Equity in the Center® (EiC) works to shift mindsets, practices and systems in the social sector to center race equity and build a Race Equity Culture™.
Building Race Equity in the workplace
This publication is the culmination of the Equity in the Center’s research, which illustrates in detail how organizations can move through the Race Equity Cycle™ by activating specific organizational levers.
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture provides insights, tactics, and practices social sector organizations can and have used to measurably shift organizational culture, operationalize equity, and move from a dominant organizational culture to a Race Equity Culture.
Race Equity Culture Services
Convenings
Opportunities for leaders and organizations to convene to drive race equity internally and across the sector
Working Sessions
Open enrollment workshops and trainings on EiC’s Race Equity Cycle framework and research
Partner Trainings
Workshops and trainings with partners to center race equity and promote allyship and liberation
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DOMINANT CULTURE in a society refers to the established language, religion, values, rituals, and social customs on which the society was built. It has the most power, is widespread, and infuential within a social entity, such as an organization, in which multiple cultures are present. An organization’s dominant culture is heavily infuenced by the leadership and management standards and preferences of those at the top of the hierarchy. In this paper, dominant culture refers specifcally to the American context in which organizational culture is predominantly defned by white men and white women in positional power.
WHITE DOMINANT CULTURE is culture defned by white men and white women with social and positional power, enacted both broadly in society and within the context of social entities such as organizations.
We exist within societal structures rooted in historical facts, one of which is colonialism: the policy and practice of acquiring control of land (frequently occupied by people of color), occupying it, and codifying power structures to elevate one race and culture above all others. The international practice of colonization informs the dominant culture that characterizes American society today, driving ideologies and subconscious biases rooted in centuries of racism, classism, and white privilege. In order to dismantle white supremacy and the white dominant culture norms it infuences, one must actively “decolonize” the mind, recognizing and counteracting the thoughts, preferences, practices, and behaviors that are deeply rooted vestiges of colonization.
Racial Justice Stances: Grounding in Our Truths will introduce you to stance, explore the layers standing between you and your true power, and hold space for you to practice holding your stance in racial justice conversations. The next opportunity to participate in this powerful training is on April 26 & 28 2022, 1 – 3 PM ET, and there are 23 tickets remaining. Register with the link in our bio.
Grounding in Our Truths is designed and led by Tamir Novotny, Principal, @ahimsastrategies, Kristell Caballero Saucedo, Coach and Principal, Living Change and Niki Jagpal the primary author of Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best, the first set of measurable equity benchmarks for foundations. Tamir, Niki and Kristell have over 20 years of experience between them working to advance equity within and through institutional philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.
WHITE SUPREMACY is the existence of racial power that denotes a system of structural or societal racism which privileges white people over others, regardless of the presence or the absence of racial hatred. White racial advantages occur at both a collective and an individual level, and both people of color and white people can perpetuate white dominant culture, resulting in the overall disenfranchisement of people of color in many aspects of society.
WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE is the characteristics of white supremacy that manifest in organizational culture, and are used as norms and standards without being proactively named or chosen by the full group. The characteristics are damaging to both people of color and white people in that they elevate the values, preferences, and experiences of one racial group above all others. Organizations that are led by people of color or have a majority of people of color can also demonstrate characteristics of white supremacy culture. Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun identifed twelve characteristics of white supremacy culture in organizations: Perfectionism, Sense of Urgency, Defensiveness, Quantity of Quality, Worship of the Written Word, Paternalism, Power Hoarding, Fear of Open Confict, Individualism, Progress is Bigger/More, Objectivity, and Right to Comfort.
WHITE PRIVILEGE is the power and advantages benefting perceived white people, derived from the historical oppression and exploitation of other non-white groups. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork #RaceEquityCulture
STRUCTURAL RACISM is the arrangement of institutional, interpersonal, historical, and cultural dynamics in a way that consistently produces advantage for whites and chronic adverse outcomes for people of color. It illuminates that racism exists without the presence of individual actors because it is systemically embedded. When the United States was founded, racist principles were codifed in governance structures and policies. As a result, racism is embedded in institutions, structures, and social relations across American society. Today, structural racism is composed of intersecting, overlapping, and codependent racist institutions, policies, practices, ideas, and behaviors that give an unjust amount of resources, rights, and power to white people while denying them to People of Color. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWoke #RaceEquityCulture
As we continue this period of rapid growth, we are seeking applications for a temporary contractor to cover the responsibilities of Operations Associate for 3-4 months (while the staffer currently in the role is on leave).
