Welcome!
It’s taken about 6 weeks – but I listened and am creating something that I think will help. I put together a survey to see what training needs were needed and if/how I could help. After working in Orientation and Res Life for years and then doing diversity trainings for OLs, RAs, Hall Directors, Athletes, Student Gov/Org Leaders, and Greek Life – you were the first folks I thought about when COVID-19 hit.
The survey results showed that paraprofessionals were the biggest pain point regarding challenging conversations as well as D&I related topics (in person and virtually in social media groups). Overall budgets are frozen or have vanished. Ideally, Facilitation Guides, Reflection Journals, and hard copy books are desired, but not sure how to get them paid for. So… this is what I have done…
I am about to launch a Good Enough Now Book Club through Canvas that is asynchronous/turn-key and will make my ebook free for anyone. The course will be offered at a low fee and free to anyone that needs it to be free. There will be a “tip jar” for folks that do have some budget and 100% of those funds will go to those that have nothing. It’s true that we have never had to do this <insert waiving hands wildly from side to side> before, but tools that work work and ANYTHING that takes some pressure off of you allows for book club participants to grow, learn, and facilitate a sense of community are imperative as we start a new academic year, head into an election year, and in a year that seems to be one disaster after another.
This is the least I can do.
If you are interested, you are welcome to message me, email me jess@goodenoughnow.com, and I will get you the information as soon as it is up. Let me know if you need the free link too!
Here is a video from a podcast I was on recently that tells you more about my approach to conversations that matter, diversity, equity, and inclusion self-reflection work, and my concept of Good Enough
Now. Lastly, THANK YOU for doing all that you are doing – it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Really – THANK YOU!
What to Expect
This course will be broken up into five parts or modules.
Each module will be prescribed a set of reading to be completed from the book “Good Enough Now” by Jessica Pettitt. You can download the eBook for free or purchase a paperback copy.
Several sponsors are supporting the book club, and if needed, a free paperback copy can be mailed directly to you, just let me know.
Each module’s participants will need to complete a brief “quiz” and participate in a discussion related to the readings.
Participants will be invited to attend monthly synchronous online discussions via Zoom called “Virtual Book Signings.” For the next date, check under Announcements.
If you are working as a group, you are welcome to develop a timeline that y’all will follow to move through the 5 modules of the course. If you are working alone, you can move along at your own pace.
Module 1
(Pg 1-24)
The Beginning is a Wonderful Place to Start
Taking time to do some self-awareness and self-reflection is not always easy and certainly puts us in a vulnerable position. However, the work is important and the goal is to be able to better understand ourselves and others, as well as how this impacts our interactions with others.
- Read the beginning content including the Prologue
- Take Knowledge Assessment
- Participate in discussion
Module 2
(Pg 25-96)
Good
The first section of the book has taken us through the process of
- understanding the different response patterns we have
- identifying our own archetype and what those response patterns look like
- identifying other archetypes and what those response patterns look like
- consider the impact each response pattern has on our interactions with each other.
- Read chapters 1 and 2
- Take Knowledge Assessment
- Participate in discussion
Module 3
(Pg 97-160)
Enough
Chapter Three and Four in the section titled Enough.
This week’s reading takes us deeper into the process of self-discovery and awareness. The focus is on:
- identifying moments in our life that make us who we are today
- how those experiences impact how we show up daily
- recognize everyone does the same
- allow for space to connect and communicate better with others.
- Read chapters 3 and 4
- Take Knowledge Assessment
- Participate in discussion
Module 4
(Pg 161-220)
Now (I)
Chapter Five and Six in the section titled Now.
This module’s reading looks closely at:
- how our past experiences impact us in the now
- how we navigate through this road of life
- how to be responsible for how we show up
- the impact we have when engaging with others
- how to have conversations that allow us to make better connections with others.
- Read chapters 5 and 6
- Take Knowledge Assessment
- Participate in discussion
Module 5
(Pg 221-248)
Now (II)
Chapter Seven and Eight in the section titles Now.
This reading moves us into the second half of Now and reminds us that the work to be done is our work.
This section also explores:
- uses systems of oppression to demonstrate the application of your self-reflections to make real change in your impact with others
- the three streams we may need to cross in order to get a different result than we have been getting
- the importance of having conversations with pure intent and authenticity in order to really hear and learn
- the need to accept responsibility for the stories we write
- and we are reminded that allowing for space is key to making any change.
- Read chapters 7 and 8
- Take Knowledge Assessment
- Participation in discussion
Bonus: Attend a Monthly “Virtual Book Signing” on Zoom
- Participate in a discussion no matter where you are in the book
- Apply the learnings to your personal and/or work experience
- Support others in their learning process
About the author
Jessica Pettitt, M.Ed., CSP,has always had a foot in two different approaches to her life. Perhaps it is her Texas roots, but she believes to thrive in this world you have to ride two horses at once – one of humility and one of ego.
This is why while hosting and performing stand-up in NYC she also worked as a diversity and inclusion specialist as a day job. She quit her day job after a decade and almost 20 years later still uses humor to deliver actionable content related to everything you ever wanted to know about where leadership and diversity collide but are afraid to ask. Though often referred to as a thought leader, Jess responds that she just makes leaders think.
For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work to stick, the first step is a conversation that matters about what you don’t know you don’t know then you can do the best you can with what you have some of the time without getting sued, losing talent, or failing customers.
