Intersectionality as a Frame for Systems Change: Reflect. Reframe. Reimagine.

“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives” Audre Lorde

At the core of our practice lies a deep commitment to systems transformation, and a key part of this journey is understanding and applying intersectionality—not just as a concept but as a foundational frame. Unlike a lens that can be put on and removed, a frame is fixed. It shapes everything we see and do. In our process, we explore how intersectionality operates both at the individual level and in the systems of care we help co-design and inform. We must examine the multiple frames that intersect and guide how we show up and view the world.

Intersectionality is a powerful analytical tool that helps us understand how different aspects of identity—such as race, gender, ability, class, sexuality, and more—interact and overlap to create unique experiences of privilege and oppression. Intersectionality reminds us that identity markers don’t exist in isolation. Instead, they work in tandem, influencing how people experience the world and how systems respond—or fail to respond—to their needs.

This work also calls us to look inward. As we strive to view the world from diverse perspectives, we must have the courage to examine our roles in maintaining or benefiting from structures that limit access and opportunity for others. Our intersectional identities shape how we perceive, process, and engage in this work. Actual change starts with self-reflection and the willingness to be honest about how we may unintentionally contribute to inequitable outcomes. We must both simultaneously see the interaction and intersectionality at the individual and systems level.  Applying this intersectional frame to drive meaningful change involves committing to three continuous actions: reflect, reframe, and reimagine.

·     Reflect: What are our current practices grounded in? What has become the default? What frames are we upholding, and which ones need to evolve?

·     Reframe: Consider shifting from deficit-based thinking to asset-based, trauma-informed, and healing-centered approaches. Narrative shifts are critical in fostering dignity, respect, and responsiveness in our care systems.

·     Reimagine: Consider moving beyond traditional models and adopting more community-centered approaches. How can our systems reflect the interconnected, lived realities of the communities we serve?

Creating sustainable change means realigning power and committing to ongoing reflection, reframing, and reimagining together. We believe applying an intersectional frame to the work reveals pathways for innovation and transformative change. 

Artwork by Alicja Kwade: https://desertx.org/dx/desert-x-21/alicja-kwade