our Approach
To be clear, this is not diversity work. This is racial healing and equity for collective justice. This is not a checklist of “trainings” but ongoing learning, practice, and doing within an ecosystem. This is not only about feelings, but also structures. And within this structure, we push at every single level.
Coaching Individuals, teams, and leadership in racial literacy, equity, and anti-racist practices
We coach for skills-development and capacity-building in 1:1 and team settings. DEI is a set of skills that requires (un)learning, reflecting, and practice. We coach leaders to be identity-forward and race-centered in operationalizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our collective guides yours with accountability.
Facilitating Healing and Processing of Racial harm and trauma for individuals, teams, and communities
We hold space for unpacking and healing racial harm and trauma in 1:1 and group settings, grounded in mental health practices and racial literacy in sociopolitical contexts. We facilitate healing dialogues to reframe racial trauma as a structure that contains histories layered with emotions. Our collective holds yours with tenderness.
Building and Growing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) by being identity-forward, race-centered
We help organizations identify the right people for the right seats at the right time. We partner with launching DEI organization-wide by developing common language and frameworks. Becoming an anti-racist and racially literate culture requires building new systems and ecosystems. Our collective builds yours with trust.
We are identity-forward, race-centered.
“Be patient with people but not with systems. This work requires building, rebuilding, and more rebuilding. Systems are designed to produce the results they get. Stop doing the same things over and over, expecting different results. Begin to see the expansiveness of change as starting with us.”
SHINE THEORY TESTIMONIALS
We don’t shine if you don’t shine.
What goals did you/your organization want to achieve in your partnership with and/now?
I was curious about the meanings and practices of Anti-Racist and Trauma Informed ideology. I was especially intrigued about exploring the mindsets of racial healing. My organization wanted to build upon the racial equity work the Equity Champions have been involved in, while diving deeper into previously introduced concepts covered in the City’s Racial Equity trainings.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
I personally have grown so much since I participated in this training. When I first started, I was skeptical about how beneficial this training would be for myself and/or my organization. I’d figured it would be a waste of time and didn’t necessarily look forward to taking time out of my busy schedule to attend. But shortly after I started, my whole perception changed and I was totally engaged. I looked forward to the training sessions. I did my homework in advance and was ready to participate. I feel that I am more prepared to recognize and disrupt oppressive tendencies from racial trauma and dive deeper into historical and sociopolitical analysis of racial trauma’s impact on myself, others, and communities.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
I am typically not a person to give out a lot of compliments but working with Dena and Connie impacted me so much that I thought it would be an injustice if I did not let others know about my experience and the wonderful things Dena and Connie are doing. I really appreciated how easy Dena and Connie made it be vulnerable with a group of strangers. They were able to meet and reach everyone at their own level in a non-judgmental manner. The partnership had a tremendous impact on myself. I experienced more personal growth and healing in a short time than I ever imagined. I appreciate being able to practice endurance for staying in difficult and complex emotions and interactions with clarity and openness.
What goals did you/your organization want to achieve in your partnership with us?
Initially, we were wanting a series of workshops related to allyship. However, upon the 2020 killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, our group needed healing.
What results have you achieved since you started working with us?
As a group of Black professionals, we have gained a more complete perspective on how history, self-identity, and white supremacy impact Black people in all aspects of life. We are better equipped to handle certain situations and most importantly, created a safe space within the group to have tough conversations.
What do you appreciate most about working with us? What impact did the partnership have on you/your organization?
I appreciate the space that Dena and Connie held for our group; the patience, leadership, and guidance. This impacted our group by creating a trusting and safe environment for us to connect during our sessions and in between.
I would recommend and/now because Connie and Dena’s approach is to first listen then apply their expertise with recommendations while always being flexible. I would recommend and/now to other ERGs and organizations dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
After 15+ years within Marketing/Retail, I have decided to career pivot towards DEI, and I’m pretty new to the space. I attended and/now’s Asian American Justice + Innovation Lab workshop, DEI Will Not Save Us: Bridging Healing & Justice as a Liberatory Practice, this past April and was immediately drawn to Connie’s and Dena’s authenticity and knowledge within DEI and social justice spaces. It is clear that “racial healing and equity for collective justice” is the next level for DEI work, and this transformation is a must.
I’ve reached out to Connie a few times for guidance since April, and she has been beyond supportive while reminding me of my lived experiences and wisdom as I maneuver through a “not so human-centered job-search process.” She ends each message and conversation with her offer of continued support. I am so very thankful to have connected with Connie and Dena, as I embark on my DEI journey.
What goals did you/your organization want to achieve in your partnership with us?
Connie and Dena were instrumental in supporting our organization in defining inclusivity and equity. They worked strategically across constituencies to create a strategic plan that advances the mission of the institution, particularly in the areas of equity and inclusion. This includes both the education and holistic development of institutional goals, as well as supporting our Black and POC communities within the organization.
What do you appreciate most about working with us? What impact did the partnership have on you/your organization?
Their passion and humor. The way they challenge others to look critically at themselves and the organization. The work they lead is meaningful and challenging. It requires grit and humor. They possess both of these skills, all while leading with grace and understanding.
These ladies will change our world. They are incredibly dedicated, smart, and hard working. They will move mountains!
What goals did you/your organization want to achieve in your partnership with us?
Having a growth mind set; treat everyone with respect, equally, and without bias or hate; advocate to put racism, unfairness, and retaliations away.
What do you appreciate most about working with us? What impact did the partnership have on you/your organization?
