Professional Certificate
Leading for Inclusion & Racial Justice
The murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, coupled with the racial disparities in health, education, and income brought so clearly in view by the pandemic, have sparked worldwide protests against systemic racism and racial injustice which affects people of color and other marginalized groups throughout the world. It is a time of reckoning with our past and present in order to move forward.
There is a renewed focus on examining the structural racism inherent in many of the institutions and organizations central to our societies and on questioning the steps they might take to dismantle unjust systems and rebuild more equitable ones.
This professional certificate offers a systematic approach to engaging with the fundamental issues at the heart of leading for inclusion and racial justice, whether that leadership is happening at the organizational, community, or societal levels. It will provide frameworks and models to help participants both unravel the dynamics of race and racism, while also offering the opportunity to practice behaviors that can help participants develop the capacities required to lead from a more inclusive orientation.
This certificate program is offered by Antioch University’s Graduate School of Leadership & Change.
More about this certificate from the faculty:
The certificate is designed for anyone with an interest in challenging racism at a structural or systemic level within their institutions, organizations or communities. You do not have to be in a formal leadership role in order to benefit from the material offered, as the Certificate is based in the belief that leadership for inclusion and racial justice occurs at all levels of any human community, whether or not one has formal positional authority.
If recent events have moved you to try to understand the dynamics of racism and how you can be part of developing a more equitable society, this Certificate will provide you with key ideas and language for beginning, or continuing, that journey.
How You Will Benefit from this Certificate
Helping you to make sense of the often challenging and emotionally charged territory
Providing insight into the structural issues which contribute to racism and cultural dynamics which result in exclusion
Introducing language with which to engage constructively the dynamics of equity, inclusion, antiracism and empowerment to lead from an understanding or being marginalized
Suggesting practices and practical actions which can help develop an anti-racist, inclusive orientation
Developing ‘Identity Intelligence’
Understand identity dynamics and ways to positively develop and engage with self and others identity.
Course Description
This course explores notions of ‘identity’ with an emphasis on social identity and how that is formed within racialized environments. Particular topics include: exploring Whiteness as a racial identity, investigating the unconscious nature of privilege, discovering how intersectionality works within our own sense of identity and when we interact with others, and focusing on positive identity development within racialized contexts.
Learning Experiences
- Engaging with key readings, podcasts, and videos that explore the area of racialized identity.
- Guided reflective activities in relation to key texts.
- Prompts for discussions to undertake with family members, friends, and colleagues about what you are learning about your own racialized identity.
Leading for Inclusion
Identify deeper foundations of inclusion and learn ways to enhance culture of inclusion in teams, organizations and community settings.
Course Description
This course will introduce participants to key theoretical ideas around inclusion and how leaders can create more inclusive cultures within their teams and organizations. Suggested activities which participants will be guided through will help build confidence in using more inclusive behaviors and extending their capacities to engage meaningfully with those they may have unconsciously or consciously excluded.
Learning Experiences
- An exploration of the roles of the self and others in inclusive and racially-just leadership practices. The exploration is guided by the “personal” and the “interpersonal,” the first two of Mitchell & Sackney’s three pivotal capacities for building a learning community.
- An examination of adaptive leadership concepts and how they may contribute to inclusive and racially-just relationships and environments.
- An introduction to the ubiquity and power of discourse, how it contributes to the (re)production and maintenance of racial injustice, and the possibilities it offers for racially-just and inclusive leadership.
- An investigation of four research-based capacities of generative racial dialogue as essential prerequisites to all transformative racial justice work in which dignity is centered as a non-negotiable tenant.
- Activities aimed to guide participants in the mindful practice of inclusive language and practices in their daily interactions.
Challenging Social Systems
Learn about social system dynamics and approaches to challenge and change those systems
Course Description
Recognizing that much of what holds racism in place consists of impersonal system characteristics, including routes to access, rules and regulations, language, and culture, this course is aimed at sensitizing participants to these invisible barriers to equitable relations. Additionally, it will provide participants with ideas and examples of how racist structures can be challenged and dismantled in significant ways, both through individual and collective action.
Learning Experiences
- Developing an intersectional ‘systems map’ that identifies the barriers to equity present within my organization.
- Identifying the historical and modern leadership approaches used by racial justice activists and applying them in my practice.
- Critically analyzing the existing decision-making processes in my organization and identifying areas for improvement.
- Creating an action plan which demonstrates my understanding of the structural nature of racism and exclusion.
This program and our other certificates can be customized to meet individual, team and organization development needs. Please contact Dr. Aqeel Tirmizi with inquiries or any additional information regarding customized programs.