to you is, add their calls to action to your to-do list.

Dominique: We must understand our past to better map our future. In the spirit of compassion, no workplace extends to all of us, but our relationships do. My own journey involves looking for and spreading compassion through my personal experiences to foster a sense of belonging among others. Having had to learn from others, now the act of spreading compassion is rooted in loving others as I love myself. Call to action: Check your voter registration because you may be surprised to find you’re not registered. Spend time thinking about who you are, and what you are called to be.

Matt: I use the tool of asking questions to develop and deepen empathy, and it’s a way to be in community with and for others, especially in spaces that may not always be overtly open to me. People are all so different and it rests upon all of us to provide the space for others to tell their own stories. When people can tell their own stories and when people are curious about those stories, we create and foster safe spaces. We all deserve that. Call to action: Think about how you understand your own system of listening. What does listening look like for you? Asking questions, hosting conversations?

Corey: Rituals are distinct from habits and standard operating procedures and we should provide space for them in the workplace. Rituals can help bring a feeling of openness, space, and transparency to our work together. By engaging in rituals within the workplace, you are expressing a shared belief in whatever the rituals signify. It’s also a practice done for internal advancement and enables people to play around with different social structures. Call to action: Create a new ritual for yourself that can help you reach something, whether that is to calm you down, to focus you, etc.

Watch the full conversation here —

Thank you to Dominique, Matt, and Cory for an incredible conversation. I hope it provides you with stories and tools to bring to your own workplace to reignite or further fan your flame of compassion like it did for me.