Let’s Talk About Workshops

I facilitate group workshops where participants are invited to join me in a direct conversation about race and otherness. It is impossible to have meaningful perspectives regarding topics you don’t discuss, and Americans are particularly lacking in their ability to hold meaningful conversations about identity, despite having to confirm martial status, sexual orientation, and race on medical forms, school forms, work forms.

I explain the importance of emotional intelligence and how it is a skill that can be learned through intentional practice. I pair that with the concept of conceptualizing other people’s personal stories through the lens of your their own emotional experiences.. Through conversation, I exemplixfy the power of vulnerability sharing stories that exemplify the importance of not being silent in the face of hatred.

I explain how a story’s value can’t be known until it has been told, and invite participants to share stories and explore answers to uncomfortable questions as a means of exemplifying the power each of us has to change the world for the better.

I am against providing specific phrases or special techniques for people to use “do allyship”. Instead, I aim to create awareness by enabling participants to experience overcoming the pressure being vulnerability. They will see emotional intelligence in action. The ultimate takeaway: enlightened perspectives that enable someone to apply their unique talents and traits to be an ally in their own individualized way.

After sharing my original “Let’s Talk About Race” without thousands of co-workers, I switched formats to conducting conversations. Participants have ranged from college students in Brazil to students conferences in Arizona, groups of tech execs in San Francisco boardrooms to video conferences with church groups in Ohio. Regardless of how many people are in the audience or where they are, each conversation follows a similar flow, is unthinkably beautiful, and exemplifies the value of having a shared humanity in a special way.

Know of any groups looking to have a conversation? Let’s Talk!