addressing racial inequity

How has race impacted your life?

With this question, people have started a process of change within their organisation. They are learning how to stand up against racism at work and to promote cooperation and friendship among people from different races. soul.com has taken these experiences of people and brought them together in a dedicated programme: addressing racial inequity.

Real change comes from within
‍Behaviour and convictions are personal and cannot be forced upon people. Real change comes when people raise their awareness and start to think differently about racial matters. We call this creating a new mind. This happens when people are able to have meaningful conversations with each other about race that promotes respect and understanding. These conversations also inspire people to take action.

When more and more people start to think and act differently about racial matters at work, we start to see a growing movement. This makes it possible in turn to create new models, such as formulate appropriate policies, structures and processes in the organisation that addresses racial inequity in a systematic manner. Gradually, the organisation becomes a learning organisation about promoting racial equality. Racial unity has become strongly embedded as part of its culture.

The Addressing racial inequity of the Agents of Change programme is the driving force in creating a new mind, a movement and new models. It aims to foster a deep change from within, which is lasting and sustainable.

stories can conquer
fear, you know.

they can make
the heart bigger.

B. Ori

action-based learning

The Addressing racial inequity course is a “action based learning” programme. The participants study a particular theme or capacity together and then immediately apply these insights in actions at the workplace. They then come together again to reflect upon their actions and learn from each other. In this way, impact is made from the start, knowledge is being tested through experience, and actions are adjusted to the reality of the organisation.

Building your capacity
‍The course covers eight themes each consisting of a study session, personal action, and a reflection session. These sessions are facilitated by soul.com facilitators. The themes are as follows:

listening to others
In order to raise one’s awareness about racial matters, participants will develop their capacity to listen to others in order to create a safe space for people to share. They are encouraged to start a conversation about how race has impacted the other person’s life.

building relations of trust
An environment of trust is a prerequisite for addressing racial inequity. Participants learn how their words and deeds can promote trust or distrust between people. They are then encouraged to experience how kind words and deeds impact relationships with others.

learning together
‍Addressing racial matters is a learning process. Participants learn how to learn systematically and how to maintain a posture of learning even when they may feel misunderstood or hurt by others. At this stage, participants also formulate their own learning questions about how they can contribute to racial equality.

building unity
To promote cooperation and understanding among peoples of different races, participants will learn how to foster a vision of oneness. This enables them to overcome fragmentation and to recognize that point of unity that is the starting point for building greater unity.

overcoming judgement
Addressing racial inequity requires challenging our own assumptions and how to suspend our judgements. Participants learn how to recognize their own judgements and how to see with their own eyes in order to act against racial inequity.

building on strengths
The road towards racial equity knows many setbacks. In order to sustain our motivation, participants learn how to take small constructive actions, recognize progress and foster hope.

developing a new language
In our efforts to address racial inequity, we have to develop our capacity to use language that is including others and unifying. This implies a gradual change in the words we use and how we speak to others. As we become more proficient in speaking about racial matters, we also become more aware of systemic racism that exists around us, and will shape our actions accordingly.

enkindling agency
To increase our impact, participants will learn how to involve more people in meaningful conversations and actions about racial inequity. They learn how to see themselves as unity builders between people.

Tell me who you are

As part of the programme, participants will converse with others about a central question: “tell me who you are” (inspired by the amazing book from by P. Vulchi and W. Guo). These conversations tell the personal stories of racial identity of individuals. When such stories are identified and shared within the organisation, our collective understanding of the importance of racial diversity grows. People start to feel more part of a greater whole and become more confident in the contribution that they alone can make to strengthen a culture of unity in diversity.

outcome and results
Upon completion of the program participants will have an increased understanding of the importance of racial diversity, they will be able to converse with others in a constructive manner about race and promote unity between various people. More importantly, a systematic learning process has been set into motion that will continue to grow in strength and steadily change the organisation where racial diversity and equity are lived and celebrated.

Participants will receive an official certificate for their participation. Moreover, they will be invited to be trained as facilitators of the programme so that they themselves can offer the programme to a growing number of their colleagues. In this way, ownership and impact will increase within the organisation.

ask a question about addressing racial inequity

“The sessions that stood out for me were listening and overcoming judgments. I have always been a great talker, but not a good listener. The first session forced me to take a seat back and listen to someone else’s story without any interference, judgement, or opinion. That was a good practice that I will continue to do.

Overcoming judgement was a tough one for me because I have experienced racial injustices myself and it, unfortunately, has allowed me to blame others for how I feel or form an opinion on racial matters. But I have learned that you never know how another person truly feels or thinks unless you truly ask. And by being curious, I have found ways to overcome these judgments.

The biggest take-away from this course is my new perspective on how to address racial injustices in my personal and professional life with no judgement, an open heart, and a listening ear. I know the journey to racial equity is a long one. It doesn’t stop here but I am determined to stay on its path and continue to be part of the change.”
Cheryl Moestadja