Anti-Racism Update

May 20, 2021

Since my post last month, I’ve read Jemar Tisby’s book, How to Fight Racism. It is written primarily to a church audience, but there are several things I’ve learned that apply broadly, including within Christian Horizons. For example, Tisby writes about equity and inclusion, topics that align closely with the idea of belonging. He says,

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are each distinct principles, and all three are necessary for a healthy organizational culture. If diversity focuses on who is present, equity says who has access to a community’s resources and on what terms, and inclusion speaks to the sense of welcome and belonging extended to each person or group. Robert Sellers, Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Michigan, compares diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to a dance. He says, “Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party. Equity means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist. Inclusion means that everyone has the opportunity to dance.” (Page 121, Kindle edition)

Within Christian Horizons, we want to make sure that everybody can dance.

If you recall, there were six main activities we have been working on which were recommended by the Anti-Racism Task Force. They are:

1. Our Recruitment Action Plan will include a “Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.”
2. We will intentionally advertise in communities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour for all new leadership hires. Our leadership must reflect the broad ethnicity of our communities.
3. “Workplaces of Belonging” course will be reviewed and updated to embed anti-racism education.
4. We will consult with an external agency to provide education on anti-racism, discrimination, and inclusion.
5. We will review and fully develop more formal policies regarding racism and discrimination.
6. We will consult with an external agency to learn about the racial and ethnic demographics of the employees of Christian Horizons.

This month, my update focuses on item three, the “Workplaces of Belonging” course.

Steve Snider, Director of Workplace Learning, has been working with an advisory group to review and revise the course. Previously I had shared that the update was coming in the summer. In the time since the original recommendation, we have conducted the WorkWell survey and have been updating our Conflict Resolution resources. As a result, the Workplace of Belonging Course is undergoing a deeper, more aligned, revision, and will take longer to complete. Steve explains it best,

In recent weeks, a sub-group of the Anti-Racism Taskforce has completed a thorough review of the Workplaces of Belonging course. The recommendations made are excellent and will strengthen the content and delivery of the course.

This year, Christian Horizons will begin rolling out a series of new virtual workshops for supervisors, developed by Credence & Co. Two of the five courses that will be offered are Power, Privilege, & Prejudice and Inter-Cultural Competence & Conflict. We will collaborate with Credence & Co. over the summer and fall months so that revisions to Workplaces of Belonging complement these new sessions.

For now, we will not schedule Workplaces of Belonging sessions, as we will be working with Credence & Co., to create the best possible course.

– Steve Snider, Director of Workplace Learning

After finishing How to Fight Racism, I’ve begun to read Caste: The Origins or our Discontent, by Isabel Wilkerson. I continue to read, listen, converse, and learn so that I can be an ally and influence change within my reach.