Preparing for Inclusive Conversations Archives

A Point of View: One Surprising Secret to Cultivating Understanding in Polarizing Times

by Leigh Morrison | Dec 5, 2019 | 0

When you encounter someone who expresses something you consider to be ignorant or problematic, pause, and ask yourself: What about your experiences provided you with the knowledge and context you have about the topic? How might this person’s exposure to similar experiences have been different? This sounds simple, but it is one of the most difficult practices to cultivate in reality. The LARA method is a four-step approach to help you with this.

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “It’s just a joke! Why are you so upset?”

by Leigh Morrison | Nov 21, 2019 | 3

During my first day at an internship I once held, each of us was asked to tell a joke as part of our introduction to the staff and the rest of the intern cohort. This fun activity proceeded as planned… until the last intern told a hurtful, racist “joke” about poverty and food in another culture. It was followed by an awkward silence during which we all winced and looked around, uncertain how to respond. One of the staff eventually said, “Wow. Well. Let’s continue with our agenda.”

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: Moving Beyond the Veil of Privilege

by Brittany J. Harris | Nov 14, 2019 | 0

“It’s so easy to be seduced by one’s own subordinated group identities.” These were words shared with me by a mentor and senior practitioner in this work. He was referring to social group identity and the ways in which our experiences and hyper-awareness around our non-dominant/subordinated group identities could influence our capacity to fully own and understand the power or privilege we have as a result of our dominant group memberships.

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: Distancing Statements – “I’m a good white person.” “I have a lot of diverse friends.” “I don’t get why this is so hard!”

by Leigh Morrison | Oct 31, 2019 | 0

In D&I work, we often offer suggestions to the effect of: “This is an ongoing journey,” or “Expect a lack of closure.” In essence, both phrases can be boiled down to one statement that would by now be cliché if it wasn’t so essential to continue restating: This work is never done. In this post, I’ll be unpacking some common distancing statements that people may use when trying to assure others that they are on the “right side” of the issues.

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “If you weren’t so ANGRY, people would listen,” and the Problem with “Tone-Policing”

by Brittany J. Harris | Oct 24, 2019 | 0

Tone-Policing is one of those terms that I’d experienced well before knowing there was a “word for that.” One definition describes tone-policing as a “conversational tactic that dismisses the ideas being communicated when they are perceived to be delivered in an angry, frustrated, sad, fearful, or otherwise emotionally charged manner.” Tone-policing is typically used as a tactic in conversations seeking to address oppression and inequity.

Unpacking Conversations That Matter: “I wish I could be as tan as you” and more: Deconstructing Appropriation and the Quest for Authenticity

by Thamara Subramanian | Oct 17, 2019 | 0

When you stand out as being visually “different” in a space, “Where are you from?” “Can I touch your hair?” or (the most interesting,) “I wish I could be as tan as you,” are common questions and comments. Now, disclaimer: I am all for giving genuine compliments; heck, I am more than happy you love my chocolate glow! That being said, there is a fine line between being intentionally curious and celebrating someone’s unique characteristics, and exoticizing these characteristics.

Unpacking the Conversations That Matter: “Everyone Has a Right to Freedom of Expression”

by Leigh Morrison | Oct 10, 2019 | 0

“Why are you upset? Everyone has a right to freedom of expression.” I ask: Is freedom of speech truly available to everyone in this country? If not, what does this tell us? In a world where we must question the physical safety of those who challenge a dominant majority, I suggest: this is no kind of “freedom.”

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “Homosexuality is wrong. It says so in the Bible.”

by Mary-Frances Winters | Oct 3, 2019 | 0

“I love all people as the Bible commands, but I also cannot condone homosexuality.” “Marriage is reserved for a man and a woman according to the Bible.” “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” Attempting Bold, Inclusive Conversations® in faith-based communities can be especially difficult on value-based topics like human sexuality.

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: An Introduction

by Brittany J. Harris | Sep 5, 2019 | 0

“What should I say?” “How should I respond?” “I didn’t mean to be offensive!” “That wasn’t my intent.” “I’m over having these conversations!” “Conversations like these matter—but no one’s having them.” Over the next few months, we’ll be doing just that—Unpacking the Conversations That Matter. Our goal with this series is to be a resource, get prescriptive, hone in on the details and historical context, and support you in feeling empowered to have these conversations.

Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations: Preparing for the Conversation

by Brittany J. Harris | May 4, 2017 | 0

In this week’s installment of our “Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations” feature series, we...

Tag: Preparing for Inclusive Conversations

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “It’s just a joke! Why are you so upset?”

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: Moving Beyond the Veil of Privilege

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “If you weren’t so ANGRY, people would listen,” and the Problem with “Tone-Policing”

Unpacking the Conversations That Matter: “Everyone Has a Right to Freedom of Expression”

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “Homosexuality is wrong. It says so in the Bible.”

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: An Introduction

Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations: Preparing for the Conversation

Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging Across Differences

We Can’t Talk About That At Work! (Second Edition)

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