I, Bonnie Johnson, am vocal about my support of BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), and believe that racism intersects with homophobia, misogyny, xenophobia, classism, ableism, and every -ism across the board. I also unequivocally believe that Black Lives Matter.
As a white business owner of CHOICES FOR HEALING: Holistic Nursing, Education & Training, I personally am committed to taking real action to dismantle racism both inside and outside of my healing business, and to promote equity and justice. I believe that doing better as a business and as a person requires more than simply stating support. I know that Antiracist actions speak louder than words. CHOICES FOR HEALING’s mission has always been, and continues to be, a creation of safe and inclusive energetic healing spaces, especially for those who have historically been marginalized in too many spaces and communities. Being Antiracist is a key part of that.
My personal commitment to dismantling racism and racist policies includes continuous and ongoing opportunities for learning. In 2020, I attended a A Therapist's Path for Exploring Implicit Bias and Racial Trauma* (with Dr. Janina Fisher, Debra Chatman-Finely and Gliceria Pérez) and Embodied Anti-Racism: A Mindfulness Way for Therapists and Helping Professionals* (with Francesca Maximé) , How White Women Can Talk with Women of Color About Race** (with Dr. Amanda Kemp) as part of my personal and professional commitment to being antiracist. In 2020 and 2021, I developed and facilitated a 9-hour discussion and action class on Becoming Antiracist that has been attended by more than 60 people. These are the most recent steps in a lifelong journey. Being antiracist isn’t about following a trend – it’s about actively fighting racism each and every day. I personally commit, and I commit my business, to listening to, learning from, and collaborating with the BIPOC community. I commit to this ongoing journey of fighting systemic racism and working toward Antiracist policies in my business, organizations I am associated with and local, state and federal governments. I commit to learning from my mistakes and making progress.
I created the following Antiracist Action Plan for CHOICES FOR HEALING to ensure that my ongoing operations align with our mission of creating an inclusive and affirming energetic healing spaces, including through dismantling racist policies. This plan will be incorporated into my regular business operations.
This is, of course, a living document, which means I will make changes, add ideas, and track progress over time. This initial document is meant to be a foundation for my ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that go beyond race and center justice in how we operate.
Should anyone have suggestions as to how I, as a business, can better my antiracism efforts, please e-mail me personally at [email protected]. * through the Academy of Therapy Wisdom (online programs and training for therapists) ** through the Racial Justice from the H.E.A.R.T. Organization
My Continuing Commitment
I will continue the following programs, endeavors, and investments: *Donate energetic self-healing classes with diverse representation to community programs who serve BIPOC. *Regularly assess and reflect on implicit bias in office space, advertising and interactions with BIPOC *Be diligent in promoting energetic healing services and classes in ways that reach BIPOC people as well as offering scholarships as reparation for historical economic injustice. *Commit to hire BIPOC and use needed services from black-owned businesses. *Continue to educate myself through antiracist workshops, readings, and conversations and to listen deeply to the BIPOC community. *Continue to facilitate education through antiracism classes as well as highlighting BIPOC, queer, and other marginalized healers, holistic educators and authors and getting books into readers’ hands that will help them better understand racism and the experiences of BIPOC, queer, and other marginalized individuals. *Continue to foster a safe and inclusive environment and energetic spaces.
CFH High Level Action Plan
I commit to taking these actions: *Follow the Financial Activist Playbook for Supporting Black Lives, perform an audit of all of current vendors, partners, and financial activity and track my supply chain to determine who I am and are not financially supporting. *Refrain from partnerships with organizations that support white supremacy. *Invest in partnerships with BIPOC and queer-owned and led organizations and/or organizations that demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion. *Provide financial and volunteer support to organizations promoting antiracism and social justice. *Use my platform and influence within the healing, personal and local communities to amplify, advocate for, and increase representation of BIPOC individuals, queer folks, and other marginalized groups. *Use my social platforms to highlight and lift BIPOC, queer, and other marginalized voices. *I will publicly post my CFH Safer Space Policy (below) and empower all to comply with it.
In Closing, as I stated above, this is a living document and foundation for our ongoing antiracism work. Taking Antiracist actions directly relates to my mission of creating a safe and inclusive healing and educational spaces for the community, and I commit to continuing to learn, grow, change, and add to this plan as necessary to ensure that I am taking real action toward creating a better world.
In solidarity, Bonnie Johnson Owner, Chief Nursing Officer, Nurse Healer, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner/Instructor
Safer Space Policy
Bonnie Johnson, doing business as Choices for Healing: Holistic Nursing, Education & Training, honors, respects, and welcomes all genders, sexual orientations, races, creeds, cultures, professions, and walks of life. This is a judgment-, criticism-, and violence-free zone. No matter who you are, no matter how you identify, you are safe with me.
This Safer Space Policy is intended to help create a supportive, non-threatening environment for all who enter and/or participate in healing sessions and healing classes. I consciously create energetic spaces to be welcoming and engaging, and encourage everyone – clients, instructors, helpers, volunteers, and employees – to be proactive in creating an atmosphere where the safety of others is validated. In this spirit, this is survivor-centric and survivor-oriented space. Violence, abuse, sexual assault and discrimination will not be tolerated.
Everyone is asked to be aware of their language and behavior, and to think about whether it might be harmful to others. We define oppressive behavior as any conduct that demeans, marginalizes, rejects, threatens, or harms anyone on the basis of ability, age, cultural background, education, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, language, nationality, physical appearance, race, religion, self-expression, sexual orientation, species, status as a parent, or other such factors.
By entering Choices for Healing spaces and participating in the events and activities, you agree to abide by the following guidelines: *Respect peoples’ opinions, beliefs, experiences, and differing points of view. *Respect everyone’s identity and background, including pronouns and names. Do not assume anyone’s gender identity, sexual preference, survivor status, economic status, background, health… *Respect everyone’s physical and emotional boundaries. *Physical and/or verbal threats will not be tolerated under any circumstances. *Disruptive individuals may be asked to leave. *Be responsible for your own actions; be aware that your actions have an effect on others, despite what your intentions may be. Listen and change your behavior if someone tells you that you are making them uncomfortable. *Be aware of your prejudices and privileges and the space you take up. *If you experience harassment, abuse, or sexual assault, or if a perpetrator of sexual violence is interfering with your participation or presence at an event or in this space, please approach Bonnie Johnson and any helper whom you feel comfortable talking to in person, or feel free to e-mail Bonnie at [email protected].
We are all here to help with any conflicts arising from the violation of our policies. We welcome the continuing discussion about and improvement of this policy.
Bonnie Johnson Owner Nurse Healer Choices for Healing: Holistic Nursing, Education & Training
