What We Believe: WholeCo in 2022

This is an update on my original post from 2020, which you can read here.

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A letter from Carly Jo Bell, WholeCo Media founder—

Welcome to WholeCo Media in 2022! I’m so glad you’re here.

One of our core values here at WholeCo Media is: “Keep equity and justice at the heart of all interactions.”

It’s a Core Value that is, in many ways, something I’m still learning how to fully do. It’s also a Core Value whose language I might shift and nuance as we continue growing WholeCo, and I continue growing in awareness and understanding of how people who are not white, cisgendered, heterosexual, from a mostly stable family of origin, and largely neurotypical like me live and experience the world.

As the founder and leader of all things here at WholeCo, it’s my leadership that primarily contributes to the culture that is created within every facet of this brand—from our free communities, to our paid programs, to our internal culture; I intentionally or unintentionally set the standard for how we do things.

As such, I want to make it really clear what I believe and how that impacts our work here as a whole.

In very short words…

I believe that Black & indigenous Lives Matter. And not only do they matter, but because of consistent systemic and historical marginalization of Black & Indigenous people (particularly here in the US), Black, Indigenous, and People of Color need to be treated equitably—which sometimes means receiving things that their white counterparts do not.

I believe that love is love. All people should be able to love and marry and spend their time with any other people of any gender identity—of course, so long as that relationship is consensual and, where applicable, between adults.

I believe that gender is a construct. I will admit that I am currently in process of learning more about this one and unlearning some things that I was taught as a kid. That means I probably don’t have the right language here, but the current practical manifestation of this is working to not assume gender and to always follow preferred pronouns and names.

I believe that women have the right to choose what happens or doesn’t happen to their body. Yes, that means I am staunchly pro-choice in the abortion debate, but this belief extends into all other areas that include a woman’s body and being.

I believe that all people, regardless of ability, deserve the support they need to thrive. Whether that means neurodiversity or being differently-abled in any way, equitable accommodations and additional support need to be made available in every area of life to support true thriving. Again, this is one where I am learning more of what that practically means at this moment, and I know I absolutely do not have the right words here.

I write this list and I know that 1) it’s not completely comprehensive, and 2) I’ve messed up on the above many many times.

Which is why I will continue to do my own work to continue learning and unlearning, but I will also continue to remain open to being called out/called in.

Here’s what WholeCo is currently, at time of writing, doing as practical manifestations of the above beliefs:

1. [New as of July 2022] Offering partial and full scholarships to our paid programs, with preference going to people who are in any traditionally marginalized group.
2. [New as of July 2022] Learning how to pay employees equitably, which is particularly relevant right now as we are in the process of hiring for the first time!
3. Intentionally seeking out and hiring contractors and other business owners of color, who are absolutely experts in their space, but who simply may have less visibility than their white counterparts.
4. Having internal feedback systems and opportunities that support clients and employees to feel safe sharing their experience—both good and bad—inside our programs [Getting updated & more clearly systematized in September & October 2022]
5. Having opportunity for optional disclosure on learning styles and support needed so we can adapt our coaching, courses, systems, etc to specific needs of specific people.
6. Establishing protocol around client care, follow-up, and support at regular intervals, to do our part in ensuring all clients receive what they individually need in order to achieve the intended result of paid programs.
7. Using invitation language where applicable inside of coaching sessions.

Of course, I am doing my own learning/unlearning through both lived experience and intentional learning. I am aware that I have immense privilege based on my skin color, my upbringing, and my current reality, and I know that it is my duty to use and not abuse that. I do not expect perfection from myself, because I know that is literally not possible, but I do expect a very high-level of care and intention. And when I fail, I am ready to own that as part of this growth process, and do what is needed to make it better.

My intention in laying all of this out is to make clear where both I and WholeCo as a whole stand, so that people can make informed decisions on when/where/how they engage with the free and paid opportunities, offers, and content we create.

Thank you so much for reading, and please note that this will be updated as needed and as I as a leader continue to evolve.

Carly Jo Bell

30 July 2022