Unconscious bias training has gained popularity as a tool for raising awareness about oppression. This workshop challenges the notion that awareness alone leads to meaningful change. We'll examine the unintended consequences and limitations of unconscious bias training, including the potential for reinforcing stereotypes and perpetuating systemic inequalities. We will also explore alternative strategies to address oppression and create inclusive environments that truly foster diversity, equity, and justice-oriented workspaces.

A transformative workshop designed exclusively for HR professionals seeking to create inclusive and equitable workplaces. In today's rapidly evolving world, it has become essential for HR departments to actively champion diversity, inclusion, and anti-oppression initiatives. This introductory workshop aims to equip HR professionals with a comprehensive Anti-Oppression (AO) framework, empowering them to identify and dismantle systemic biases, prejudices, and discriminatory practices within their organizations.

An anti-oppressive facilitation practice acknowledges that one-size-fits-all approaches usually only benefit those whose minds, bodies, and identities are normalized in our society. But if there are as many needs as there are people, is it even possible to 'get it right'? This workshop will explore facilitating towards participant complexity, with a particular focus on neurodiversity.

Through individual reflection and intention-setting, small group discussions and interactive exercises, participants will explore how white supremacy culture presents and is upheld in their workplace, and navigate antidotes to those characteristics to actively work towards dismantling it. Consideration has been given for how BIPOC colleagues will interact with this workshop safely and with impact.

Explore creativity from an Indigenous perspective. The spiritual significance and healing potential of imagination can be very powerful, and in recognizing and harnessing this you imbue life with meaning. Learn how the therapeutic qualities of artistic creation can be scaled down to exist within everyday creative problem solving in the workplace.

This workshop can benefit the whole team by stirring up the creative juices and offering a new outlook on the creative process, and helping people to come at their work from a new angle. It will foster outside-the-box thinking and help alleviate stagnancy or gridlock.

Through interactive discussions, and engaging activities, participants will examine the shared experiences and challenges faced by individuals at the intersection of disability and race. We will explore the ways in which systemic oppression, ableism, and racism perpetuate inequalities and hinder progress towards anti-oppressive workspaces, and develop a toolkit for fostering liberation and creating inclusive spaces.

Kain speaks to groups of all ages about their own trans experiences and encourage people to relate those experiences to their own lives and community—regardless of gender identity or sexuality. They specialize in giving people tools to create inclusive spaces in their homes, schools and workplaces by not just telling them a list of “what not to do”, but how they can positively make changes to their language and environment.

Attendees will gain an understanding of gender and sexual diversity and of how to be respectful and inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ peers. Topics include: defining 2SLGBTQIA+ and key concepts such as gender, gender identity, and sexuality orientation; using appropriate language and terminology, including pronouns and gender-neutral language; recognizing and responding to homophobia and transphobia; challenging stereotypes and assumptions; and best practices for fostering 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.

An empowering workshop that provides strategies to understand unconscious biases, foster equitable opportunities, and create environments that embrace differences. Through engaging discussions, attendees will learn to implement inclusive hiring practices to attract, retain, and empower a diverse workforce. Whether you're a hiring manager, an HR professional, or a team member eager to contribute to a more inclusive workplace, this workshop provides valuable guidance for fostering a culture of belonging and harnessing the power of diversity

We work with board members and senior leaders to identify appropriate governance models for their organization, then collaboratively identify effective governance processes, policies, and systems that are aligned with the desired model. Our governance training uses an equity framework to help boards navigate challenges and opportunities, while providing members with the tools they need to fully engage in strategic discussions and organizational decision-making.

A structured analysis of your group or organization's story of self as an alternative to a typical SWOT analysis. Often used as a basis for regeneration, rebranding, visioning, and strategic planning processes.

As organizations operating on Turtle Island, engaging ethically with Indigenous communities is imperative. To navigate the corporate world within a decolonial framework can be a nuanced and complicated endeavour.

This workshop will explore the history and effects of capitalist expansion on Indigenous land to contextualize the present, and will provide an understanding how to engage in Indigenous communities in consultation and collaboration.

Equip and empower your board with DEI terminology and methodologies for developing and implementing measurable goals for organizational and stakeholder impact. In conjunction with DEI introductory terms outlined by evidence-based research, participants will also engage in several activities designed to build DEI-related capacity on recruitment, program, policy, and administrative level strategies.

Mistakes might be inevitable, but the choices we make in the aftermath of our mistakes teach us and our communities lasting lessons about our values, integrity, and trustworthiness as emerging leaders. In this full-day interactive workshop, participants will use creative journaling prompts, group discussions, experiential learning activities, and roleplay-based games to explore what it means to make a mistake and how we can practice accountability when it happens.

This workshop serves as an opportunity to critically examine how systemic biases and oppressive structures impact transgender women of color within workspaces and unravel the intricate layers of transmisogynoir. We'll delve into the experiences of trans individuals within institutions and organizations, and provide guidance to leadership on how to approach conversations with trans employees seeking their support.

An African proverb states, “When an elder dies, a library burns down.” What are the stories you have to share and how do you share them authentically? Storytelling is a human art form that teaches about the human experience. When we share our stories, we create ways to connect with each other on a deeper level. Through an Afrocentric lens, Shellene takes us on a journey to discuss, develop, and decolonize your communications based on Nguzo Saba (the seven principles) and create more authentic stories.

Participants will explore the key elements of creating a psychologically safe workplace, fostering an environment where every team member feels valued, heard, and empowered. Through engaging activities, insightful discussions, and practical strategies, attendees will gain the tools to cultivate trust, open communication, and mutual respect within their teams. Elevate your team dynamics, boost collaboration, and unlock the full potential of your workforce by embracing the principles of psychological safety.

In this immersive workshop, facilitator Melanie Joy Mark, also known by her Nisga’a name Hli Haykwhl Ẃii X̱sgaak, offers a foundation for non-Indigenous people to build respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities. Melanie will lead participants through the "10 R’s Framework," inviting them to think about how they can be allies and disrupt systems change in an effort to create winning conditions so that a rising tide will lift all canoes. Participants will have the opportunity to explore definitions and manifestations of the 10 R’s, and will identify tangible strategies to put these values into practice into their day-to-day work. This is not a talk and listen workshop, it is designed to empower participants to be vulnerable, innovative and engaged.

This interactive session compliments conflict resolution skills by offering foundational insights that invite participants to reimagine conflict as an opportunity for growth, deeper understanding, and meaningful change. Participants will explore how social systems like colonization and white supremacy shape our responses to conflict, as well as individual and collective responses to conflict within these systems. Participants will also gain insights about conflict from a decolonial perspective, through learning about the body during conflict and relational approaches for fostering trust and repairing harm from conflict in workplace settings.

Explore essential practices when teaching towards learner complexity and neurodiversity, Using your own teaching and facilitation practices as a jumping off point, we'll explore how these practices might be received by different kinds of learners. We will then brainstorm how to make these practices more accessible for neurodivergent learners without leaving our own needs as facilitators behind.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of how to meet the needs of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming employees through equitable and inclusive policies and practices. Topics include: inclusive practices regarding names and pronouns; use of gender-neutral and gender inclusive language; trans-inclusive and gender-equitable policies including health benefits, parental leave and dress codes, washroom access, etc.).

Who doesn’t want to feel like they belong at work? The language we use in our communications can either exclude or include employees or clients—but that’s only the start of creating workplaces where people belong. Using performative language in communications aren’t enough. Taking a critical look at how we communicate, Shellene gives lovers of language the tools to create communications that respect all people in the workplace.