My Pedadgoical Creed
1. People are society’s greatest assets.
In Yasiin Bey’s (formerly known as Mos Def) 1999 classic Fear Not of Man, he opens the track with a soliloquy about the state of hip-hop. He says that people ask him about the state of hip-hop, to which he responds that hip-hop is doing as well as we are doing and will go where we go.
While he is referring to hip-hop, this applies to all aspects of society. We the people are the indicators of society’s status. As an educator and a coach, I am serving the health of my communities and society at large. My work is designed to bring positive change into the lives of fellow human beings that their growth may bring about recurring positive change in the world at large.
2. Community is the next frontier.
In an ever-connected world facing disasters, conflicts, and suffering at a global scale, a return to community is at-hand. Rebuilding local economies, fostering local lands, and taking care of our neighbors can bring much relief to problems. This requires a connection first with ourselves, and then with those proximate to ourselves. As both an educator and a coach, I inspire and enable my students and my clients to connect intentionally with their immediate community.
3. We are all capable of creating a better world.
The raw power needed for our success is within us. My job is to facilitate the exploration of ideas, the acquisition of skills, and the building of habits to get all of my students and clients where they are going. I am a master facilitator. I am a learned listener. I can design experiences, lessons, and activities that invite participants to self-discover and provides them the fuel to take next steps.