Notes on Navigating Transformation-Pt. 2
Where I Am Now
Transformation rarely announces itself with clarity—it’s more often a slow unfolding, a conversation between who we were and who we’re becoming. When I look back over the past few years, I realize that beginnings are easy to celebrate, but the real challenge lies in what follows: learning to stay in the process when the excitement fades and uncertainty sets in. This is where transformation truly takes root.
It unfolds not in isolation but in relationship—with our communities, collaborators, and creative practices that hold us steady. As (in)Visible Legacy continues to evolve, I’m discovering that process itself is progress. When we stay curious and connected, we’re reminded that even amidst change, our commitment to shared imagination and collective healing can anchor us in possibility.
Staying in the Process
Through all of the twists and turns of this journey, I am learning to celebrate myself, I am grappling with how I define success, and I am experimenting with what it means to be fulfilled. While the journey thus far has not been easy, it has been so deeply and profoundly rewarding. I am learning that to have a vision is powerful only when I am able to stay in the process of making the vision reality.
When I think about remaining in the process, I am reminded that when something doesn’t go as planned, it is not a failure. It does not mean that the vision is wrong or bad or unworthy of exploration. It is information that further informs the journey. It is an opportunity to learn a lesson and to explore what else might be possible. It is a reminder to continue to try, and to be in community with those who see your worth. To have a vision is to remember that healing and transformation are possible. It is to understand that imagination is required if we are to truly be liberated.
You may have guessed by now that (i)VL is not the same organization that it was when we started in 2022. This truth at times makes me feel uncomfortable; however, at this moment, I am proud of the ways that we have continued to transform. While I remain steadfast in our vision, I am becoming more open to exploring new ways of achieving it. This is a scary place to be—I am not sure how any new action will make an impact. What I am sure of is that as long as it is aligned with our vision and values, it will be what it needs to be.
Currently, (i)VL is shifting away from organizational culture change and consulting work. While this work was meaningful, I am feeling called to be in community in new ways. This past summer, I collaborated with local artists to engage the Harlem community in addressing climate anxiety. We partnered with local community parks and offered in-person workshops where anyone in the community could come, explore their relationship to the environment, and create a garment out of trash.
Our programs ended with a final Community Trashion show where participants were invited to model their creations for the community. This collaboration furthered my belief that creativity, embodiment, and community are integral for our healing and transformation. I observed how people across age and demographics came together to imagine something new. New connections were made. New skills were learned. New parts of our brain were activated. It was a beautiful awakening for me—that what I believed in and envisioned was possible. It was this feeling that crystallized where (i)VL would be headed next.
What Has Trusting the Process Meant to You?
I am learning that transformation requires redefining success and that setbacks must be viewed not as failures, but as information that further informs the journey. The recent Community Trashion show collaborations confirmed the power of creativity and embodiment for collective healing. This clarity now guides our path forward, and I invite you to apply these lessons to your own life by reflecting on how you navigate the ongoing process:
How is imagination showing up in your daily life right now?
What creative practices help you stay present in your own process of change?
Think about a moment in your work or community where things shifted unexpectedly—what did that reveal to you about trust and timing?
Who are the people or spaces that help you dream more boldly, and how can you nurture those connections?
Like the Community Trashion show, where might you create your own “experiment in becoming”—a space to explore, make, and imagine without a fixed outcome?
What would it look like to redefine success in a way that reflects your deepest values and not external expectations?
I am excited for what is forthcoming, and I hope that you will stay with me for the final post in this series, Where I Am Headed, as we explore what it means to trust the vision.
