Dr. Kathy Obear

Organizational Development Consulting

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☰
  • Home
  • Meet Kathy
  • Events
  • Work With Kathy
    • Design & Facilitate Powerful EDI Workshops
    • References
    • Workshops
      • Foundations of Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
      • Creating Inclusive, Socially Just Campus Environments
      • Deepening Multicultural Competencies: Strategies for Professional Development
      • Training of Trainers Program to Design and Facilitate Workshops on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Developing a Team of Inclusion Practitioners
      • Facilitating Difficult Dialogues: Navigating Triggering Events
      • White Ally Development Program
  • Resources
    • Free Courses/Webinars
    • Blog
    • Radio Show
    • Books
      • Leading White Accountability Groups
      • In It For The Long Haul
      • …But I’m Not Racist
      • Turn The Tide
        • Book Worksheets
    • Access to our Facilitation and Design Knowledge Base
  • Contact
  • Recent Clients
  • equity and inclusion, facilitation, diversity training
    Diversity training,  Inclusion,  Infusing,  Professional Development

    When TMI Happens at a Training on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

    January 16, 2019 /

    It happens sometimes. Your organization is committed to inclusion. Training sessions offer participants the opportunity to reflect, discuss and comment on exclusion and discrimination within the organization. And the dialogue is meaningful. Equity & Inclusion Trainings Can Be Intense But shortly after an intense sharing discussion, a participant expresses concern that they’ve shared a little too much. As a result, they may feel awkward, uncomfortable, nervous or even scared. Thinking that’s a problem? It doesn’t have to be. That negative feeling can serve as the basis for positive sharing. Openly admitting to feeling vulnerable oftentimes encourages others to admit to the same feeling – and authentic dialogue emerges. Establishing Authentic…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Are You Doing All You Can to Infuse Equity and Inclusion?

    April 5, 2018
    Disconnect Between Your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Goals

    Is there a Disconnect Between Your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Goals – and What’s Actually Happening?

    June 5, 2018
    Diversity | Inclusive Culture | Inclusion

    Diversity pays dividends. Does your organization have an inclusive culture?

    April 26, 2018
  • How effectively do your courses infuse diversity and inclusion?
    Diversity training,  Inclusion,  workplace dynamics

    5 Strategies to Effectively Infuse Diversity and Inclusion into Your Next Training

    June 12, 2018 /

    From my experience, I find that most facilitators of courses and training sessions can infuse issues of diversity and inclusion to a far greater extent than they currently do. If you’ve followed my blogs, you may be familiar with a metaphor that I often use when speaking of how to infuse diversity and inclusion. I liken it to creating a layer cake – it all starts with a solid foundation. Acknowledge the Organization’s Commitment to Creating Inclusion As a very quick refresher, Layer 1 (the foundation layer) involves acknowledgment of the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members. In this layer, participants also begin to explore their…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Can you spot microaggressions around you?

    February 27, 2018
    Diversity Training | Diversity and Inclusion | Inclusion Training

    To Infuse Diversity and Inclusion, Everyone Needs to Understand the WHY

    May 1, 2018
    professional development | continuing education | facilitators

    Train the Trainer: Continuing Education is Key

    November 21, 2018
  • Disconnect Between Your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Goals
    Creating change,  Diversity,  Diversity training,  Inclusion,  Social Justice,  workplace dynamics

    Is there a Disconnect Between Your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Goals – and What’s Actually Happening?

    June 5, 2018 /

    Across the nation, most leaders would agree that there is a renewed energy, commitment, and in many cases, even a sense of urgency, to live up to the promises as set forth in their mission statements and strategic plans. Most often, I see diversity, equity and inclusion goals like the following: Deepen the capacity and competence of all members of the organization to create a more inclusive, socially just environment. Support and accelerate the professional/academic and personal success of the full range of individuals the organization serves. Create inclusive work environments that support the success of the full range of employees across group membership. All of this looks great on…

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    equity, inclusion, diversity and inclusion

    You’ve been asked to train on equity & inclusion, but…

    December 19, 2018
    Inclusive | Inclusive Teams | Inclusive Classrooms

    5 Strategies to Create More Inclusive Teams & Classrooms…From the Start!

    July 25, 2018
    Diversity Training | Diversity and Inclusion | Inclusion Training

    To Infuse Diversity and Inclusion, Everyone Needs to Understand the WHY

    May 1, 2018
  • Diversity,  Diversity training,  Inclusion,  Social Justice

    Are You Doing All You Can to Infuse Equity and Inclusion?

    April 5, 2018 /

    Judge not by appearances. How many times have you heard that statement? As adults, many of us pat ourselves on the back because we truly believe we don’t judge. But come on, you know better. We’ve been groomed by our society, parents, teachers, and friends to do exactly that. It happens so quickly – and sometimes, so subtly – we don’t even realize we’re guilty of judging by appearances. Then we try and justify in our minds. Well, I didn’t really judge…it’s just that they’re so different from me. I didn’t mean anything by it. They just took it the wrong way. Can you relate? The Building Blocks of Equity…

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    Are your buttons getting pushed at work? Here’s a go-to guide packed with helpful tips.

    October 24, 2018
    Interrupt racism | Racist behaviors | Racial justice

    Think You’ll Never Overcome Being Called Racist?

    January 18, 2018

    Can you spot microaggressions around you?

    February 27, 2018
  • Diversity Training | Diversity and Inclusion | Inclusion Training | Equity | Inclusive
    Diversity,  Diversity training,  Inclusion,  Social Justice,  workplace dynamics

    Creating Inclusion: How Ready is YOUR Organization for Change?

