By Loose Lips Mag
@looselipsmag
KITH+common, a Vancouver-based consulting company, is making space for others to truly come as they are.
Its founder is Jessie Nelson, an inclusion consultant who offers training, group facilitation,and content creation for organizations that are looking to bring diversity and inclusion practices to their work spaces.
“For me, KITH+common was born out of necessity for needing to be fully self-expressed,” Nelson reveals to Loose Lips Mag. “KITH was 100 per cent driven by my personal lived experience.”
“I came out publicly January of last year [2018]. About a year before that, I was in Toronto with my sister and that was the first time that I can recall that I ever said it out loud. I think it was something to the effect of: ‘I don’t think I’m a girl.’”
Not every coming out story ends with starting a business that’s equal parts healing, social advocacy, and success-driven–but for Nelson, those three ingredients are essential to the KITH+common recipe.
“I could heal through my work, while offering insights to other people and to create space for others like me, or people not like me, but who don’t see themselves in the world and don’t know where to start and feel shame about their circumstances that they were born into.”
The word “kith” is defined as one’s friends, acquaintances, and relations. It’s a unique little word that somehow encompasses the warmth and intention of Nelson’s company in one syllable.
The ethos of the company is driven by its name, and solidified by the idea that we’re all kin, and we can all find common ground. And it’s that common ground that sets a foundation for Nelson’s diversity and inclusion training.
“I am a big believer that if you don’t feel connected to what the conversation is about, you’re not going to go out and seek out information,” they say.
“It’s the same with this stuff: if you don’t see yourself in it, then you’re only going to be so invested in creating change. In my opinion, the switch flip there is that everyone should care about this because everyone is part of this. I start with giving people permission to know that they are deserving of permission to be different, whatever that is. It should be celebrated. That is diversity.”
For attendees of Nelson’s workshops and Diversity & Inclusion and training, that’s where the education begins.
Loose Lips recently had the pleasure of attending the latest Vancouver KITH+common Diversity & Inclusion workshop in partnership with Grace Club. Nelson’s workshop format is interactive, warm and approachable. They have an undeniable talent for public speaking, and an infectious energy that invites thought-provoking conversation.
The Diversity & Inclusion workshop goes through a series of steps that dip into deep and uncomfortable places, but, of course, that’s the whole point. However, Nelson’s brand of leadership is fun and energizing; and if you find yourself learning from their lived experiences in this Diversity & Inclusion workshop or otherwise, you’ll be a better for it.
KITH+common has worked with organizations such as lululemon, Sun Wing, BC Hydro, Grace Club, Girlvana and more. So how do you know if working with Nelson is right for your business or organization?
“People who should be hiring me… the short and sweet answer is ‘everybody.’ For a small company, it would be on a consulting or project basis. I could review or edit your copy to make sure it’s inclusive, or help you create an inclusion rider.”
Additionally, Nelson offers one-on-one coaching opportunities.
“Where I think there’s a great deal of opportunity is leadership in large organizations. Just by way of how many people you employ, you have that much more diversity… I think in the next five years most large organizations will have full on D&I departments.”
“KITH is the family you choose, and this house is built of KITH.”
If you’re interested in implementing a lens of inclusion at your company, get ahead of the curve by getting in touch with KITH+common at kithandcommon.ca.
Kristi and Brittany are the co-founders and co-editors of Loose Lips Mag. Together with intern Tayvie, they’re building their feminist media empire—leaving the patriarchy, charcuterie boards and empty bottles of wine in their wake. Loose Lips Media is grateful to operate on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
