Anti-Oppression, Anti-Racism Action Plan

 Updated 12/2/24

Art of Parenthood LLC is committed to building an equitable, anti-racist company. We’re taking steps to become an anti-racist business because we aspire to interrupt and disrupt the status quo of racism and white supremacy and the harm these systems bring to all members of our society. We want to be a part of a community of micro-businesses that prioritize justice, equity and inclusion. We have work to do in order get there. This document names some of that work.

In this document, "I" means MereAnn Reid, the founder and owner of the company. When I say "we", this includes any contractors and collaborators I bring on board, as well as groups we host and partnerships we consider as we grow.

A personal note from MereAnn:

  • I, MereAnn Reid, am the owner of this company. As a white, cisgendered, currently able-bodied, heterosexual woman, I benefit from white privilege, cisgender privilege, size privilege, and class privilege. I'm committed to clearer seeing and taking action against a system that gives me unearned privileges.

  • I move forward with an expectation that I will make mistakes. I will learn from my mistakes and invite feedback. I am committed to meeting feedback with humility and without defensiveness. I am committed to expanding our awareness that impact exists separately from intent. This distinction is important, because we can be unaware of harmful biases that have become normalized, while they continue to deliver harm, enforce inequities, and separate us from one another, marginalizing voices in our community that are essential to prioritize. These essential voices, perspectives, and lived experiences are not limited to white, cisgendered, heterosexual, and economically privileged people.

Here are some of the steps we have taken and will take to expand awareness and increase active participation in calling out white supremacy, including and amplifying a diversity of perspectives in this community:

  • Signed The Anti-Racism Small Business Pledge (pdf below) :: November 2020

Small-Business-Anti-Racist-Pledge.pdf

  • Create public document (this one) listing our company values including a link to this action plan :: by September 30, 2021

  • We commit to engage actively and pay for education on anti-racism and anti-oppression work. In addition to weekly listening and regular reading, I commit to investing money, time and energy in education and consultation on a quarterly basis and listing my educators/programs here.

  • Practical Allyship for Life & Business, anti-oppression workshop for entrepreneurs & global citizens, co-led by Simone Seol & Rashida Bonds :: December 2024

  • Embodied Liberation, interactive anti-racism workshop for therapists, advocates, healers, and helpers, co-led by Vanessa Timmons & Mari Alexander :: June 2023, February 2024

  • Engaging African American Families, addressing racial bias and trauma, improving cultural competence and clinical skills to serve African American clients better, led by Mercedes Samudio, LCSW :: June 2023

  • Raising Free People community, led by Akilah S. Richards :: Patreon member, April 2022-April 2023

  • Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism, co-led by Resmaa Menakem & Carlin Quinn :: October 2022

  • Moving from Ally to Accomplice in the Playroom :: advocacy and education for anti-racism in play therapy, led by Kadesha Adelakun, LCSW :: June 2022

  • The Great Unlearn community, led by Rachel Cargle :: Patreon member, June 2020-April 2021

  • Moms and Race led by Alexandra Loves :: February-March 2021

  • Raising Anti-Racist White Children led by The Center for the Study of White American Culture :: April 2021

  • Anti-Oppression working group :: volunteer advisory committee for program review and anti-bias resource development for play therapists :: January-June 2021

  • I commit to open-conflict and to allowing discomfort.

    When conflict arises among my colleagues and within my programs, I let it arise. I don’t try to hide it, silence it, or ignore it. I do not protect hate speech. I acknowledge the conflict, allow space for community members to be heard and deal with the underlying issue rather than demonizing the community member who raised the issue. These conversations are happening regardless, and I allow them to happen in these spaces and be part of the conversation. I take action to implement the needs expressed by community members. And I take responsibility for pursuing training to have culturally responsive communications and handle conflict online. I state these community guidelines at the outset of each program I host.

    • Post the above statement for all groups hosted as of September 2021

  • I commit to paying for the resources I benefit from and receive from BIPOC educators. When I am regularly absorbing information from JEDI experts and I am not enrolled in their programs, I seek ways to pay for the help I'm receiving. I purchase books from independent bookstores owned and operated by BIPOC and LGBTQ community members, contribute to Patreon, pay honoraria via Venmo, or find other ways to invest.

  • I re-commit to investing 4% of the Art of Parenthood LLC company budget in BIPOC communities by December 2024. This may include hiring BIPOC interns, vendors and contractors, using BIPOC-owned software and services, purchasing BIPOC-authored books, extending scholarships, donating to organizations and more.

    • We will report the percent annually below, in Q1 of the subsequent year

    • Between 1/1/23 and 12/31/23, the percentage of total company budget invested in BIPOC communities was 3.3%

    • Between 1/1/22 and 12/31/22, the percentage of total company budget invested in BIPOC communities was 4%

    • Between 9/1/21 and 12/31/21, the percentage of total company budget invested in BIPOC communities was 2%

  • This document is one measure to express my sincere, long-term commitment to consciously developing anti-oppressive business practices and becoming an anti-racist organization.

    We are creating a durable statement that illustrates our commitment to anti-oppression, diversity, inclusion, equity and anti-racism that goes on all external facing documents (website, intern postings, publications, contracts, programs, group descriptions, etc). It will be written in realistic language about where this company is, with room for aspiration toward where we are trying to go. It will outline specific steps we’re taking to get there.

    This is that living document, intended as a work in progress. 1st version created 9/3/21.

    • I include a link to this Anti-Oppression, Anti-Racism Action Plan on both websites for my company, Art of Parenthood LLC :: mereannreid.com and familyzest.com

    • A link is included along with the Terms of Service as part of registering new program participants, as of September 2021

  • Most of the language in this document comes directly from the Small Business Anti-Racism Pledge linked above; its format and touchstones for progress are inspired by Annie Schuessler, of Rebel Therapist, Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up Coach, and several thoughtful parents I work with.