    March 29, 2018 /

    A critical exclusionary incident occurs in your organization. You react, try to smooth the situation over with an open forum or a training session on inclusion and diversity and resume your business-as-usual routine. Case closed. You breathe a sigh of relief. But not for those affected. Like waters that ripple endlessly when a stone skips through, waves of stinging emotions brew among those involved in the exclusionary episode. Can you relate? Diversity and Inclusion Cannot Be Accomplished Piecemeal Ignoring the situation solves nothing. Pretending it’s settled is absurd. The ingredients are in place and ready to ignite again when sparked. Learning to infuse equity and inclusion into everything we do…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    inclusion intentions

    Inclusion INTENTIONS Aren’t Enough: Follow Up with Real ACTIONS

    May 8, 2020

    Could you be the missing link in infusing equity and inclusion into ALL activities?

    July 11, 2018
    Values

    Focus On Changing People’s Behaviors, Not Their Values

    July 11, 2019
  • Navigating triggers

    Navigating Triggers

    April 18, 2013 /

    Click to read / download the article: Navigating Triggering Events

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    You May Also Like

    Stress | Triggering Situations

    Stress Influences Our Reactions to Triggering Events

    September 26, 2018
    Interrupt racism | Racist behaviors | Racist attitudes | Racist beliefs

    Can You Recognize Your Own Racist Beliefs?

    January 25, 2018
    workplace conflict

    Is Workplace Conflict Pushing Your Buttons? Try This.

    January 13, 2020
  • Diversity

    Part 4: Infusing Diversity Into Everything We Do

    August 1, 2011 /

     “If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb Earlier in my career as a college administrator and an organizational consultant I used to teach a wide variety of courses on various interpersonal skills (leadership development, team building, communication skills, conflict management, customer service, stress management, time management, etc.) with little or no direct reference to the issues of inclusion and diversity. As I look back I am rather appalled since today I cannot imagine teaching these topics in corporations, human service agencies, or at colleges and universities without some attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. To be fair, the…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Inclusive | Inclusive Teams | Inclusive Classrooms

    5 Strategies to Create More Inclusive Teams & Classrooms…From the Start!

    July 25, 2018

    Can you spot microaggressions around you?

    February 27, 2018
    equity and inclusion, supervisor, boss, equity, inclusion

    Are Your Diversity Efforts Falling Short? It May Be Because…

    April 10, 2019
  • Diversity

    Part 3: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion Into Everything We Do

    July 21, 2011 /

    Most facilitators of courses and training sessions can infuse issues of diversity and inclusion to a far greater extent than they currently do. In my first two posts (below this post starting from the bottom) I explore ways to infuse diversity using the metaphor of creating a layer cake ~ starting with a solid foundation: Layer 1 Acknowledge the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members. “Do no harm.” Encourage participants to recognize the full breadth of differences in the organization and those they serve. Begin to explore their role and responsibility in creating an inclusive organization for all members. Layer 2 Use examples and images that…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Diversity | Inclusive Culture | Inclusion

    Diversity pays dividends. Does your organization have an inclusive culture?

    April 26, 2018
    equity, inclusion, social justice, self-care, racism

    Our Top 5 Posts on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion … and more!

    May 22, 2019
    Diversity | Inclusive Culture | Inclusion

    Your Organization Revised the Diversity Statement…Now What?

    May 7, 2018
  • Inclusion

    Part 2: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion into Everything We Do

    June 27, 2011 /

    “If you see with your heart, all masks disappear.” Sufi saying Most training and educational sessions that address topics related to interpersonal skills, team dynamics, and leadership can readily apply the 2nd layer for infusing diversity and inclusion. There are two key elements in this layer: Use examples and images that shift the traditional ways of depicting people based on their Insider and Outsider group memberships. (Note: The particular terms ~ Insider/Outsider ~ may be more understandable to most participants. I also use the terms “dominant and subordinated groups,”  “one-up/one-down groups” and “marginalized” or “under-represented groups” depending on the context of the session. I believe any of these terms can…

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    professional development | continuing education

    Professional Development Is a Must, Not an Option

    November 7, 2018
    facilitator

    5 Easy Tips & Tools for Facilitators

    November 13, 2019

    How to Use White/Whiteness Accountability Spaces to Begin Healing Your Racial Biases

    February 19, 2020
  • Inclusion

    Part 1: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion into Everything We Do

    June 24, 2011 /

    “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”- Goethe As I begin this adventure into the world of blogging, my intent is to share what I know and believe about effective design and facilitation of sessions that address issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. As I consult with colleagues at colleges and universities across the country, more and more people are asking for the tools to not only facilitate foundational social justice 101 sessions, but also the skills to infuse inclusion throughout all of their training and development programs. Most organizations seem to only address issues of diversity and inclusion in “stand alone”…

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    You May Also Like

    Inclusion Lens

    Strategies for Leaders to Use an Inclusion Lens in Crisis Management

    May 15, 2020
    professional development | continuing education

    Professional Development Is a Must, Not an Option

    November 7, 2018
    equity and inclusion, facilitation, diversity training

    When TMI Happens at a Training on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

    January 16, 2019

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Leading White Accountability Groups

Leading White Accountability Groups

In It For the Long Haul

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…But I’m Not Racist!

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Turn The Tide

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Recent Blog Posts

  • Managing Hiring and Layoffs? Use an Equity Lens
  • Using Whiteness Accountability Spaces to Disrupt and Unlearn Racial Biases & Actions
  • How to Design an Online Training Session on Foundational EDI

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