Don’t TALK about it, BE about it

Recently I mentioned a little idea that’s been bubbling at the surface, ready to pop out but I was basically 🍆 blocking myself.

And by “little” idea I mean a big whole thing that I have so many plans for. And by “bubbling” I mean has constantly been on my mind for at least a few years now.

Do I see similar things being launched? Mhm (that damn comparison trap got me again). But I’ve let go of the idea of me being “late” and stopped stressing over if someone thinks I copied the idea.

Am I worried that no one will pay for it if I charge money for it? Yup. But I don’t think that means it sucks or what I value doesn’t matter. I just have to find the people that are down for it!

Is there still a ton of pressure to make it “perfect” before showing it to people? Oh, definitely. Like diamond-forming amounts of pressure. But I’m way more excited about co-creating with others and getting messy together than wasting time trying to polish it.

Instead of beating myself up for paying for systems and platforms that I never used, I’m embracing the fact that I can start scrappy.

I’m skipping the conventional advice of building a huge audience first (my ‘audience’ aka y’all, are a small but mighty group and that’s all that matters to me). Skipping the massive launch planning (for now, which could bite me in the conventional metrics ass but eh). Skipping building the intricate sales funnel (until I find a way that doesn’t feel sleazy or overwhelming).

I’m passionate, eager, and ready to be jamming with y’all so I’m diving in!

Okay, but Laneen, bruh, get to the juicy bits… Just tell me what the damn idea is already! 

In true philosopher fashion, first a little context.

See, SBLTN is more of a collection of things than one singular thing.

• The Studio - Inclusion-centered creative services. Clients usually are entrepreneurs, small businesses, and organizations that are socially-curious or do work related to social impact.

• The Lab - Inclusive practices and digital accessibility through awareness/education, action, and advocacy

And like those little nesting dolls, there are more layers to The Lab…

• Newsletter (where you are now!) - Come listen! Free digital publication showing how DEI and accessibility relate to art & design as well as to our day-to-day lives. Ask the awkward or hard questions and get curious about lived experiences or perspectives you hadn’t thought of before.

• Library - Come learn! Purchase one-off educational materials such as courses, workshops, and digital products.

• Community - Come chat and act! A paid membership that helps people to start, and sustain, a long-term practice of digital accessibility and inclusive design. Find answers. Get support. Take action. From office hours to events to resources, together we will co-learn, co-design, and co-create.

• Collective - On the horizon... A space centering advocacy through experimental design, community-based organizing, and more!

Wait… back up… Community? Library? 

Yup! The “Digital Accessibility 101” mini-course is technically ready but visually a mess. My inner designer won’t let that fly! But also, I want the content to be engaging so people enjoy learning. So in this case, it actually DOES need to be buttoned up (for the sake of quality and not chasing perfection).

“Wow… yet another community… cool…”

I know, I know… that could be what you’re thinking. I thought that too at first, wondering “what makes this different than some random group?” Honestly, it’s my intent. The word “community” has gotten watered down in the online biz world to simply mean “a platform where people gather”. It’s usually centered on the creator and they are the showrunner.

That’s the exact OPPOSITE of what I want here. I want to ditch the silos and get back to interdisciplinary co-creating and knowledge sharing. I want people to connect beyond me. They may initially join because of me but I want them to stay for each other and their shared interest or goals. I want it to be a hub for us to pop into each other’s worlds, see how we can support and learn from each other, and for it to be an example of community-in-practice.

I want us to have fun and experience joy!

The nitty gritty about the SBLTN Community

The SBLTN Community helps people to start, and sustain, a long-term practice of inclusion and digital accessibility. Find answers. Get support. Take action. Through community-based education, knowledge-sharing, and valuing lived experiences, together we will co-learn, co-design, and co-create.

🤔 What it is: The living, breathing version of the newsletter. Expect lots of stuff about digital accessibility and sustainable long-term practices, diversity and inclusion, and fun art/design stuff too! It’s a place where ‘small’ and messy steps are encouraged because it leads to cumulative impact.

🏡 Who it’s for: Creatives/designers, entrepreneurs/solopreneurs, facilitators, small teams, organizations, students, accessibility specialists… basically individuals and small businesses that are socially-curious or whose work is related to social impact/social good. Anyone committed to being a dope ass person through accessibility and inclusion is welcome!

🎪 What’s inside: I like to mix learning, living, and straight up silliness so what better way to do that than by being in-community with each other?

• Chat + Act

  • Chat Channels

  • Office Hours + Recaps

  • Challenges/Sprints

  • Organizing/Advocacy

  • Town Halls

    ... and more

• Events

  • Member Hot-seats, Takeovers, and Spotlights

  • Workshops + Webinars

  • Guest Speakers/Posters (There are some cool peeps I’ve been wanting to work with for a HOT minute)

    ... and more

• Resources

  • Replays

  • Guides/Downloadables

  • Tools + Demos/Training

💰 How much it’ll cost: It’s FREE ninety-nine for anyone who signs up anytime this year (2023). The initial members (“Welcoming Committee”) join for free because I appreciate y’all taking a chance on me in my little corner of the ‘net. I will be making it paid eventually but don’t worry - there will be PLENTY of a heads up before it happens (no one likes an unexpected rent increase, right?).

🚪 When will it open: “Move In Day” will happen on Sunday, 30 July, because that’s International Friendship Day. Pretty fitting! The link to join will be sent out then and shared on socials.

📌 Where is it: The community is hosted on Discord. (Trust me, I went in Circles picking a platform so this may change in the future based on the community’s needs. That said, feel free to share if you have any feedback about platforms.)

Building the block

I don’t want a Slack channel just for course students to ask questions. I don’t want a tumbleweed-filled FB group where there are more watchers than contributors. I really want to create an ACNH type vibe (shoutout to my Nintendo Switch peeps). I hope to build a space that feels like your fave coffee/tea shop or familiar corner in the library – always there and waiting for when you need it, with faces of people you know and enjoy being around.

I’m already having so much fun naming things and seeing how/if in-person experiences can (hopefully) translate to online spaces. Bring snacks and music to the “Block Party” where members can meet, mix, and mingle. Join a “Town Hall” where we talk about ways to improve our community and what we think is working. Moderators will be our friendly “Neighborhood Watch”. Tech-bro startup terms, like “founding members”, are ditched for more chill, equitable words, like “Welcoming Committee”.

But you know me, I’mma keep it 100. This little labor of love is a work-in-progress. I’m starting scrappy and still working out the kinks (get your mind out of the gutter). I’m a fan of transparency so you’ll be seeing me change the floorplans of the house as we live in it, trying out new things, and taking in your feedback along the way. (Aren’t we all sick of the fake perfection of social media anyway?) The first month or 2 will likely be slow as everyjuan in Global North is OUTSIDE outside for the Summer. As things pick up, I encourage the “Welcoming Committee” to lean into co-creation with me 🥰 It’s not about me going off into a secret corner, building something, then being like “Ta-da, I made this for you!” It’s about shifting from designing FOR people to designing WITH people.

This is OUR community, not MY community.

Okay, well I’m gonna go pace and panic while catastrophizing this whole idea of “launch messy”. If the Community isn’t your jam, that’s okay! I’ll still be here in the newsletter and on socials. Swing by anytime.

And remember, done is better than perfect! (Unless you’re a surgeon… or an architect… or the person that inspects bungee jumping cords…)
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Signing off from the Starship SBLTN,
Laneen (Pronouns: she/they)