When we express our thoughts at work or open the floor for thoughtful discussions, we require the reassurance that our colleagues will listen with an open mind. The feeling of safety to speak your mind is the essence of psychological safety. The emphasis on diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace propelled the importance of psychological safety for racialized employees.
Read MoreHigh vaccinations rates and record low COVID infections signify that things will soon return to normal. This means that many people are looking forward to returning to the office – everyone except marginalized employees.
Read MoreAttaining perfection in western society relies heavily on the constructs of white culture and white supremacy. Now, this might seem out of bounds to some people. But if you approach this topic with an open mind, as we all should with any conversation, you can apply this insight to your organization and daily life.
Read MoreAs the inequities surrounding racialized people continue in Ontario, we had an important conversation with three great community members: Colleen James, CEO of Divonify, Krysanne McLean, leader of Black Girls Excellence & Marjorie Knight, the NDP provincial candidate for Cambridge.
Read MoreIn this episode of the VIP Access Podcast, Colleen James is sharing the importance of creating an inclusive environment in the workplace and actionable steps you can take right now to bring diversity to your brand. Some of the talking points Colleen and I go over in this episode include:
Read MoreThe Black Lives Matter protests, spurred by this and multiple other police killings in the US in recent years, have put the issue of racial injustice front and centre in communities and workplaces around the globe.
Read MoreBlack History Month brings the spirit of celebration to the office every February. The top levels of management send impassioned statements about inclusion and diversity and how it is important to recognize the contributions of Black Canadians.
Read MoreIn this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne is joined by Colleen James to discuss performative allyship at an organizational level and how to engage in anti-racism and equity work 365.
Read MoreEveryone, no matter race or religion, welcomes the joyous spirit that arises during the holidays. While this holiday season may look slightly different because of the pandemic, family gatherings, holiday parties, and meetups online are the next best ways to carry on the tradition.
Read MoreWhen we’re young, we yearn to fit in with the rest of the crowd. From the way we talk, to how we dress, we change our features in order to blend in and be accepted by others. As we enter adulthood, fitting in happens for different reasons. There are jobs we must take on, managers to impress, and co-workers to get along with. As such, we adjust our tone and change our vernacular to assimilate into the professional work culture. This is the essence of code-switching.
Read MoreBooks, television shows and movies all captivate us with compelling, emotional, and enjoyable stories. Often we forget our own experiences serve as stories themselves. Sharing our experiences is as simple as telling our friends or writing a blog post about a recent occurrence.
Read MoreMarch 21 marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This is a special day as it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice where all are equal. Racial discrimination happens ALL over the world, but so does work to address it.
Read MoreThe ongoing instances of racial injustice and the tragedies that follow prove one thing; we can all do better. When tackling racism, many individuals take on the role of an Ally, Accomplice or both. These roles are both significant but carry out in different ways.
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