Transformative Changes
Transformative Change Workers
In the pursuit of justice and human liberation, Transformative Changes ignites change through transformation of self, relationships, and community.
- We seek transformation of self to combat individual racism.
- We seek transformation of relationships to combat interpersonal racism.
- We seek transformation of community to combat institutional and systemic racism.
Our model is influenced by the pillars of yoga where an "evening of the yoke" is achieved through the integration of mind, body, spirit, and human liberation.
Community Transformation: Ubuntu Workers
Ubuntu workers seek to work towards a core principle of yoga, which is to eliminate human suffering. When humans are marginalized, shunned, isolated, or institutionalized, everyone suffers. When people are pushed to the margins of society, their shadows present the shadow side of ourselves, culture and communities. That which we can shun, is that which we shun in ourselves too. In centering ubuntu, the essence of humankind, we share the load of injustice with the belief that it is everyone's load to carry.
Ubuntu is an African proverb part of the Zulu phrase, "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu," which means that a person is a person through other people. Ubuntu means, "I am, because you are." It has roots in humanist African philosophy, where community is one of the building blocks of society.
Ubuntu is the essence of being human. At Transformative Changes, we strive to embody the pillars of "Ubuntu" through respect, care, compassion, love, solidarity, sharing, reconciliation, and reciprocity.
At Transformative Changes, we center justice in the pursuit of a world where everyone is treated fairly without impartial treatment and all people are equal, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Relationship Transformation: Culture Workers
Cultural Workers center the arts, such as music, art, drama, creative writing, photography and dance, are tools, to help develop the mind and body, connect to feelings, and reflect on our customs and values as a society.
The "arts" throughout history has been used to advance social justice. The term "cultural change" describes the way society is changed through new cultural traits, behavior patterns, and social norms, and creates new social structures as a result. Cultural arts are used to challenge the resistance to new norms and the existence of current norms. Cultural workers help to explain the world through the exploration of creativity.
At Transformative Changes, we use art to spread awareness of justice issues, such as distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within a society. Art is a powerful tool that helps us see into the perceptions and experience of others.
Self Transformation: Healing Workers
Healing Workers center community care, collective wellness, and joy as a vehicle for social change. Through yoga, social emotional learning, and healing-centered engagement, we seek empower community leaders to pursue inner-healing through the connection of the mind, body, and spirit to seek human liberation.
In yoga, the spiritual meaning of Yoked is action-oriented. The Yoke balances a person's burden and makes the burden easier to manage. Other meanings of Yoked are metaphorical for bondage or servitude. At Transformative Changes, we believe to be Yoked means to pull the load of trauma, oppression, racism, and other injustices alongside or with each other.
Are you ready for change?
We are the change. Become a transformative change worker today!
Help Our Cause
Transformative Changes has officially launched our community-based 501(c)3 arm! Please support the expansion of our community-based services and our #BlackWomanLed non-profit with your donation!