The future of racial equity in the workplace.

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Hope you're coming back from Memorial Day weekend with some good rest. I have to be honest—Memorial Day weekend and the anniversary of George Floyd's murder always brings me a heavy heart each year.

It's been five years since that moment launched the Anti-Racism Daily newsletter platform, mobilizing millions of people to take action against systemic oppression and bringing my work as a consultant in racial equity and belonging to the forefront. Many of you reading this probably found me—we found each other—during that time. What a wild five years it's been.

Now, with a harsh anti-woke administration and organizations balking at publicly stating they do this work, it feels quite discouraging to consider how all the efforts and labor implemented in 2020 have shifted. We must examine what this retreat means: it's also important to note that so many people, including myself, have been negatively impacted simply for talking about the inequities we see in this world and trying to make an impact.

Whether it's addressing racial discrimination and pay inequity in the workplace or being suppressed for speaking out against the genocide in Palestine, we're finding it much more difficult to do the necessary work of making sure all of us are seen, heard, and celebrated.

As we approach real equity over the next five years, we have to remember that our resilience is at our core.The more we invest in ourselves to have the capacity to handle difficult conversations, the conflict and tension that comes with working in this space, the more we can be brave and carry those tough conversations with our colleagues—even when those behaviors aren't backed by policy and practice. That is how we make this work resonate.

Remember that belonging is never something an institution or system can choose for us. It is what we demand for ourselves and each other. We may not see the world we want codified into legislation over the next four years, but we can inscribe it deep in our hearts.

This was never going to be a short road. Five years might feel long, but it's a blip on the radar of our long, enduring fight toward justice.

Warmly,

Nicole

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We turn workplace disagreements into your company's invitation to foster inclusion and build psychological safety. Instead of just putting out fires, we help your teams see conflict as a powerful tool that strengthens relationships rather than damages them.

A typical engagement includes an assessment of your current conflict patterns, a hands-on workshop with real-world scenarios, and follow-up coaching to make sure these new approaches stick when things get tough.

Book a free, 15-minute consultation to see how we can help.

Learn is the consultancy arm of Reclamation Ventures, an award-winning venture studio that’s created well-known brands like Reimagined, Banned Books Book Club, and the RV Fund. Over the past five years, we’ve helped organizations create more inclusive and equitable spaces through trainings, workshops and hands-on consulting.

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