ave you ever wondered “why” there is a strong need to seek out and serve as a bridge for BIPOC and ALAANA organizations? You may find that a small number of BIPOC organizations are already in your network and have been supported by you in some way. The challenge is that one or two organizations may not represent or include all the BIPOC and ALAANA organizations in your area. Your connections to a small number of groups can devalue others not in your inner circle, which can be damaging not only to the inclusive goal of the study, but also to the community at large. The people that you are looking to engage with may feel connected when it is possible to say, “I know this one person who was able to achieve this goal against all odds,” and both parties have had similar “odds.” This desire to connect is amazing, but the assumption of the outcome based on a single story or experience is not a helpful way to engage with organizations or individuals.

Meritocracy is often described by the saying, “If you work hard, you’ll get ahead in school, work, or life.” This is a system that presumes merit (ability and effort) leads to success. However, the idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is problematic because the assumption is that if others have done it, you should be able to do it too. This assumption does not consider that everyone may not have the same boots or even a level ground to pull up from. Take care when assessing what may be driving an organization or individual’s path or needs.