Connie & Dena were so knowledgeable and professional. I learned a lot including: the roots of racism, its impact, and what I need to do to grow everyday. I always knew who I was, and I am, and now I practice what I learned to implement and share with my team as a mentor to staff under me.
What results have you/your organization achieved since you started working together?
Connie Chiu and Dena Scott created a dynamic and unique partnership that spoke directly to what it means to build authentic community in independent schools. Their passion for the work, children and adults led them to build strong and lasting alliances with many others on campus all striving to find the intimate intersection between advancing complicated issues of social justice with compassion, support and an unwavering sense of purpose within our community.
What do you appreciate most about working with us? What impact did the partnership have on you/your organization?
They are active and empathetic listeners. They are thoughtful and intentional in their analysis of institutional issues of power and how these dynamics might play out in the lives of children, families and schools. Their styles, expertise, and varied approaches complement each other. Their warmth, charisma, and knowledge set them apart from many with whom I have worked in the past 40 years.
Would you recommend us?
Unconditionally to any organization working through the most vexing issues of the complexities of inclusion, equity and community as these issues relate to the realties of the lives we all lead regardless of mission and institutional focus.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
When I heard that my organization would be offering “anti-racism” trainings I was very skeptical. Too often, in my experience, critical concepts like ‘anti-racism’ and ‘intersectionality’ get turned into buzzwords devoid of their original meaning. Was I about to attend an “anti-racist” training that would boil down to “racism is bad — don’t do it.”
However, I was pleasantly surprised by both the nuance and breaking down of concepts like ‘anti-racism’ in a way that was both true to their original meaning AND made applicable to the work we do in our organization.
I deeply appreciated the space they helped us co-construct — a space that was nurturing to the soul. Never once did I leave the meeting “drained” as one might imagine could be possible when talking about the very real and pernicious effect of everyday racism on our minds, bodies, and souls.
The space also allowed for critical moments of bravery and courage that within the “normal” context of my organization would have felt impossible to broach.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
Understand how anti-racism fit into the space of local government work.
What results have you/your organization achieved since you started working together?
I’ve been able to discover and build relationships with colleagues across the city who are committed to anti-racism.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
The thing that I appreciate most about Dena and Connie is the fact that nothing in this process was forced. They were very open and honest and transparent in the conversations. They allowed us to be our full selves and that I feel has helped everyone be comfortable enough to express and share their experiences. Dena and Connie have helped us get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations with peers and coworkers that do not look like us so we can bring them into our world.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
Since working with and/now, I personally feel that I have been able to identify some things that I have overlooked in my professional career. I have been able to gain more confidence in the work that I am doing and be ready to speak up for myself as I grow in my career. and/now has helped us create a stronger bond with coworkers and develop stronger relationships. I have a desire to see my colleagues and now (no pun) family grow and become as successful as they can. In these times, this has been a breath of fresh air and a safe place to connect and express with people that I relate with on levels outside of just our workplace.
Would you recommend and/now? If so, why and to whom?
I definitely would recommend and/now. I think any company can benefit from the conversations and programing that and/now has to offer. As we progress in time, companies are finding out about the lack of diversity, equity and inclusion. It shouldn’t take dramatic events against a community to feel that you should want to diversify your company and ensure that BIPOC folks feel comfortable. and/now can really help leaders at a company understand what diversity looks like and how equity and inclusion REALLY look. It isn’t just about marking off a company goal.
What participants shared about our session — When Culturally Competent Leadership is Not Enough: Healing Justice as a Way Forward — at the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s Elevate 2021 Conference.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
Dena and Connie are approachable (dare I say lovable), knowledgable, and down-to-earth. They understand the soft touch necessary for doing this sort of work without shying away from the hard questions and the harsh light of reality.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
My professional life AND my personal life have been profoundly impacted by Dena, Connie, and the lens that they’ve given me. I can truly say I don’t see anything quite the same anymore. This comes with great responsibility, and I am forever now trying to hone the tools that they gave me in foundational trainings, discussions, and through our working and personal relationships.
“Honestly, I was skeptical about how you two (as “outsiders”) would be able to join and contribute to our community, esp. since there is no in-person meeting right now. I was happily surprised in your ability to be relatable without pandering, and informative without being overwhelming. My initial thought was that we wouldn’t fully connect, but you two destroyed that thought in my head on day 1.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
Their commitment to the acknowledgement of our feelings and seeking positive outcomes from negative events.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
Explicitly addressing my sentiments towards current events instead of ignoring/internalizing them.
What do you appreciate most about working with Dena and Connie? What impact did the partnership have on you?
I appreciate the thoughtfulness and sensitivity with which they approached the work. They consistently sought feedback and worked diligently to engage participants. The workshop materials were very well done.
What goals/results have you achieved since you started working with us?
Assist service providers as well as their supervisors/managers understanding the importance of applying an anti-racism lens to their work.
Thank you so much for the amazing session the other day. [Co-worker] and I talk a lot, and as soon as your session ended, we both just couldn’t stop talking about how amazing you both are. I so appreciate your patience and the way in which you’re able to create such a safe and open forum when discussing matters that can invoke such intense emotions. I really just wanted to express my appreciation for what you do and for sharing it with us. I took so much away from your session that I hope to apply to the Allyship workshop we’re building out as well.
But I’ll digress on my fangirling 🙂 Thank you again, Dena and Connie, for such a great session. Appreciate the work you do, and looking forward to more.
