Acknowledging my mentor
While I feel I’ve always been coaching informally, I have been formally mentored by Tammy Neilson of Creating Realities. She passed away suddenly in February of 2017. Tammy was a mentor as well as a teacher, collaborator, colleague, creative companion, close friend and so much more. She was a highly respected and sought after visionary, leader, educator, coach, facilitator and community organizer who was passionate advocate for equity and social justice. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for Tammy.
I met Tammy in 2007, 11 years ago. I was in a period of my life where I was feeling slightly lost, needing to sift through a myriad of ideas in my mind and choose some next steps. It seemed that every time I turned a corner, someone I knew would, with a sympathetic nod, say, ‘just go and talk to Tammy’. So I did.
I showed up at her office never having seen a coach before. I wasn’t sure what to expect. She poured me some tea and looked at me with her big, beautiful green eyes. Within minutes of speaking with her, I felt understood, seen, loved and accepted. I remember sharing in our first meeting that as a community organizer, I witnessed so much burnout around me (and within) that all I wanted to do was make soup for people and look after them. I also remember realizing that I kind of wanted her job.
We began collaborating soon after. Over the years we co-hosted nourishing, creative and transformative community gatherings called Collective Wisdom Circles, where I made soup and soothing snacks and Tammy led groups of women into deep reflective dives. Later we collaborated in developing trainings for others to be able to lead this kind of work in their own communities. Through continued mentorship and collaboration, our friendship blossomed.
After much nudging and encouragement from myself and others, Tammy agreed to design a program to train other coaches, taking 17 of us under her wing to teach us what she’d been doing for 26 years of her thriving practice called Creating Realities. I am grateful to have assisted her as well as been trained by her.
Tammy influenced me because of her wealth of knowledge around tools and techniques of coaching and community organizing and more so because of her dedication to authenticity, vulnerable leadership and commitment to equity.
Knowing Tammy has been a transformational learning journey that has left me well equipped to hold space and assist others to create the realities they want. It feels important to express how much I appreciate all that I learned from this woman. She was a gifted empath and compassionate listener who touched the lives of many. It is my hope that all people who come and see me will leave better equipped to become the best versions of themselves in order to create the kinds of vision, impact and change this world needs.
With love and gratitude, I dedicate my practice to Tammy.
*photo credit: A Tammy Neilson selfie, with beloved feline companion Davina