Okay, so we started the conversation about equity…now what? The truth is, it is completely up to you. You can plant seeds in a small way. You can swing for the fences and introduce a big idea. The choice is yours. Start by looking at your organization and see what fits. Do you know what kind of impact you want to have? Are you looking to understand your co-workers better? Are you looking to start a small group within your company? What are your goals? I know this is a loaded question, but you want to be sure about it. Are you looking to start small and hope it grows into something bigger? Once you are clear about your intentions, what is next? What are you looking to accomplish? Here are a couple of thoughts for you to think about.

Starting a Book Club or Podcast Club: This is most likely the easiest step after getting to know the people around you. Once you build the relationship, suggesting good material to read or listen to is a simple step. Getting together and discussing the information further builds understanding and engagement among new emerging bonds. It can help solidify common thoughts and feelings around difficult subjects and create safe spaces for introspection and conversations.

Starting a Cohort: What is a cohort, you ask? They are groups of like-minded individuals who band together to study an issue or to discuss topics relevant to the group. So, you can see how helpful this might be to people who want to explore equity in the workplace. Cohorts can be formal or informal and require the desire of the group members to exist. They are great to gain support around topics that may not otherwise explored. It also offers access without being tied to a book or other means to drive conversations.

Starting a Committee: Much like the Cohort, a Committee is more official. It serves to bring ideas to the higher levels of an organization. This requires commitment from your organization. Oftentimes, committees can help get real change off the ground if they have the correct backing. Committees can be helpful when introducing new benefits or policies that can take root in an organization. Committees can be the toughest option. Without support from key stakeholders in an organization. It's not impossible but planning and commitment from others may not be easy to attain.

If you have not already noticed, allyship is a large part of this process. But what makes an ally? How can you find them? In the next addition, we will get into that. In the meantime, keep having conversations and being genuinely curious about others. Their experiences, ideas, and wellbeing.