Trustfall: Stories, Struggles, and Strategies in a Fast-Changing World
a companion audio component to be played with this blog
When my mom was alive she would always say, “When you’re older you’ll understand.” It used to frustrate me, challenging my need for control and leaving me feeling small. Witnessing my father's murder, growing up in an alcoholic household, and grappling with macro and microaggressions based on my race, sexual orientation, and age, I desperately desired the appearance of a 'normal' life, though I have increasingly realized that normalcy, as defined by the outdated and oppressive American Dream, is elusive.
Experiencing more by age 10 than many do in a lifetime, I wanted control.
I may have had an outstanding wealth of experience compared to the next person at my age, but I was still young. An element of youth, innocence, is often protected whether for malicious (i.e. manipulation) or heartfelt (i.e. to let a child have a childhood) reasons. Even amid chaos, my mom sought normalcy for me, sacrificing herself for my happiness.
In retrospect, I believe she trusted that I would seek understanding. Growth means change, noticeable or not. And our experiences and environments shape our growth. My experiences, though profound, were not all-encompassing of the hard truths of life. Since the passing of my mom, there are many things I have learned. Whether the good or the bad, I’ve become a more aware person.
Navigating Trust in the Wake of Societal Shifts
“Art is such an important aspect to my life. I never grew up with the ability or knowledge to make art until the summer of 2020. It's allowed me to unapologetically become more myself by exploring my own mind.” —Gen Z, M, UK
Reflecting on my personal journey, I realized that trust, a theme deeply ingrained in my experiences, extends far beyond individual stories. This resonates particularly in the broader context of societal trust, where seismic shifts occurred in the aftermath of the 2020 pandemics—COVID-19, Economic Inequality, Racial Violence, Political Divisiveness, and the Climate Crisis. For Millennials and Gen Z, these events added to an already dynamic timeline featuring War, Inflation, Wage Gap, Housing Crisis, Donald Trump, Trans Hate, Gun Violence, Police Brutality, and more. These “...generation[s] have more access to information than any before it. But all this info doesn’t necessarily help them determine who to trust. In fact, the massive influx of information does just the opposite. There are contradicting “facts,” often from the same people or organizations, everywhere. And authenticity is what you say it is. The truth and trust are no longer built up over time and passed down through generations. They now change by the minute.”
Diving into the collective quest for trust, Vice Media Group sought answers to the critical question of rekindling trust. Their extensive research, spanning from August to December 2021, engaged global conversations with young people to unearth the roots of trust and formulate guiding principles.
Their findings illuminate the struggle: trust, once a slow-building foundation passed through generations, is now subject to rapid fluctuations. In this landscape, reestablishing trust becomes not just a challenge but a crucial societal endeavor
The Culture of Trust
“Culture is everything. Culture is how you live, you breathe, your thoughts, your values, your state of mind. It's what moves people, it’s what creates art and music. It's what drives people. It makes people feel alive. Trust is at the center of culture, and culture is at the center of trust.”
—Gen Z Expert Interview
In understanding the dynamics of trust, exploring the characteristics of today's culture becomes crucial. Here's a snapshot of the key principles shaping our cultural landscape:
Principled (Grounds Us): Emphasizes the importance of steadfast beliefs and values that engage and contribute to the cultural framework, with 8 out of 10 willing to make extra efforts for something aligned with their principles.
Being Real: Prioritizes authenticity, transparency, and objectivity, with 86% trusting a brand that is transparent about its processes.
Giving a S#!t: Encourages brands to make a positive impact on the world, with 90% trusting a brand that does what is right and fits their values.
Consistency Counts: Highlights the importance of consistency and reliability, as 91% trust a brand that is consistent and reliable.
Creative (At our Core): Highlights creativity as a means of expression and addressing societal issues, with 7 out of 10 considering themselves highly creative. And Dynamic (Embraced): Acknowledges the constant change in culture, with 6 out of 10 actively seeking what's new.
Actions Speak Louder: Emphasizes the significance of actions over words, with 87% trusting a brand that acts and doesn't just talk.
Being Vulnerable: Acknowledges imperfections and the importance of owning up to mistakes, as 90% trust a brand that owns up to its mistakes.
Show Up: Stresses the need for brands to engage actively in the culture, showing kindness, empathy, and support, with 89% trusting a brand that shows kindness and empathy.
Connective (Fuels Us): Stresses the significance of human and emotional connection in a digitized world, both individual and community-based, with 8 out of 10 regularly seeking different perspectives.
Individual Trust: 9 out of 10 trust themselves, relying on their own experiences and instincts.
Community Trust: 9 out of 10 trust family and friends, and 7 out of 10 trust local communities.
Expert Trust: 8 out of 10 trust experts and academia, valuing experience and expertise in a world of disinformation.
