This image shows two young women in what appears to be a sewing or fashion workshop. The woman on the left, who has light brown skin and short dark hair, is smiling and holding up a phone to take a selfie, flashing a peace sign. They are wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt. The woman on the right, who also has light brown skin, dark hair tied back, and is focused on working with fabric, wears a measuring tape around their neck and a burgundy top. The background features sewing machines and folded fabric, giving the image a creative, workshop atmosphere.

A man with dark skin standing in front of a brightly colored, geometric mural. He is wearing glasses, a light brown trench coat, a pale pink button-up shirt, and dark pants with black shoes. The individual has a calm expression, hands clasped in front, and the colorful mural behind them features vibrant shades of blue, red, orange, and green, creating a bold backdrop.

A human-centered approach

Radical EQ begins with everyone getting deeper insight into how each of us shows up on a daily basis.

“Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.”

Blaise Pascal

The means to dismantle systemic oppression are already within reach.

To activate them, Radical EQ works with your team to:

Perform a power analysis to identify the harmful ideologies and the underlying structures and systems that perpetuate injustice.
Design the strategy for how to do this work within your organization.
Develop the tools and techniques that will enable your team to have productive conversations around difficult issues in a humane and supportive way.
Learn the skills needed to transform these structures.

What does success look like for your organization?

What is your north star?

An abstract painting with a swirling mix of red, black, gray, and white brushstrokes. The artwork features the following text: ‘POWER at its best is LOVE implementing the demands of JUSTICE and JUSTICE at its best is POWER correcting everything that stands against LOVE.’ The words are integrated into the design, curving around the dynamic swirls of color. The style is bold and expressive, with the lettering standing out against the vibrant background. The overall message emphasizes the interconnectedness of power, love, and justice. — Painting inspired by a keynote address given by Keryl McCord at ROOTS Week 2019, featuring this MLK quote:

*“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”*
―Martin Luther King Jr.

How We Do It

A hand-drawn Venn diagram in blue ink with three overlapping circles. Each circle is labeled with different concepts: The top circle is labeled ‘CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS’ and contains the phrase ‘THINK DIFFERENT.’ The left circle is labeled ‘SYSTEMS & STRUCTURES’ and contains the phrase ‘LOOK and BE DIFFERENT.’ The right circle is labeled ‘BEHAVIOR’ and contains the phrase ‘DO DIFFERENT.’ The diagram highlights the intersections between critical consciousness, systems & structures, and behavior, suggesting that change involves thinking, looking, being, and doing things differently.

A simple hand-drawn graphic in blue ink, titled ‘LEARNING LAB’ at the top within a rectangular box. Below the title, the graphic is divided into two sections: The left section reads ‘1 DAY’ with ‘BOARD and STAFF’ written underneath. The right section reads ‘2 DAY’ with ‘BOARD and STAFF or STAFF only’ written underneath. The drawing outlines the options for participating in a learning lab session, distinguishing between one-day and two-day formats for different groups.

Personalization

Every organization we meet has a unique culture and a unique set of needs that are informed by its members, history, context within various communities, and pool of resources. Before we show up, we work closely with you to personalize the work for your specific needs.

A hand-drawn illustration with text in blue ink that reads: ‘Moving at the speed of trust built on the foundation of relationships.’ Beneath the text, there are simple stick figures drawn along the bottom, each with arms raised above their heads, appearing to ‘hold up’ the words. One figure in the center is seated in a wheelchair, emphasizing inclusivity. The overall message suggests that trust and relationships are fundamental to progress.

Inclusion and Participation

Research shows that DEI engagements can actually cause new problems if they’re clumsily implemented, where participants end up feeling ignored, misunderstood, or “othered.” We foster an inclusive and welcoming environment where every person’s contributions are valued equally.

A simple hand-drawn diagram in blue ink. On the right side, there is a heart shape labeled ‘VALUES.’ On the left, there are two arrows pointing to the right, each labeled ‘ACTION PLANS.’ The arrows appear to represent movement or progression, indicating that action plans are guided by values. The overall concept suggests that values are the foundation that drive action-oriented plans.

Empathy and Humility

Opponents of racial, cultural, and gender equity often see empathy as a weakness that distorts one’s “natural” biases. We see empathy as the key to unlocking everything else in our work, a fundamental human skill that helps us recognize ourselves in each other so we can work together to effect change.

A simple hand-drawn illustration in blue ink, featuring a star at the top with lines radiating downward. Beneath the star is a rectangular box containing the text ‘Naming the North Star.’ The star appears to symbolize a guiding principle or goal, with the text emphasizing the idea of defining or identifying a central guiding focus, much like how the North Star has been historically used for navigation.

A Human-Centered Approach

Although our engagements are made at the level of teams and organizations, our process and our work is always at the level of the individual, with an emphasis on recognizing our shared humanity, innate dignity, and unique personal experiences.

A hand-drawn diagram in blue ink, depicting three stages labeled ‘EQUALITY,’ ‘EQUITY,’ and ‘REALITY.’ In the ‘EQUALITY’ section, there are three figures standing on equally sized boxes, but the figures are of different heights, showing that equal resources do not result in the same outcome. In the ‘EQUITY’ section, the boxes are adjusted to different heights, allowing all figures to reach the same level. In the ‘REALITY’ section, one figure stands on a tall stack of boxes, another is on a single box, and a third figure is inside a hole in the ground, illustrating the actual disparities present in society. The image conveys a message about the differences between equality, equity, and the real-world disparities that persist.

Storytelling

The urge toward storytelling is as old as the human race; it’s how we come to know ourselves, and how we share our collected wisdom across cultures and generations. We use storytelling in our Dismantling Racism Learning Lab to build empathy, by providing a platform for each person to speak up and be heard.

A hand-drawn diagram in blue ink with the word ‘SYSTEMS’ at the top. Below and to the side of the word are several interconnected dots, connected by lines in a branching, tree-like structure. Some of the dots are drawn with solid lines, while others are connected with a dashed line, suggesting either incomplete connections or evolving parts of the system. The diagram appears to represent the complexity and interconnection of systems, with nodes branching out from a central point.

An Anti-Oppression Lens

We incorporate proven anti-oppression frameworks and practices when needed to help us discover our shared history, and to understand how systems and structures impact racial, cultural, ethnic, and gender equity.

A simple hand-drawn list with three checkboxes, all marked with check marks. The items listed are: ‘IN-PERSON, HYBRID, ZOOM.’ The image seems represents different formats for meetings or workshops, with all options—In-Person, Hybrid, and Zoom—being available or selected. The handwritten style in blue ink gives it a casual, informal look.

Customized Content & Flexible Engagements

The dynamics in a group of a half-dozen people are far different from the ones that form in a department at a midsize company. We scale our engagement to fit your specific organizational needs.

We’re skilled at facilitating engagements both in person and virtually via Zoom, or in a combination of the two modes if that’s what you need.