The ideal candidate will be a skilled project manager with experience in small to medium start-up environments. They will be a fearless communicator and problem solver with a desire to design elegant internal systems, giving EiC’s team and partners the freedom and support to execute strong external programs. This role is ideal for someone who is proactive, highly motivated, eager to build strong working relationships, detail oriented, and meticulous.
Our Race Equity Culture® services include convenings, working sessions, coaching, and partner training opportunities designed to shift mindsets, practices, and systems in the social sector to increase race equity and build a Race Equity Culture. Learn more about our upcoming opportunities to support your race equity learning journey by following the link in our bio.
We envision a future where nonprofit and philanthropic organizations adopt a Race Equity Culture focused on proactive counteraction of social inequities. We must build a future where white dominant culture is dismantled within all social sector organizations, institutional and structural racism have been eliminated at all levels of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, and race equity has been achieved within organizations, across the social sector, and in communities. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork #RaceEquityCulture
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – audre lorde
Our Race Equity Culture services include convenings, working sessions, coaching, and partner trainings designed to shift mindsets, practices and systems in the social sector to increase race equity and build a Race Equity Culture. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork #RaceEquityCulture
Equity in the Center® (EiC) works to shift mindsets, practices and systems in the social sector to center race equity and build a Race Equity Culture™Let's start building!
Follow the link in our profile for resources, publications, and training opportunities. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork #RaceEquityCulture
We envision a future where nonprofit and philanthropic organizations are characterized by a Race Equity Culture, meaning they implement and advance race equity internally while advocating for and centering it in work externally.
To achieve that future, we challenge colleagues to adopt specific tactics on the levels at which racism operates.
#EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork #RaceEquityCulture
Equity in the Center® (EiC) works to shift mindsets, practices and systems in the social sector to center race equity and build a Race Equity Culture™. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork
Merle and Fiona did an incredible job as facilitators to open up the session from a visioning space and then move us into large and small group conversations around concrete ways to identify and dismantle anti-Blackness. I especially appreciated the framework around building pro-Black institutions – which is distinct from building anti-racist institutions. It’s a proactive framework that moves beyond addressing anti-Blackness to actually taking pro-Black stances and actions. ~ Building Black Power: Dismantling Anti-Blackness in Our Institutions and Movements Participant Testimonial
Join Merle and Fiona on Tuesday, April 5 , 2021, 2:30-6:00 pm ET for our next Building Black Power session. Link to register in profile.
#EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork
Equity in the Center convenings, tools, and resources equip leaders to serve as change agents who drive race equity within their organizations. We provide frameworks, best practice techniques, and a community of support as leaders embrace race equity initiatives and become more aware of the importance of race equity internally and externally. #EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork
I am eager to build a plan of action and budget for this work. Thanks so much for being bold, unapologetic and assuring as you brought this brilliant piece of work to life with and for us in these sessions. ~ Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture Open Enrollment Workshops Participant Testimonial
The next session is scheduled for March 14 & 28 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Link register in profile.
#EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork
We are committed to:
ACCELERATING LEADERS - We engage, support, and convene nonprofit and philanthropic leaders for bold conversations and capacity building to drive action toward race equity.
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS - We increase awareness about the practices and tools that measurably shift organizations from dominant to equity culture.
INSPIRING ACTION - We influence institutional and cross-sector systems to center race equity as a core goal of social impact.
#EquityInTheCenter #AwakeToWokeToWork
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We envision a future where nonprofit and philanthropic organizations are characterized by a Race Equity Culture, meaning they implement and advance race equity internally while advocating for and centering it in work externally.
To achieve that future, we challenge colleagues to adopt specific tactics on the levels at which racism operates.
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