Central to the work that we do at the Equity Institute is to re-center the cultural voices of the communities that we are looking to support.
I was so pleased to host my longtime colleague Shereen Ashman to talk about the importance and value of cultural currency. If you are unfamiliar with the term, then I invite you to listen to our full conversation via The Success System Podcast HERE.
TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CONVERSATION:
>> The importance and breadth of culture: Culture is central to diversity, inclusion, reclamation, resistance, cross-cultural connection, and understanding. It holds ancestral wisdom, creations, joy, and identity and is a journey meant to be expressed and experienced in many different ways through the language of all five senses.
>> Cultural Currency as a superpower: In this podcast episode, Shereen quotes UNESCO's definition of Cultural Currency, which I deeply resonate with. She reminds us that "Cultural Currency refers to the legacy received from the past that is lived in the present and passed on to future generations. (What kind of cultural currency are you creating?) It includes intangible cultural heritage, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social manners, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe, and traditional crafts. All of these things, they kind of capture it as intangible cultural heritage, or living heritage”
>> Culture as an act of restoration and resistance: Shereen reminds us that no matter where we may be on that search for a deeper connection to our roots or a deeper expression of ourselves and our purpose, “culture remains center stage.”
Cultural currency and owning our cultural experience is an essential part of showing up with authenticity and showcasing our true selves.
Shereen Ashman is an award winning community builder, educator and wellness advocate. Shereen’s experience of surviving gun violence sparked her pursuits in social innovation and community wellness.
Collaborating with nonprofits, corporate and public institutions, Shereen has spearheaded programs and services to improve socio-economic welfare and wellbeing of equity deserving communities.
Shereen cofounded The charity, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals; All Out Wellness Campaign and SACCAE social innovation studio. These initiatives champion a cultural response to equity and empowerment. Her strength is design, strategy & operations led to leadership roles as Chief Operating Officer, Director of programs, College course developer and Cultural Consultant.
Shereen is practiced in experiential and cultural education. She creates/ delivers trainings and keynotes related to topics: equity, community wellness, cultural education and non profit leadership. Also, you can get to know Shereen through the lens of her latest Award, the 2022 Centennial College Premier's Award.
Conversations that Matter
Having the hard conversations that are needed to make the structural change we need to move forward.
Recently, we shared about our incredible interview with Natascha Pennycooke on creating Psychologically Safe spaces for Racialized Women.
The full interview has been published, and we are excited to continue to develop the conversations around Psychological Safety in the Workplace.
As part of our core curriculum, we created a comprehensive database of our KDPM Equity Institute Frameworks that can be used as tools for individual self leadership, and also within organizations.
OUR COURSEWORK AND EDUCATIONAL APPROACH includes:
Conversations rooted in Cultural Equity
Coursework that is curated, sourced and quotes Black academics, researchers & leaders
Toolkits to lead important cultural conversations in your organization
Helps your leaders and organization lead with a culturally compassionate lens and create an environment for your racialized employees to thrive
SELF LEADERSHIP FOR THE SOUL
Tools, Thoughts & Affirmations for your personal journey to find your authentic expression of self.
“Let's take a step back and really just examine our wider cultural landscape. And I think we have found ourselves within a cultural context, navigating significant transformational times, and challenges, challenges around diversity, equity and inclusion. And that spans everything from reclamation to resistance to reframing, with that read, redesigning, and sometimes outright refusal. And it feels like everything is happening at once, and on all scales personally, professionally, politically.
But in this kind of mele mele, and mixture of things, culture remains center stage. And in much of the conversation, some champion it as key to fostering and maintaining diversity and inclusion. Some see it as the medium for reclamation and resistance. And others see it as the facilitator of cross-cultural connection and understanding.
And I think the beauty of culture is that it holds this breadth and depth and gives us not only ancestral wisdom, but creations, joy, identity, and all of these things that we're really looking to leverage culture for. And, you know, within that context, reclaiming your cultural currency, understanding it, honoring it, I think have a lot of personal and professional significance.”
An Invitation from Shereen Ashman-Henderson
Do you have questions about your equity journey or navigating the workplace as a racialized employee? Ask Karlyn!
COMING MONDAYS AT 1230PM ON IG LIVE
We are pleased to announce that this fall, Karlyn will be hosting a series of ‘Ask Coach Karlyn’, featuring YOUR questions about your anti-racism and equity journey.
Get expert advice on how to navigate your life, workplaces, and relationships in a way that is in alignment with your whole authentic and culturally - represented self.
Peter Trevor Wilson helps leaders maximize human capital by acknowledging individual differences and turning those differences into competitive advantages.
Peter, a keynote speaker, diversity pioneer and creator of Human Equity, is a seasoned professional in the field of diversity, inclusion and human equity. In fact, Profiles in Diversity Journal named him one of the 40 pioneers of the diversity movement, and he wrote the book on pushing for equity and recognizing individual potential in the workplace.
here's to building a better world together with kindness and courage,
Karlyn
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