Expanding our footprint of impact
Since the inception of Costron + Co. it has been a priority for Mackenzie and I to create and foster ways for impact to be made through our offerings and our collaborations. We, as co-founders and our collaborative team, strive every day to support entrepreneurs who are focused on people and the planet.
Throughout 2022 we have been collaborating with Msenwa Mweneake supporting his pursuits as an entrepreneur and a collaborator with Costron + Co. We are thrilled to be able to announce that his body of work has launched!
When we considered our goal of supporting social enterprise and heart-centered entrepreneurs we knew that a body of work in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was a perfect fit to our existing offerings. Our clients, small business owners, did not have easy access to DEI support that was focused on the needs of small business and small teams. It is Msenwa’s goal to support the raising of all of humanity and this pairs well with the intention of our clients.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Series
Approaching DEI differently to get different results.
How do we tackle a challenge that has existed for centuries and has been passed from generation to generation? How do we humanize our approach so that DEI can create enduring change? How do we see the strength in our differences?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work is often approached from a corporate, and colonized approach – presenters talk, folks listen, and maybe a bit of discussion follows. Through a series of world’s colliding Msenwa Mweneake and the founders of Costron + Co. met and began a long-standing relationship. Through many discussions Msenwa accepted the opportunity to ‘incubate’ his vision to offer his expertise, training and lived experience as a facilitator of DEI workshops from a heart-centered perspective engaging in humanized discussion circles.
Msenwa, a registered Social Worker, is a practitioner of change management and diversity, equity, and inclusion. He holds a master’s degree in leadership from PACU in Kenya and a Master of Social Work from the University of Waterloo. But it is his lived experience that brings texture to his work to seek change starting from within.
In 1996, when war broke out in eastern Congo, Msenwa was 15 years old and so began his journey where he witnessed merciless killings of friends, neighbours, and family. Through perseverance and determination, and after years as a refugee, Msenwa emerged as an inclusive leader who empowers individuals, and organizations to become inclusive. Msenwa documented this journey in his book Still With Us: Msenwa’s Untold Story of War, Resilience and Hope.
Msewna offers; “It was just meant to be. As I look back, I got to connect with Jacquie through her daughter, and now business partner, Mackenzie in 2014. Mackenzie and I got to spend some wonderful time together in a one year long narrative therapy program offered by The Hincks-Dellcrest Institute in Toronto. Mackenzie later introduced me to her parents, brother, and close friend Heather Haynes. Since then, the Costron family became friends. In many of our discussions and talks with Jacquie and Mackenzie, I often joked, “it seems like you were born here by accident.” You are like Bembe people, (Bembe, one of the tribes in DR Congo) - you are so welcoming, relational, hospitable, and easy to interact with. Although I was born thousands of kilometres away, I have never felt like a stranger to the Costron’s. I just feel like I belong here, one of them.
When I started thinking of doing DEI consulting work, it became so natural to reach out to Costron + Co. to discuss ways we can collaborate together to empower and support individuals and businesses to become DEI focused. As we work together, I have come to strongly believe that race is a social construct and unless we shift from brain DEI to heart DEI where we can be genuine and authentic with ourselves and each other, no meaningful change can happen - As we work together, we challenge ourselves to see race as a social construct that has for so long deprived organizations with expertise and wisdom. I believe Jacquie, Mackenzie, and I are blessed to have each other and work together to inspire leaders to bring themselves into each interaction in a deeply authentic way. We are as a human race; more interconnected than we think. And of course, regardless of culture or race, people do not care how much one knows until they know how much one cares. Our partnership has called us to challenge the status quo and stand up against racism and oppression in all its forms. This is the gift that heart-to-heart humility has afforded us, and we are excited to work alongside you and your circle of community - both personally and professionally - towards a transformational shift. “
Jacquie, a business strategist, and life coach is the Co-Founder of Costron + Co. a small boutique firm. Costron + Co. supports social enterprise entrepreneurs in their pursuit of putting people and the planet first. Accessing decades of training and experiences in finance, financial therapy, strategic planning, business management, and client relationship management Jacquie applies a holistic heart-centered lens to her work. Jacquie focuses on the support of the ‘whole’ entrepreneur to ensure that the human side of the entrepreneur is supported as they develop and execute business strategies. From this integrated heart-centered approach Jacquie guides the entrepreneur through all stages of business evolution, supporting sustainable development goals and eco-system support. Jacquie has significant training in heart-centered facilitation through Danielle Laporte Inc. Jacquie is not only a student of the work but was also under contract as the Global Co-Lead of the Development Team for the newly launched Heart Centered Leadership program. She remains on contract to support and mentor individuals who are considering licensing.
