Frameworks for Equity

Implementing frameworks for equity that disrupt power structures for effective organizational culture change.

Frameworks for Equity

The Challenges

As equity has become a growing focus for organizations and institutions, some of its frameworks have become well-known and widely discussed. In particular, multiculturalism, which promotes the recognition and respect of different cultures within an organization; diversity, which calls for the inclusion of people of different identity groups; inclusion, which argues that people should have access to experiences and opportunities regardless of their identities; and cultural competence, which emphasizes the ability to understand and work with people from different cultures and belief systems.

These frameworks have been the most popular approaches to equity work undertaken by organizations and institutions in the public and private sphere.

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The key challenge has been that organizations and institutions have not tailored their approach to equity work to address the specific disproportionalities and disparities for equity-seeking groups in their staff and client base. Instead, they have pursued the frameworks that are popular amongst other organizations in their sector, or pursued the frameworks that sound good and positive rather than approaches that address issues of inequity at their roots.

Without frameworks that name and disrupt the power structures that impact equity-seeking groups—specifically anti-racism, anti-black racism, anti-colonialism and anti-oppression—this work is not only largely ineffective but produces claims of reverse-discrimination from members of the dominant group, places pressure on the equity-seeking group to defend why specific efforts are being made for their benefit, and raises questions of the value of the investment of equity work.

Frameworks for Equity

Our Solutions

At KOJO Institute, we work with organizations and institutions to develop, facilitate, and implement strategies for equitable outcomes, including choosing and applying the most effective frameworks for equity. Whether we receive and review data or reports from our clients, our conduct our own data collection through focus groups and consultations, our customized approach is based on naming and understanding each organization’s specific social issues and selecting frameworks accordingly. While we often include frameworks like inclusion, diversity, multiculturalism, and cultural competence as a part of our work, we are primarily focused on the disruptive frameworks of anti-oppression, anti-racism, anti-black racism, and anti-colonialism that promote and create permanent organizational culture shifts.

Through long-term professional development and sustained effort, we guide our clients to build and meet indicators of success that are based on the claims articulated by equity-seeking groups and the disparities and disproportionalities identified by the data. This includes intentionally diversifying the workforce to reflect the populations they serve, putting leadership structures in place to push equity work forward, and creating systems of accountability. Results are higher employee satisfaction, fewer labour issues in unionized environments, and permanent organizational culture shift that promotes and supports equitable outcomes.

8 Levers To Organizational, Institutional and Systems Change

  • Engaging the Board of Directors
  • Impacting Staffing Strategies
  • Examining the Accountability Framework
  • Maximizing the Use of Data
  • Implementing Fresh Training and Learning
  • Amplifying Communications Strategies
  • Widening Community and Stakeholder Relations
  • Revisting Service or Business Models

What We Do Well

  • Equity
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression
  • Anti-Black Racism
  • Organizational Culture Change

How We Prepare You

  • Training
  • Executive Coaching
  • Community Consultations
  • Content & Research Development
  • Keynotes & Guest Lectures
  • Conferences
  • Multi-Session Programs

Building Transformation Skills

KOJO Institute leads executives, managers and organizations through an innovative approach that reconstructs their paradigms and systems connected to equity, diversity and inclusion. We amplify the vision for change through deep-dive explorations that identify the scope, segment competencies and quantify resources required to birth social innovation.

With a clear focus on client expectations, we aim to produce actionable frameworks and solutions that ultimately better the lives your people and organization. Contact us.

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