Embracing Equity

Dear Friends, As the year comes to a close, we at Embracing Equity want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your support and dedication to the movement for racial justice in education. This holiday season, we wish you an abundance of joy, peace, and reflection. We are excited about the opportunities to continue working together in 2025 and beyond, as we all strive to create a more equitable and inclusive world for our students and communities. Thank you for being a part of this transformative journey. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a bright, fulfilling New Year! With warmest regards, The Embracing Equity Team

This is a friendly reminder that diversity without equity simply doesn't happen. SHRM, an organization that trains and equips HR professionals, recently made waves by adopting the acronym I&D instead of IE&D. The goal is to focus on inclusion first in an attempt to address DEI's shortcomings while weathering the backlash against it. There's just one problem: Without equity, you do not have diversity because marginalized populations won't stay long enough in your company, they won't move up, or they may not even enter the organization altogether. So many companies try to manage diversity without considering equity. And in the process, diversity isn't maintained, but lost. At a former job, I listened to an online training that did just this. Coming from someone who does DEI work, it was painful. Here's why: For all the talk about embracing differences based on race, gender, sexuality, and religion, we never discussed the ways people continue to be marginalized BECAUSE of said identities. It does no good to lecture about welcoming Muslims if your audience doesn't know that inviting them to social functions that serve alcohol can be off-putting. It does no good to discuss welcoming Black and other racially marginalized folks if your audience doesn't understand how they are routinely underpaid, over-penalized for mistakes, and are often the first to be laid-off. It does no good to say you value persons with disabilities if your spaces are inaccessible. Or if leadership doesn't understand that not all disabilities are visible. Without equity, there is no lasting diversity because specific needs aren't being met. Without justice, there is no diversity because marginalized folks won't feel safe. And there will be no sense of inclusion because marginalized folks won't feel valued. Instead of focusing on diversity at the expense of everything else, view it as the outcome of your institution being equity oriented. Diversity is sustained when people are seen, understood, valued, and have the barriers to their success removed. #DiversityAndInclusion #Diversity #Equality #AntiRacism #RacialEquity Image source: Diversity Recruitment Image description: A multi-layered pyramid with equity as the base and moving towards diversity at the top. In between are other layers (equality, inclusion, and belonging) that are achieved once equity has taken place and that lead to the creation of diversity.

Dear Community, Samuel P. Huntington once wrote, “America is not a lie, it is a disappointment. But it can be a disappointment only because it is also a hope.” These words resonate profoundly with our mission at Embracing Equity. They capture the duality of our experience in this country—a place where ideals of equity and justice coexist with systemic inequities and oppression. This paradox reminds us why our work matters. Disappointment stems from the gap between what is promised and what is delivered. It arises because we believe in the possibility of something better. We hold ourselves and America accountable precisely because we see its potential for justice, inclusion, and equity. We see the hope. We see it in educators who dismantle systems of harm in their classrooms. We see it in leaders who challenge power dynamics within their organizations. And we see it in each of you—our community—taking brave steps toward transformation. This year, we’ve leaned into that hope. Here are just a few highlights: *Community Building: Hosted 25 free, live webinars bringing together educators committed to liberatory teaching practices. *Thought Leadership: Led national conversations on equity at 20+ conventions and conferences, inspiring critical reflection and action. *Support for Educators: Piloted coaching initiatives to equip leaders with the tools they need to thrive while dismantling oppressive systems. As we close this year, we recommit to bridging the gap between disappointment and hope. Embracing Equity has always been about dreaming boldly while working pragmatically. We invite you to join us. Hope is not a passive emotion—it is an active commitment. Will you commit to embracing equity right now? We are about half way to our End-of-Year fundraising goal and could really use your help. Together, we believe we can carry this energy into the new year, knowing that while disappointment may persist, it is only because the dream of justice burns brighter. You are not alone. You belong here. We love you. In solidarity and hope, Daisy Han Founder, Embracing Equity Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gCb7zfcE

Join us for an insightful webinar as we explore the past, present, and future of Embracing Equity with our founder, Daisy Han, and our new CEO, Rashi Jawade. This is your opportunity to hear firsthand from Rashi as she reflects on the incredible journey of our organization and shares her vision for the future. 🔑 Webinar Highlights: The Past: Reflect on Embracing Equity’s beginnings and the milestones that have shaped our path. The Present: Learn about our current initiatives and the impact we continue to make in the world of DEI. The Future: Discover Rashi’s exciting plans for leading Embracing Equity into its next chapter of growth and innovation. This is more than just a webinar—it’s a celebration of our journey and a look ahead at the bright future under Rashi’s leadership. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, reflect, and envision what’s next for Embracing Equity. https://lnkd.in/gmdVxYG5

Join us for an essential conversation about the unique mental health challenges faced by Asian American communities. In this webinar, Dr. Caroline C. Lee will share insights from her practice and expertise on cultural stigmas, mental health myths, and the impact of intergenerational experiences on mental well-being. Join Rashi Jawade and Dr. Caroline C. Lee for this important and necessary conversation.

Equitable and inclusive education begins with intentional classroom practices that empower all students to thrive. In this webinar, the Embracing Equity team will explore how educators, caregivers, and teacher trainers can actively create anti-racist, equity-centered classrooms that celebrate diversity and embrace inclusion.

In an era of heightened polarization and relentless scrutiny, education and nonprofit leaders, particularly Women of Color, face unprecedented challenges. The traditional playbook for leadership is no longer effective. Come learn with us about leading with your values during challenging times.

Microaggressions—those subtle, often unintentional comments or behaviors that communicate bias or discrimination—can have a significant impact on workplace morale, productivity, and culture. Join us for an impactful and interactive session where we’ll explore how to identify, address, and effectively shut down microaggressions in the workplace.

Join us for a powerful webinar featuring esteemed panelists as we explore the critical work being done to support Black educators and students in the Montessori community.

Join us for an insightful webinar as we explore the past, present, and future of Embracing Equity with our new CEO, Rashi J.. This is your opportunity to hear firsthand from our founder, Daisy H., and Rashi Jawade as she reflects on the incredible journey of our organization and shares her vision for the future.