To my dear Yellow Conference Community:
I wanted to take some time to talk a little bit about my and The Yellow Conference’s team’s decision to have ALOK speak at our conference.
I start this off by saying that I’m on my own journey and path when it comes to understanding those with different experiences than myself, and through that journey, I’m constantly learning, being challenged and unlearning. Those of you who have ever been in my Guidance Groups before know that a saying I often say is “the process is the point”, and right now, I’m in process. I always will be, and I think that’s the point to all of this. We only arrive when we breathe our last breath. I’m no expert by any means on any of what I will share here, I’m simply sharing my experience and thoughts - it feels like everyday I’m learning something new.
With that, I want to also mention that while I know where I’ve been and come from on my journey, I respect and honor your journey as well. I want us to aim to understand each other with respect and kindness, not necessarily change each other’s minds but aim to listen with an open and curious heart and mind.
About a year ago, a wise friend and mentor sent me ALOK’s Instagram, and mentioned that I take a look at their content because they are a voice of truth I should pay attention to. I sadly will admit, when I first saw ALOK on IG, there was something within me that felt uncomfortable. At the same time I very much trusted the person who sent them my way and so I followed on Instagram.
Over the last year, I have spent time diving into ALOK’s work and words and have been deeply impacted. It’s not too often I hear someone’s words that make me see the world differently, open my heart and cause a shift in my perspective with just a few sentences. ALOK does that with their words.
If you’ve been to Yellow Conference before you’ve seen that we have invited those who identify as men, women, and non-binary to speak in the past. Speakers are chosen because they have a powerful stance, perspective, and story that I believe our community can learn and gain value from. I want you to leave the conference with new ideas, inspiration, and motivation. In order for that to happen, we need new ideas, inspiration, and motivation being presented on stage. And while yes, 98% of our community identifies as women, I believe we all win and are uplifted when we come together and hear from those who are different from us.
In my experience, people are harder to hate up close. When a people group is just a headline, it’s too darn easy to feel separate from each other. To disconnect our humanity from it all. So using The Yellow Conference to provide an opportunity to get close to and hear from a voice (a very wise one might I add) some might not have experience interacting with or hearing from in their everyday lives, also feels important.
The trans community knows better than most how to be so authentically themselves that it often makes some feel uncomfortable and that sometimes translates into fear. I’ve been there too. However, when we can dig deeper, I think there is a huge lesson for everyone — myself included. An opportunity to learn to do the brave work it takes to fully and fiercely embrace and be ourselves.
So if you have considered coming to the conference but aren’t sure, I want you to know that your perspective and opinions are welcome. What isn’t welcome is any sort of disrespect or hate. We are intentionally going to be working to create a container at the conference for productive, kind, and respectful conversation where differing viewpoints are welcomed. We are going to aim, as a community, to UNDERSTAND one another and get curious. Always with respect for our fellow human beings.
So if you have some questions and are willing to engage in a kind and respectful manner, I encourage you to come. We’re always better when we step out of comfort and into discomfort with a curious mind.
If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading. And please feel free to reach out to our team any time with any additional questions at conference@yellowco.co.
xo,
Joanna Waterfall
Founder of Yellow Co.
