​Organizational Culture Assessment, Design & Implementation 
The need for racial equity work has always been urgent. In the spring of 2020, the convergence of a global pandemic which dramatically exacerbated health disparities and other inequities in our society and literally slowed the world down to see it, and the horrific murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin; created the collective space for the all of us to recognize and respond to that urgency.  Racial equity work is not new, though the attention to it may be. Justice workers across a variety of fields and practices have been dedicated to this work since the inception of this country. Organizational focus on this work by diversity & inclusion consultants, and more recently racial equity and justice workers, has been ongoing for more than 40 years, and we stand on the shoulders of their work. Organizations need to move beyond performative statements to enact the mindset and behaviors to create non-toxic environments for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, to create a culture of belonging for the fullness of the identities we each uniquely embody. 

We approach this work through:
  • Assessment & Awareness - An essential step to change is understanding where you are to begin with. Assessing internal organizational culture, and examining policies, practices, and the historical context of your organization reveal the implicit culture that exists.

  • Articulation -  Setting the vision and naming aspirational values for racial equity and inclusion in your organization in a manner that centers the voices of the historically marginalized groups garners shared investment and ownership across the organization. This is critical in setting the course for the future.  This is too often the first step taken by organizations. Our effective approach begins with assessment as an objective and historical analysis of organizational culture. 

  • Accountability -  A plan without accountability becomes an exercise in futility. A necessary component of an effective racial equity strategy is institutionalizing accountability into the organization. When done properly, an accountability plan is built such that no matter who holds positions of leadership in the organization, the racial equity values of the organization are upheld by the policies, practices and day to day operational culture of the organization. 
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  • ​Change Management Coaching- Change is constant and inevitable and yet, it is often the hardest thing to navigate. We are creatures of habit. We offer on-going, customized coaching and support across the organization through the change process, co-creating the path toward change with a series of impactful shifts.

Additional Services Offered:

  • Participatory process ​​design: centering the voices of those most impacted (in philanthropy, community engagement, youth programming, program design, curriculum design, etc) 
  • Board leadership training
  • Organizational leadership coaching
  • Specialized executive recruitment and placement
  • Culturally responsive curriculum consultation & design
  • DEI- focused strategic planning and implementation support​​
  • Conflict resolution and ​mediation services (*Authorized via Northwestern University's training program)
Project-Based Support
Shifting Hearts & Minds recognizes that the journey toward operating as an equity-centered individual and organization is an ever-evolving process. We are available to support you across this continuum. We make ourselves available to consult on short and long-term projects for your organization’s specific needs, in addition to the service offerings described above.