1st Edition
Diversity Without Dogma A Collaborative Approach to Leading DEI Education and Action
Social Scientist Kurt Lewin said, "No research without action, and no action without research." Too much of the current DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) approach is insight-based instead of action-based. Even though institutional racism is identified as the root problem, the change effort is focused on looking inward for bias instead of taking action to eliminate institutional racism and other isms. A Lewinian approach, in contrast, is balanced. What people think is important, but no more important than what people do. If you bring people together to change things, this will change what people think! We don’t need therapy nearly as much as we need action based on dialogue! Instead of spending your energy soul-searching for evidence in your thoughts and behaviors that you have unconscious biases, this book helps put your energy into doing something practical about racism.
To get there, this book uses Lewin’s social science to build a framework for sorting through the many approaches to and positions held on race, racism, diversity, and related topics. While the framework is and must be applicable to any prejudice, systemic or individual, the bulk of this exploration is focused on racism, which to a large degree has become the primary social justice focus of our times. Painfully aware that conversations about race can easily deteriorate into polarization, the author lays a path toward finding common ground.
Section One – Building a Foundation
Chapter 1 - A Framework for DEI Education and Action
Chapter 2 – Lewinian Social Science
Chapter 3 – The Interpersonal Gap, Microaggressions & Defensiveness
Section Two – Racism and Other Isms Are Real
Chapter 4 – Institutional and Individual "isms" are all too often Real
Chapter 5 – Accuracy about History: Denial is Poison
Chapter 6 – Accuracy about Privilege & The Playing Field
Chapter 7 – Any Prejudice begets more Prejudice
Chapter 8 – Social Justice is Spiritual
Section Three – It’s NOT Always About Racism
Chapter 9 – All are Affected, All must be Invited
Chapter 10 – Family Systems Theory, Self-Differentiation & EQ
Chapter 11 – Conflict Beliefs and Behaviors
Chapter 12 – Power, Authority, and Leadership
Section Four – Leading DEI Education & Action
Chapter 13 – Leading DEI Education
Chapter 14 – Leading DEI Action
Appendix A – Action Research and Minority Relations
Appendix B – Four Key Skills
Appendix C - DEI Behavior Description Quiz
Appendix D – T-Groups Adapted for the Workplace
Appendix E – KRID
Bibliography
Biography
Gilmore Crosby is the president of Crosby & Associates. He has expertise in Leadership, Learning, and Organization Development. He has over three decades of experience, including management positions in five organizations. He has deep experience in facilitating performance improvement through initiatives such as coaching and team development (from upper management to the floor), process improvement, assessment methodologies (organizational, team, and individual), conflict resolution, and other OD and change management solutions. Responsible for design, development, and delivery of innovative learning solutions, ranging from individual coaching to accredited leadership development programs.
