eclectic /ɪˈklɛktɪk/
c17 (adjective) “not confined to or following any one model or system”; from the Greek eklektikos “selective,” literally “picking out”; composed of elements drawn from various sources; selecting what appears to be best and most useful in various doctrines, methods, or styles; (noun) a person who favours an eclectic approach.
I do nonprofit consultancy work that advances decolonial, feminist and futurist ‘ways of knowing’, ‘ways of being’ and ‘ways of doing’. As an analyst, I serve as a critical friend to people who are seeking deep shifts in positioning and everyday practice. I work with organisations, coalitions, and individual teams who are committed to the changes that anti-colonial and decolonial movements imply.
If we want change, it starts by making some. For values to truly matter, we have to be intentional about embedding them in the norms of our organisations and be ready to enact it in our roles. There’s a lot of untapped energy and good intentions, but nothing changes until politics & principles become strategy, structure and what we do in day-to-day practice. As a strategist, I help clarify how to get there.
I facilitate processes of (un)learning & (un)doing in the detail of operations, advocacy and programming, moments of learning, and strategy. As a facilitator, my role is to literally ‘make things easier’. I’m interested in meeting you where you’re at and contextualising what we do so it’s tailored to i) your organisation, ii) the context in which you operate, and iii) the political moment we’re in.
If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll keep getting what we’re getting.
If you’re not sure where to start, start with the political practice.
#DESIGN & ACCOMPANIMENT
Collaborative, participatory projects to boost your social and political impact
Consultancy services work best when they represent a fresh pair of eyes, not just an extra pair of hands. I do this work to partner with organisations that aren’t satisfied with reproducing what they see around them, those who are ready to explore and model new ‘ways of doing’ that better reflect their political values and purpose. It’s about big ideas and ideals, but the value lies in translating these into meaningful shifts that have everyday relevance for your context.
#TELE-CONSULTATIONS
Think medical practice. Think law practice. Get support from the political practice
Need inspiration to re-imagine an upcoming recruitment process? Need practical critical feedback on intersectionality in your event planning? Looking for ways to avoid reproducing exclusion and hierarchies in your campaign strategy or reimbursement policy? Tele-consultations provide direct, tailored and most of all, practical help when you need it. They’re designed to lower the bar for experimentation and provide immediate input to address a gap or challenge that you’re facing.
Consultation appointments are 90- or 120 minute phone or video calls. Get in touch for more details on format and rates.
#COLLECTIVE COACHING
Practice-based, cooperative pedagogy to kick-start a culture of change from within
Looking for help to break out of your default ways of working? Nervous about how to make it work with the limits of your context and mandate? Collective coaching starts from the belief that ‘it takes (at least) two’. It’s an iterative cycle of small group participatory analysis, experimentation and adaptation that starts with an initial cohort and aims to spiral outwards. These sessions plant the seeds of change within organisational structures and processes, while growing a internal community of practice.
Coaching works alongside internal work cycles and schedules. Get in touch to discuss your objectives for change and your needs.
I’m Terri Beswick, a British-Jamaican strategist, analyst and facilitator working in and on the nonprofit sector with organisations committed to social and political change. I’ve worked on conflict transformation, peacebuilding, policy, politics, social justice and human security for over 12 years, using pedagogy, design and an anthropological lens to address blockages and find opportunities where internal practices meets wider collective impact. My clients are part of numerous interconnected struggles for justice, ranging across: LGBTI justice, feminist movements, poverty, human security, climate justice, anti-racism, migration, global health, digital rights among others.