Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Journey Statement for Sam Block Coaching, LLC

I acknowledge the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) Peoples as the true and original custodians of the stolen land in which I primarily live, work, and play.

Growing up I never realized how much privilege I held and it’s been through recent and ongoing learning, unlearning that my eyes have been opened to how I benefit from oppressive systems as a white American woman. It is deeply important to me that I do not perpetuate these harmful systems and this statement explains how I got here, what I value and believe in, and some of my current and future commitments towards this journey.

My catalyst for landing here has not been just one event, but a cumulation of many horrible and violent events that have happened in my culture’s past and present.

I will never forget in the summer of 2015, while walking home at night with a Black friend and neighbor, we had a policeman follow us for over a mile, and confront us while yelling with his hand on his gun right as we were getting home. All we were doing was walking home. It was a very scary experience that I had never known before, and that my Black friend had told me was normal for him. This was my first time truly seeing how internal bias and racism is a part of American culture and was the start of my awakening to my own internalized bias and racism.

I have been called deeper into my learning, unlearning, and action, continually through other horrific events including the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and learning about the many violent impacts of colonialism in America and across the world.

I believe that freedom should be accessible to all people, and in order for this to be a reality, diversity, equity, and inclusion must be an integral part of our culture. I want to be a part of a world where people of all backgrounds, identities, and communities feel safe existing as themselves, and have equal opportunities and access to create the life they want to live. I realize I have an important piece to play in this work.

It is my mission as a Brand & Mindset Coach to support my clients to live a meaningful and fulfilling life however they define that through the modality of building a passion-led business full of joy and freedom. And I deeply believe this should not only be available to the people with greater privilege in our world. Which is why it is important to me that DEI is a central part of my own business and life. I care greatly that within the spaces I create you feel welcome just as you are, and I will continue to work to ensure that is the case.

I am committed to continuing to remain on this journey of centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in my life and business by:

  • Donating 5% of all yearly profits from my business to a cause I care about each year. For 2022 these funds will be donated to the Native Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. I’ve chosen this organization because it is important to me to acknowledge the original people of this land that I live, work, and play on, and to support this organization in its mission to end violence against the Native Women whose ancestors were forced from this land.
  • Continuing to seek out and invest my time, energy, and money, in programs led by women of color that support my learning, unlearning, and action to become a better business owner, leader, intersectional feminist, advocate for DEI work and all-around human being. Here are some of the people whom have contributed to this learning and that I am still actively learning from: Annie Gichuru whom I received support to create this statement, podcasts like Business Remixed by Trudi Lebron and the All My Relations Podcast, Rachel Cargle, Rachel Rodgers, and groups like Nativeland.net, NDNCollective, and The Great Unlearn. I will continue to update this list as my journey evolves.

Given the white lens with which I have always looked through, and my implicit bias I know I am bound to make mistakes. This journey is just that – a journey – and I’m beginning to understand it is not linear. I am committed to approaching this work through humility, compassion, vulnerability, and an understanding of my own humanity and the humanity of others. And I will continue to update this statement as I journey deeper.

If the values I’ve shared in this DEI Journey statement are not in alignment with yours, then my services are not for you.