Organizational Change Isn’t Easy. But It Is Possible.
Finding the Keys
With Sharifa Johka
Ready to build antiracist systems that actually work? The culture you want starts with the choices you make today.
Participant Testimonials
"Organizing this into actionable steps was fantastic!!!"
"Clear direct steps, cutting out all the noise"
"LOVE the practical solutions!"
"I found the clear and concise six-step presentation extremely helpful in giving me an initial framework with which to start approaching our hiring practices, and deeply appreciated Sharifa's examples and more in-depth explanations, which really got my brain going and helped me better imagine how I could apply the framework to my own organization's processes."
"The opportunity to think critically, in the moment, about our work environments and the role we play in recruiting and hiring. The pointed questions we were asked to think on, respond to, and share with each other in small groups really challenged my (and I think many of our collective) assumptions about our own individual level(s) of control or agency in our respective institutions."
"The information and guidance was very concrete and enlightening. Sharifa and the artEquity team created a very welcoming space that allowed (for me, at least) to honestly interrogate the beliefs, biases, and internalized values that get in the way of my own recruitment efforts."
"I feel more confident about going into our next round of hiring. The 6 steps are very useful and concrete ways to make change."
"The distillation into 6 key steps, very clear and broken down into even more specific detail."
"Details. Specifics. Walking out of "guessing what good steps might be" to "knowing and investing in what we know to be good practices." This level of information is really empowering."
"Feeling SEEN by the whole finding the keys analogy."
"Sharifa is AMAZING, and I also enjoyed the chance to hear from and share with peers who are facing many of the same challenges."
"I will never forget the example of Finding the Keys. So excellent. And the six very actionable items."
"Sharifa. Her story, her success, her tenacity, her clarity. A great teacher and leader."
"They keys metaphor is powerful - it made me realize that I had some internal work to do - along with external steps to take."
"The clarity and simplicity of the message"
"Such clear, compassionate structure and facilitation."
"I was most impacted by real life examples. Naming of the organization, naming of the positions. It's brings it all back down to earth and makes it feel even more accessible."
"Sharifa's confidence in her methods, clear and straightforward delivery, were very reassuring."
"She did a great job of connecting everything to the “keys.” It all made so much sense. And great examples."
"Sharifa's clarity is powerful and I'm galvanized by her message. All of the concrete takeaways were incredibly useful."
"Straightforward clear guidance - no jargon, no shaming for whatever our past practices might have been, and firm support for our abilities to do better."
"The Finding the Keys analogy was so enlightening, not only because of my own attitudes that continue to need shifting but also giving me the language with which to discuss this critical topic. Actual examples was also very helpful. Those of us who are doers like actual real impactful tasks to implement. Thank you!!"
"Sharifa is inspiring and motivating. I am most struck by the false barriers I had build in my mind towards recruiting a diverse theater production staff. I appreciate the time that she took in emphasizing belief and values - because in a rush I would think "yes yes, I have those" but the space she created made me really think on that - which made me listen more carefully to the next steps. The tools themselves are so clear and actionable - which is different from easy - and I have the motivation to put them into place right away - even before I have a job to post!"
"Sharifa's 6 Techniques with very specific action steps we can incorporate in our hiring AND interviewing AND retention processes."
"The keys analogy!!! This was so impactful and a great and tangible way to illustrate to folx a new way of thinking about the recruitment of BIPOC folx."
"The very specific six techniques are so incredibly concrete and helpful. I especially loved the very specific examples of the type of questions we can ask in interviews."
"Sharifa Johka! I didn't know it was possible to spend 3 hours on Zoom and still be ready for more. Her keys analogy is stellar."
"Having actionable steps and analogies that are in "layperson's terms". As in, I can take this language and speak to others in my organization that are not as far along in their ED&I journey without alienating or seeming like I'm talking down to them, etc."
"Hearing examples of what other organizations are doing to dismantle racism and systemic barriers and the tools needed was very helpful."
"I was mostly impacted by the speaker's knowledge, experience, and the presentation content."
"Sharifa is amazing. She's an excellent communicator and had a very cohesive message that connected the ideal to the practical."
"Connecting the dots for me that once an institution (such as mine) declares that being an antiracist institution is a value and a priority, that ability to advance that value becomes a necessary skill for every job at the institution."
"The keys metaphor is so apt and one I will definitely hold on to. I also appreciated the actionable items that Sharifa shared."
"Sharifa's 6 Techniques with very specific action steps we can incorporate in our hiring AND interviewing AND retention processes."
"I could go on and on and on. I have 3 pages of notes. Thank you for a very informative session."
"The keys metaphor itself. Such an enlightening way to think about recruitment and retention"
"Biggest immediate impact is there is a method to changing the way we approach recruitment - thank you for the keys!!!"
"The keys analogy!!! This was so impactful and a great and tangible way to illustrate to folx a new way of thinking about the recruitment of BIPOC folx."
"THE KEYS ANOLOGY!!!! This is such a great way to describe the work that should be getting done and I'm hopeful it will help me get through to others in the future. Honestly, the way the meeting was set up. It was really great and worked to get everyone in the mindset to be in that space."
"Great advice and examples from Sharifa."
"The rationale for an antiracist focus for an organization was so clear and has impacted the conversations I'm having within my organization."
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