A group experience of discovery and co-creation

The Dismantling Racism Learning Lab is at the core of what we do. In partnership with our clients, we build empathy through storytelling, create new connections while strengthening existing ones, and recognize our shared need to live with dignity and justice.

Three people kneeling in front of large yellow sheets of paper attached to a mirror, writing or drawing with markers. The individuals are participating in a group activity during a workshop, brainstorming or outlining ideas. The room has a hardwood floor, and in the background, other participants are seated at tables, observing or engaging in their own tasks. The notes on the paper include various themes related to values, community, diversity, and education. The overall environment suggests a collaborative and interactive setting.

A group of people with diverse skin tones are engaged in a lively, interactive activity, bending, and moving in different directions in a group exercise led by Keryl McCord who stands at the back of the room pointing off to the right. The participants are in a brightly lit room with wooden floors and large windows, allowing natural light to fill the space. The atmosphere is playful and energetic, with everyone actively involved and seemingly enjoying the moment. One person in the foreground is wearing red boots, adding a pop of color to the scene.

This immersive, transformational group engagement lets us go deeper than traditional diversity or equity exercises, so we can uncover the hidden roots of systemic oppression and determine how to transform into an organization that puts racial, cultural, and gender equity first.

Want to learn more?

Keryl McCord sitting on a stage in front of an audience, giving a presentation. On the large screen behind her is a slide titled ‘Genesis of Race and Racism in the New World,’ featuring a historic painting of settlers traveling across a landscape with covered wagons and trains. Keryl, who has light gray hair, is seated with a microphone, and the audience is seated in rows of chairs, attentively watching the presentation. The setting appears to be a lecture hall or theater, and the overall atmosphere is academic and educational, focusing on historical themes related to race and racism.

Get a taste of the Learning Lab experience with this in-depth exploration of the origins of racism and classism, going back over 500 years.

Explore “The Genesis of Race and Racism in the New World”

How It Works

We begin by guiding your team as they discover deeper insights into how each of us shows up on a daily basis, with the histories that we carry.

This image shows a group of four people engaged in a collaborative meeting or workshop. One person with light skin, wearing a striped shirt, red pants, and a cap, is actively speaking and gesturing while seated. To their left, a person with light skin stands, observing the conversation, while two others with medium brown skin and light skin are seated and listening attentively. The background reveals large windows showcasing an urban setting with buildings and street signs, suggesting a professional or educational environment with a casual yet focused atmosphere.

We then expand from the personal to the historical with a deep dive into the genesis of racism and other forms of marginalization, then provide ample room for reflection and discussion of how these practices are repeated and codified within your own organization.

A group of people seated in a room with large windows, watching a presentation projected on a screen. The slide displayed reads, ‘WHITEWASHING: Replacing Asian characters with white actors or white…’ The person in the foreground, identified as Keryl McCord, has medium brown skin and short gray curly hair. She is wearing glasses and hoop earrings, standing and observing the presentation. Other attendees, with light skin and dark hair, are seated and facing the screen.

Working from this common understanding of the problem, we provide conceptual tools to analyze structural racism and identify action planning steps for both the short and long term, so that your group is empowered to immediately start the work of making a better workplace, and by extension a better world.

A woman with light brown skin and dark hair, wearing an orange sweater, taking a photo with her phone during an event. The individual is seated among other attendees, who are blurred in the background, indicating a focus on the act of capturing the moment. The woman is wearing jewelry, including bracelets and rings, and appears fully engaged in the activity. The setting suggests a meeting, presentation, or conference where participants are documenting the experience.

“Thank you all for this morning’s session. Although it was at times very difficult, it was essential for all of us to experience and learn. Right after I left the screen at the end of the meeting, I burst into tears — of sorrow, of frustration, and ultimately of joy at the beginning of our liberation from the past. And now the real work begins. Thank you for taking us there.”

Steve Scott, Goodman Theatre

“Thank you all for this morning’s session. Although it was at times very difficult, it was essential for all of us to experience and learn. Right after I left the screen at the end of the meeting, I burst into tears — of sorrow, of frustration, and ultimately of joy at the beginning of our liberation from the past. And now the real work begins. Thank you for taking us there.”

