Becoming a Racially & Culturally Conscious Consultant in a World of Color-Blind Non-Profit Organizations

In the non-profit world, where we sometimes believe racial color-blindness is a virtue, an intentionally racially and culturally conscious consultant can help to open the eyes of non-profit leaders to centralize racial equity and inclusion in order to improve outcomes for historically underserved groups. The mission of tens of thousands of non-profit organizations around the world is to eliminate disparate outcomes for systemically minoritized, marginalized, and impoverished communities.

How can we change the vision of the non-profit world so that we all authentically see, speak and act in racially and culturally conscious ways?

Fortunately, a number of consultants for non-profit organizations see themselves as change agents and are perfectly positioned to take the risks to become the change we are all seeking in leaders and organizations by developing a racial equity lens, a way of thinking, being, seeing, and acting that is race and color conscious, equity-focused, and inclusive in all contexts. 

Developing a racial equity lens requires a deep awareness of one’s own racial identity, racial history, and culture — plus the “will” to see race, color, culture and the strengths that every culture has with CLEAR action: 

1. COMMIT to actively participating in ongoing racial equity and inclusion training and development for your own individual growth and transformation. Learning about one’s own cultural norms and racial background is the first step in becoming racially and culturally conscious consultant. What is the history of my race? How does it impact my decision-making and choices for myself and others? Developing a racial equity lens is a lifelong endeavor that requires engaging in cross-racial dialogue, and relationship building on a regular basis. In this way we excavate our own unconscious biases and preferences to change our behaviors, and ability to authentically help non-profit organizations change their behaviors. 
2. LISTENING to communities of color — that many non-profits are mission-bound to serve and intend to serve well, but too often serve poorly with well-meaning, race-blind strategies that continue to result in the same predictable inequities — is critical. Attend community town hall meetings and dialogues to hear from those who are excluded from decision-making tables and board rooms .How can I use my cultural or racial advantages to partner with those who have been marginalized and dismissed by organizations and systems? What are people saying that I may not want to hear? What are they saying that our clients may not want to hear? How do I avoid becoming the White savior in this transformation saga?
3. ENGAGING non-profit leaders about their use of evidence—data disaggregated by race, with the actual application of solutions that come from client interviews and focus groups is paramount. What are their measurable goals and strategies to improve service to “minoritized” groups? Ask about the ways they are engaging the clients they are seeking to support. How are they consistently eliciting feedback, partnering with, and building on the strengths of the communities they seek to serve as a part of their organization’s cultural norms?
4. ADVOCATING for inclusive practices in all aspects of our consulting work ensures we are walking the talk for our own growth and development. We must keep racial equity and inclusion front and center as a part of our daily practice, decision-making, and interactions by asking questions about who is at the decision-making table, who is missing, and why? How are we ensuring our firm and our clients are focusing and building upon the strengths and the assets of the communities and populations we seek to support and guide?
5. REFLECTING on individual and organizational practices promotes growth needed for transformation. How is my consulting practice helping non-profit clients to build their capacity for racial equity and inclusion with strategic planning, succession planning, strategic diversity, marketing and predictive analytics? What is the vision for the consulting firm, our clients, and the community for fairness, inclusion, and organizational change? 

Racially and culturally conscious consultants for non-profit organizations have the potential to change millions of lives by committing to examining and changing our own thinking and behaviors. Our lifelong commitment to ongoing personal development for racial equity and inclusion ultimately leads to the widespread, inclusive actions for accountability needed to transform and open the eyes of our color-blind non-profit world. 

Let's chat! Let me know about your experiences helping non-profits to centralize equity and inclusion at convergenceconsulting3@gmail.com