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Dismantling The Systems of Oppression by Centering Equity, Inclusion and Racial Justice

What we Do

We help individuals, organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions dismantle the systems of oppression and transform beliefs and behaviors by bringing Equity, Belonging and Racial Justice​ to people, policies, places, practices, and purpose. ​

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How We Do It

We understand almost everyone has had a bad DEI training experience. Whether it was by shaming, blaming, microaggressions, or unfair emotional labor. That is why our process is about helping create a culture of equity and inclusivity by equipping them to be Culturally humble, Racially Just, Focused on where the need is the greatest, Trauma-Informed, and Dedicated to embedding equity in all areas.

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Outcomes of our Services

  • Build a shared vocabulary

  • Develop an equity tool-kit

  • Create an Equity Strategic Proposal

  • Address disparities in the workplace

  • Decrease microaggressions & discrimination

  • Facilitate difficult conversations

  • Recruit, retain, and onboard diverse candidates

  • Develop equity leadership within your organization

  • Create a culture of trust, bravery, and belonging

  • Avoid equity-related emotional burnout

  • Create successful Employee Resource/Identity Groups

  • Strategies to help the resistant to be engaged

  • Engaging with diverse communities

  • Engage in participatory learning

  • Follow-up coaching & mentoring

  • Resources & Equity Impact tools to advance your equity efforts

  • Mediation Strategies and best practices

  • Cultural Humility

  • Policy Change

Awakening

101

Organizations and individuals in this stage are in the early stages of becoming aware that diversity does not equal inclusion, and equality does not equal equity

Organizations and individuals in this stage are in the early stages of becoming aware that diversity does not equal inclusion, and equality does not equal equity.  Terms like privilege and dominant culture are concepts they wrestle with. Cognitive Dissonance is often something to be sorted out, as is defensiveness and fragility.  There is often a desire to learn more about what they have been blind too and/or have not recognized before.

Those in the awakening stage can be found somewhere between "resistant" and "ready" for change.  Like most, they are willing to learn more but often feel paralyzed by fear to offend or say/do something discriminatory so often don’t know how to engage in the equity work.

 

Recommendations include:

  • Keynote: to help bring awareness and help audiences move from understanding to believing

  • Training series: The Equity World View 

  • Coaching with Equity teams and leadership

Woke

201

Organizations and individuals in this stage are fully aware and ready to invest and advance equity and inclusion

Organizations and individuals in this stage are fully aware and ready to invest and advance equity and inclusion.  They center the voices of the most marginalized and are open to increasing their knowledge around intersectionality.  Dominant culture is often investigated and they are fully aware that their racism, sexism, ableism and all other “isms” are never completely “removed” so they are dedicated to continual learning and increasing their equity toolbox.   Although defensiveness and fragility are sometimes still a default, there is a newfound humility that allows them to see that being called out is really an invitation to be called into a greater understanding and awakening.  

Recommendations include:

  • Equity in Action Training Series

  • Coaching for Leadership, Equity teams, and HR
     

Work

301

Organizations and individuals in this stage are ready to do the work.

Organizations and individuals in this stage are ready to do the work.  They have created diverse teams, invested in the tools and the resources needed to advance equity and inclusion.  Commitments have been made and they are ready to embed equity into all they do and not just simply add it as an afterthought. What they need now is an equity strategic plan that includes D&I best practices, metrics, transparency, accountability and sustainability.  Customized mandatory training around microaggressions and ongoing mentoring/coaching around equity, inclusion and racial justice.


 

Recommendations include:

  • Coaching around building an equity strategic plan that looks at policy, places, practices, and people

  • Policy changes to reflect antiracism and equity

  • Train the trainer around equity, inclusion, and racial justice

  • Ongoing customized trainings

Start here

Wondering what services would fit best for you and your organization?  We have identified 3 stages most indviduals and organizations go through and the recommended services to help you move your equity and inclusion efforts forward.

Click here for a Racial Justice Assessment Tool

Services Include:

Featured Resource

Oregon Department of Human Services' Office of Equity and Multicultural Services Director Dion Jordan shared his recent experiences traveling to the deep south, the White House and Africa in order to understand the creation of systems of oppression and what it will take to dismantle them.

The Sankofa Foundation

The Sankofa Foundation is a branch of Sawubona that partners with local Ghana organizations to help villages in Ghana get access to education, health care, community development, environmental justice, and sustainability.  By creating better access to education, nutrition, and healthcare for small villages in Ghana where the need is the greatest. In hopes of helping communities gain access to resources and opportunities that will offer them a chance to improve their lives, and build a better future.

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