Dismantling Racism Learning Lab Participant

What to Expect in a Dismantling Racism Learning Lab

Discovery and Exploration

Part 1 (Day 1)

In the first half, we explore the roots of the problem, build empathy through storytelling, and recognize our shared need to live with dignity and justice.

The keystone of Part 1 of the Learning Lab is our eye-opening deep dive into how we reached this point:

The Genesis of Race and Racism in the New World

Our in-depth exploration of the origins of race and racism, and class and classism, going back over 500 years.

Learn more about our training video

Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

Part 2 (Day 2)

In the second half, through exercises, discussions, and breakaway groups, we guide you and your team to co-create a shared vision of where your organization will be in the near future, and how to get there.

Book a Discovery Call

A man with medium brown skin and a shaved head, wearing a dark hoodie, seated in what appears to be a classroom or lecture hall. They are engaged in conversation with another person, whose back is facing the camera. A laptop and open book with highlighted text are visible on the table in front of them. The background shows other people working.

A woman with light skin and long, light red hair, seated on a teal armchair with their hands raised, possibly in conversation or to emphasize a point. They are wearing a light-colored shirt, a green watch, and a beaded bracelet. Seated next to them is another individual with short hair, but their face is not visible. A white table with empty glasses is seen in the background, suggesting a meeting or casual discussion setting. The overall scene conveys a relaxed yet engaged atmosphere.

A group of people engaged in a discussion around a large poster labeled ‘SPIRIT of Collaboration.’ A person with dark brown skin and short hair, wearing glasses and a patterned outfit, is pointing to the text on the poster. Another individual with light skin and short hair, appearing to be deep in thought, stands nearby with their hand on their chin. A man with light skin and a bald head, wearing a dark shirt, gestures while holding a notepad, actively participating in the conversation. The background features a modern interior with a wall design and abstract artwork, suggesting the setting is likely a creative or collaborative space.

Additional Services

The following additional services, which we offer both as extensions of the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab and as stand-alone engagements, can help your team transform your organization into a more human one.

Questions?

You might find what you’re looking for in our FAQ. If not, please contact us — we’d love to hear from you!

Who is the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab for?

Full and part-time staff, managers, executives, interns — it’s for everyone! One of the most important factors in transforming the culture of an organization is the amount of buy-in and collaboration from everyone. The Learning Lab is about inclusion and being seen and heard, often in ways you never imagined you’d have the opportunity to explore.

We’ve modeled the Learning Lab on the Welcome Table, a proven framework for uniting multiple groups of stakeholders in the service of a shared goal.

What is the Welcome Table framework?

The Welcome Table framework was developed in 2004 by the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, working alongside community stakeholders in Philadelphia, Mississippi who were seeking a way for their town to confront the legacy of its own racist history. It’s since been used by groups around the country as a way to build trust and strengthen relationships within a group, so that everyone can work together to effect systemic change.

I have a distributed team. Can the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab be held remotely?

Absolutely! All of Radical EQ’s co-creators are experienced in leading sessions in person, remotely, or a hybrid of the two. We are well-versed in how to make the best use of whatever media or format is available.

Does the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab have to be two days long?

Although we recommend that the Learning Lab be experienced in two consecutive days, it’s important that we develop a schedule that meets your team where they are, and works with your scheduling and budget constraints. Please contact us with your requirements and let’s have a discussion.

How much can I customize the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab?

Some organizations have already begun the transformation process to an anti-racist workplace and might need a Lab with more emphasis on forecasting and planning, while others might feel they need more time to focus on the deep dive and discovery sections. We’re happy to work with you to customize the Learning Lab engagement so that it can best meet your needs. Please contact us with any questions and let’s have a discussion.

Is there a self-paced version of the Dismantling Racism Learning Lab?

The Learning Lab depends on the collective efforts of a group of people co-creating solutions in real time.

For situations where a typical two-day Learning Lab isn’t an option, we’ve produced a self-paced training video of “The Genesis of Race and Racism in the New World,” the introductory presentation that launches the Lab on Day 1, so that participants can prepare ahead of time.

This training video is also an easy way to onboard new team members, or launch a conversation about organizational transformation with other stakeholders.