Costron + Co. offers diverse programs such as Kairos Journey, a heart—centered business incubation program; 1-on-1 coaching; and a collection of heart-centered workshops on topics from free + clear goal setting, to heart-centered sales, to your relationship with money.
How did the DEI Impact Series evolve for Jacquie? Jacquie shares ``As I started supporting Msenwa in the development of his DEI programming, I simultaneously continued my own journey of unlearning and learning. I completed the Ingenious Canada certificate, completing training as a Social Enterprise Eco-System Developer and Heart-Centered Leadership Facilitator training. I have also unlearned and learned so much in Msenwa’s presence and through extensive reading and dialogue. Through organic evolution we began to envision circle discussions and the power of guidance by two individuals: one BIPOC and one identifying as a Settler. I have the fundamental belief that the issues that exist today can not be solved unless both communities come together to create the change - the marginalized and the settlers. I also fundamentally believe that entrepreneurs will benefit immensely by integrating DEI into their businesses. The stickiness of the impact of your whiteness on self and others, understanding your own heritage, and the layers of privilege that exist in our world is a journey of heart-centered discovery and learning that is at times uncomfortable - it requires brave steps to move towards the lifting up of all of humanity. ``
How is this body of work different?
The difference is in the delivery. Traditionally DEI work has been delivered in a workshop, and lecturer format. Round table discussions may happen, but the work is focused on the education of the participant. We are adopting a discussion circle format. These traditional circles are used in many cultures with the focus being on creating human to human, heart to heart connection. It is through this connection that we can build foundations to bring understanding to our humanness and clarity in the strength in our differences. These brave space circles promote vulnerability, and storytelling via the discussion of lived experience from both perspectives - the equity deserving people and the settlers
Journey to Allyship
Allyship is one of the most effective ways individuals can support diversity, equity, and inclusion changes. It is a direct way to tackle discrimination and all other forms of oppression. Through a circle of discussion participants will move into a brave space sharing perspective, and experiences. They will witness each other’s humanness and through this lens see pathways to interrupt discrimination and oppression that they may witness going forward. This 2-hour sharing circle looks at what allyship should look like as a way to dismantle racism, discrimination, and oppression. Participants will leave having a clearer understanding of themselves, their perspective on DEI, and be equipped to continue in their journey of allyship.
Unconscious Bias
Unconscious bias is one of the most pervasive obstacles to progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion. During this 2-hour circle discussion ideas will be explored on sources and mechanisms of bias and most importantly the impact it has in raising all of humanity. Participants will explore their own experiences with unconscious bias unearthing what they may hold and what they have witnessed. They will leave with strategies and tools to increase their awareness and effective ways to address unconscious biases going forward.
Becoming A DEI Organization
This third session brings the learning forward for the participant to share and impact their circle of community. They will be able to work with their teams, and their employees to increase the ripple of unlearn and learn. In today’s environment DEI is no longer just an added value to an organization’s success but the backbone of any organization's vision to excel. This 2-hour circle discussion will tackle some barriers to DEI and its impact in the workplace. Participants will be provided with practical strategies to turn their organizations into an organization that finds strengths through differences and supports all folks.
In closing, it is our belief that the issues of DEI in our world will not be solved without all communities coming to the discussion, and that the process of delivery has to change for there to be enduring impact. We know that our format of delivery will have a significant impact on the participants. In doing so, we build communities of strong allies, rather than on shame and guilt. People who commit to use every breath of their life to challenge the status quo, to utilize their privilege to dismantle systemic barriers for equity deserving people.
