Well-being is an integral part of obtaining and maintaining equity when challenging the various status quos that are no longer serving

Thanks for an intriguing yarn this week.  The beginning of our cuppa started off with a story about mycology or fungus.  The beneath world, thriving network of systems and co-dependence is always happening, though we can't alway see this perhaps like a system. In another kōrero, the New Zealand’s native orchid, te Peka-ā-waka, has been used to think about how groups or systems work with one another, rather than to only be in competition.  In this scenario, the relationship the Peka-ā-waka has with the its host tree and vice-versa, tells us that size does not matter, rather the relationship between them matters to the ongoing survival of each of them. In this sense we can look to nature for examples of how to coexist and thrive as one connected eco-system when working in collaborative ways. 

Our question to unpack this week was to consider the ‘role or place of power in equity’.  

The conversation revealed that creating more equitable environments required a shift in mindset toward being deliberate and mindful about how to work with power equitably. 

We agreed fo the most part that a start point involves observing, listening, learning, and asking questions.  From there we thought it necessary to learn how to navigate power dynamics thoughtfully and intentionally, while moving people towards an intercultural space where everyone holds power is one way that we can deal with power as a strength.  This could look like; sharing, distributing, delegating or endowing a collective with authority/power as they collaborate about change. 

Participants emphasised that inequity often comes down to who holds power and that there are ways to do this without necessarily losing any power or control, if done in appropriate ways.  Walk Together uses Mutual Ways to do this tactically. This is one of our upcoming pathway.  Let us know if you'd like to know more.  

The conversation also highlighted the power of narratives in creating equity and the need to push beyond surface-level approaches. 

In conclusion, power and equity are always going to be complex, but breaking down common concepts helps to see where and how people are viewing things differently is a necessary step. Through observation, listening, and intentional efforts to work with power and power-dynamics, everyone can work towards smoothing out complexity by and through agreement. 

Our question for the next cuppa: What if we chose equity as a process, rather than only focusing on how to get outcomes that are equitable.  How might this change the way we work?