Trust Takes Work: Trust is an ongoing journey, not a one-time goal. It can be lost through various actions, including misuse of customer data, harmful products/services, and exploitative practices. Regaining trust requires humility, accountability, and concrete actions.
Research and Application: Trust is deeply intertwined with culture, and a comprehensive approach, involving every aspect of an individual, business, organization, is necessary to increase, sustain, or regain trust.
From emphasizing steadfast beliefs and authenticity to recognizing the role of creativity and the need for emotional connection, these facets provide a comprehensive view of the foundations of trust. Notably, the acknowledgment that trust is an ongoing journey, intricately intertwined with culture, sets the stage.
Moving at the Speed of Trust
“Empowering…to achieve anything they want. Just imagine sitting in a room, talking to [youth…seeing their eyes light up, ideas running in their brains and believing in a future for themselves. It's what I really want to see.” —Gen Z, F, Canada
I've encountered the phrase 'Moving at the Speed of Trust' from two influential figures in my life: Ash Chan and Seth Laidlaw. Seth, through Creative Generation's collaboration with the Appell Center for the Performing Arts (ACPA), exemplified this principle by delving into the ways York residents engage with the arts and community. Our ongoing collaboration in 2023 has focused on integrating recommendations and community responses.
During quarterly calls, ACPA expressed a genuine desire to increase community visibility through meaningful participation in events, emphasizing authentic engagement over performative gestures. In response, I initiated brainstorming sessions with Creative Generation's teams to craft pertinent questions guiding ACPA's pursuit of an authentic presence.
These calls facilitated research into transparency led by 2023 Summer Resident Danny Maggs.
Here’s a sample of what they found:
Accessibility, punctuality, and quality are key to transparency
Transparency can help boost credibility and public confidence
Effective transparency equals a desire for transparency and dissatisfaction
A transparent and accountable organization practices answerability
Transparency doesn't automatically lead to justice, rights, and equality
Constraints: absence of clear rules and accountability for wrongdoing
A willingness to be accountable
Accountability often falls on lower levels of institutions
Transparency comes with costs
Transparency can aid accountability & improve relations
In essence, the journey toward authentic engagement involves intentional steps, strategic thinking, and a profound understanding of the communities we aim to connect with. The interplay between preparation, action, and sustainable partnership-building provides a comprehensive framework, ensuring that involvement is not just present but also purposeful.
The Dynamics of Power in Trust and Learning
In understanding the dynamics of trust and authentic engagement, we must acknowledge the often-unnoticed role of power. At the LA Phil’s National YOLA Accelerator in Early November, I drew upon the work of Vida Managlang and Jeff Poulin on Equitable Intergenerational Collaboration. Their focus on challenging the idolization of age as wisdom sheds light on the power imbalances that shape the experiences of young people—molding them into seekers of validation or rebels opposing authority. Equitable Intergenerational Collaboration, therefore, becomes a key player in fostering youth-adult partnerships, supporting youth agency, and placing youth voices at the center of collaborative efforts. This involvement not only motivates and empowers youth but also inspires innovative solutions through shared leadership.
A delicate balance is essential in cultivating healthy intergenerational relationships, recognizing that, at our core, we are all both educators and learners. Mentors, in this context, amplify the voices of their mentees by demonstrating the boundless possibilities achievable through dedicated effort. As social creatures, our need for understanding is natural, and spaces that promote empathy, authenticity, and truth become essential. Emotions, a survival tool honed through thousands of years of evolution, underscore the indispensable role they play in our ability to connect with others and lead meaningful lives.
Cultivating Collective Trust
“I place trust in creatives to tell the story of those unable to have their voices heard. To propel the warmth, the light, the tragedy, and beautiful melancholy that is the human experience. Toni Morrison was that for me.” —Gen Z, F, UK
As we traverse the landscape of understanding, let's move beyond contemplation and invest in others, particularly the younger generations. Cultivating a collective trust that practices radical grace—embracing imperfection, flexibility, and acceptance—is our shared responsibility. To guide us in building meaningful relationships, consider these principles:
Honest conversations as a foundation for addressing issues
Analyzing relationships: Do young people feel comfortable coming to you?
The importance of establishing mutual respect
Recognizing the dual role as both teacher and learner
Taking responsibility, apologizing, and understanding young learners' needs for progress
Striking a balance between rigor and kindness in interactions
Acknowledging the internalized hierarchy that may perpetuate elder dominance
Embrace imperfection, understanding that change is a gradual process. Let's move away from 'us' versus 'them' dichotomies, recognizing that progress requires learning from both success and failure. To embody the characteristics of a culturally responsive individual—empathy, multi-perspective thinking, transparency, and consistency—meaningful check-ins with oneself are essential. Reflecting on our stories fosters self-awareness, making our experiences more meaningful. Remember, our present was once someone's future, and adopting this perspective humbles us, emphasizing the importance of the adage 'slow and steady.'
Throughout it all, I continue to have trust, and I hope you do too.
