The Struggle Is Real! When Race Makes You the Designated Expert (Whether You Really Are or Not)
Police brutality.
Social injustice.
Protests in the streets.
Following the murder of yet another unarmed Black man on May 25th, the United States—and the world—came to the realization that race relations in America had to be addressed. Many companies responded with statements. Some posted “Black Lives Matters” signs on the doors of their businesses. Others used the event as an impetus to examine their internal policies and procedures. While all these actions were steps in the right direction, many companies erred in their efforts to respond appropriately. How? By making it the responsibility of the African American employees to drive diversity and inclusion for their organizations.
Learning Objectives:
- Share and discuss the experiences of African American professionals in a pre- and post-George Floyd world
- Explore the social-emotional-professional impact of race in the workplace
- Learn how, when and whether to accept (or assign) added responsibilities that are outside one’s primary area of expertise
Who should attend: While this workshop is designed to address the unique challenges faced by African American professionals, any person who is committed to creating an inclusive workplace by supporting the professional development of all employees can benefit from attending.
Karen M.R. Townsend, Ph.D
Karen M.R. Townsend, Ph.D. is the president of KTownsend Consulting—an award-winning organizational development firm offering expertise in leadership development and 21st Century diversity. Dr. Karen works with leaders to create inclusive environments and build strong teams so that they can effectively and efficiently meet the needs of their diverse colleagues, co-workers and clients. Dr. Karen believes in a holistic approach to professional development, and as such, her programs highlight the importance of both technical expertise and interpersonal relationships. This approach ensures that professionals at every level have the tools required to live and lead…confidently. A recognized subject matter expert, Dr. Karen has written articles on diversity and inclusion which have been featured in local, regional and national publications and media outlets. Because of her commitment to excellence, in 2019 Dr. Karen was recognized by the Dayton Business Journal in the category of “Woman-owned Business of The Year.” She currently serves on the board of trustees and executive committee for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center and the Diversity Advisory Council for the Dayton Business Journal.