Barriers Are Built. Liberation Is Grown.
We are not born into liberated systems—we are born into barriers.
Some we can see. Most we cannot.
And for far too long, we’ve mistaken equality for equity and silence for peace.
But a liberated system doesn’t ask us all to run the same race.
It removes the track, tears down the fences, and asks:
What do you need to thrive?
It doesn’t measure success by sameness.
It measures success by care.
By adaptability.
By voices once ignored now leading the way.
On Day 69 of 100 Days of Community, we are reimagining the systems we live within—at work, at home, in our bodies—and asking: What would they look like if they were truly liberated?
Not reformed.
Not tweaked.
Liberated.
"I don’t want equality if the playing field is still broken. I want a system that evolves with me, that sees my fullness, that meets my needs without me having to beg."
—Desireé B. Stephens
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“Liberation isn’t a destination. It’s a way of life. A commitment to reassess, adapt, and remain in relationship with the changing needs of our bodies, our communities, and our ecosystems.”
In today’s micro-lesson, we explored the foundations of a liberated system. Not one rooted in false promises of fairness—but one grown from equity, accountability, and the centering of lived experience.
This micro-lesson invites us to name the barriers still in place, uplift the voices closest to the pain, and begin the work of co-creating systems that actually work—for all of us.
Today’s Three Takeaways
Liberation requires equity, not equality.
Liberation centers marginalized voices.
Liberation is ongoing—not a destination.
In the full post, I unpack:
The difference between equality and equity—and why that difference matters.
Why centering marginalized voices isn’t symbolic, it’s structural.
How to create systems—at home, at work, in community—that evolve with our changing needs.
Need support? Scholarships are always available: scholarships@desireebstephens.com
We liberate, not because it’s easy—but because it’s the only way forward. Come join us.
