Coaching as Activism

*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!
Reading this quote for the first time changed me and here's why:
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 leaders – who work directly with the mind, body and/or soul of a diverse group of people – we've denied, for far too long, the role that our cultural and institutional systems that we each navigate daily play in our ability to heal, grow and be free.
I've dedicated the past 5 years to deeply exploring where and how personal growth and social justice intersect – initially, trying to find a bridge.
Instead of finding a bridge, I've realized that they're 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.
Our capacities to listen, hold space, guide, 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 not limited to protests and petitions, it's also about how you show up in your everyday life.
“I’ve had such a hard time bringing my whole self into my work. It feels like my culture / beliefs / activism doesn’t fit.”
"Recent events woke me up to all of this and there's obviously a problem going on in our world, but I have no idea what I can do to help."
"I don't see myself as an activist, but our world needs change and I want to be a part of it."
"I want my work be inclusive or serve people who have specific marginalized identities but I'm unsure of how to do that."
“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."
"I want to be able to talk with my clients or community about social justice issues, but I don't know how."
"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."
But before I give you all of the details, I want to share my intention 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 that I do. I want to support you in doing the same!
*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.
I created this program 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.
I'm a coach and facilitator who holds a B.A. degree concentrating on how personal growth, spirituality and social justice are intertwined as well as what it takes to engage in entrepreneurship consciously, with an anti-oppressive lens. A couple years ago, I wrote a blog post entitled "Why the Self-Help Industry isn't Changing the World," which tells a bit of the story of what led me to creating Coaching as Activism (you can check that out here).
You might be coming to this program looking for clear answers – I don't have those. What I do have, is an intention to facilitate the kind of experience where you can find your own answers to your questions (or maybe find more questions) and connect with other people with common values. This work isn't easy, but it is oh, so worth it and when we can come together around our visions for healing, justice and liberation, making that happen becomes that much more possible. So join us!
For some nitty gritty details: I'm from in Chicago, IL (and I love my city fiercely). I'm a Leo, an E/INFJ, a Projector in Human Design and I lovelovelove: Beyoncé, sunsets, mint tea, elephants and my trusty water bottle. I feel most led by the work of Audre Lorde, Octavia Butler, bell hooks, Adrienne Maree Brown, Alexis P. Morgan, Jenn McCabe, Desiree Adaway, Relational Uprising and so many more.
Andréa's Coaching As Activism course was one of my favourite investments of 2017. It went above and beyond what I was hoping it would be. I was looking for a course that could help me find the missing pieces between my work as a mentor and my deep interest in issues of social justice. I was also looking for a place to do my personal work of understanding and healing my own internalised oppression, and understand the history and background of the current social issues we are facing. Andréa delivered all of this and more. I highly recommend this work to anyone in the personal development field.
I was inspired to undertake Andréa's Coaching as Activism course after beginning to follow her on social media. I was learning so much from her in that way that that I knew this was the next step to developing a greater understanding and action plan relating to social justice matters. The CAA course was life and business changing for me in so many ways. It has changed my coach training academy and the way I personally show up in the world for the better. I cannot recommend it or Andréa highly enough.
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 like Desiree Adaway (coach and diversity educator), Adisa Stewart (somatic healer and practitioner), McKensie Mack (anti-oppression educator and copywriter) and more fabulous peeps!
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 I'm working on adding downloadable transcripts to all original audio and video content!
Within the program, at minimum, there's support through the private Facebook group and live Community Calls via Zoom. Outside of the program, you're encouraged to seek out the moments where you can get involved in whatever's most present in your relationships, family and communities.
Show up as you are.
Show up with whatever you're holding.
Show up for your commitments.
Take responsibility for how you choose to show up.
Take responsibility for your learning and your experience.
Take responsibility what's yours to take responsibility for.
Coaching as Activism is a membership style program and community.
Seven content-rich modules
Private Facebook group
Monthly workshops only available to CAA members
2-3 Days of Community Calls via Zoom each month (2 calls each day – one for BIPOC and one for the whole community)
1:1 Welcome Chat to get you started
Enrollment for Coaching as Activism is rolling! Apply to join today!
When choosing the payment plan below that works best for you, keep in mind that there is enough content and resources within this program that could keep you busy for the next couple years at least!
There is no required amount of time that you'll need to stay in the Coaching as Activism. I do recommend that you commit to at least 3 months at minimum, but the people who get the most out of CAA are the ones who show up for 6-9 months or more!
When you apply, you won’t be automatically charged. We’ll take a look over you application to make sure we’re a good fit for one another and if your application is accepted you will be charged 10 days from now. If your application is not accepted, you will not be charged and you’ll get a personal note from us.
*For every 7 people who join, I'm offering a "pay-what-you-choose" scholarship spot specifically for someone who is committed to this work, but doesn't have an abundance of expendable resources available to them. Those who hold marginalized identities (black/POC, disabled, indigenous, low-income, LGBTQIA+, etc.) will be prioritized. If you're interested in taking me up on this opportunity as scholarship spots become available, please email support@andrearanae.com with "CAA Scholarship" in the subject line!