Activity Duration: 1 hour<br/>Audience Age: 11+<br/>Topics: Education, Diversity, Anti-racism

Life presents a unique journey for everyone, with many twists and turns along the way. No two paths are the same. The people, places, and societal systems around us can shape who we are and the opportunities we are given.
Together, through learning, taking action, and sharing our knowledge with others, we can break down barriers created by societal systems and work toward a more equitable world for everyone. Explore this interactive anti-racism Activity Kit and share with others to create a more equitable future for everyone!

Break the System: Anti-racism Activity Kit

We're grateful for the generous contributions of the following people, and many others not listed here, who helped bring this important learning to life. Thank you!

Together, through learning, taking action and sharing our knowledge with others, we can break down barriers created by societal systems and work toward a more equitable world for everyone.

This Activity Kit is designed to be a first step in your learning journey about racial equity. While much of the content in this Activity Kit is North American focused, we address diverse geographical regions and expect this content to continuously evolve to encompass broader inclusion goals. As you explore the resources in this Activity Kit, you will unlock digital stickers that you can share with others to invite them to start their own racial equity learning journey as you learn how six of the many systems in society can either support or oppress people and communities. Explore the interactive System Cards below to learn how together we can work toward a more inclusive and equitable future for everyone.

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Life presents a unique journey for everyone, with many twists and turns along the way. No two paths are the same. The people, places, and societal systems around us can shape who we are and the opportunities we are given.

Explore this interactive anti-racism Activity Kit and share with others to create a more equitable future for everyone.

Legal Disclaimer: Some of the recommended materials in this roadmap may not be IBM materials. IBM makes no representations about any third party materials or other website which you may access through this one.

Help us bring an end to systemic racism by learning and sharing this resource with others.

Explore the interactive System cards below to learn more about how together we can create a more equitable future for everyone.

Anti-Racism Activity Kit Presentation - Student Guide.pdf

Anti-Racism Activity Kit Presentation - Teacher Guide.pdf

School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed significant gaps in access to technology, internet and ultimately education around the world. Various factors contribute to the impact of school closures on students' remote learning, including access to high-speed internet, the quality of remote instruction, home support, and the degree of engagement from teachers and parents. With students forced to learn from home around the world, the learning gap continues to grow as students and teachers in underserved communities lack the support and resources necessary to successfully transition to effective learning from home. This digital divide disproportionately impacts low-income families and people of color, continuing to widen the already staggering online education gap.

A child's experience of education in South Africa is still very dependent on where they are born, how much wealth their families have, and the color of their skin. "As of 2019, 4.3 percent of Black Africans aged 18 to 29 were enrolled at a higher education institution in South Africa, which almost marks a percentage point increase of one compared to 2002. And while Black Africans constituted the majority of young adult students in numbers, the participation rate of this population group continued to be lower compared to the Indian/Asian at 17.4 percent and the white population group at 20 percent.” (Statista Research Department).

In South Africa,  educational participation still varies drastically by the color of a person's skin.

South Africa: Share of student participation rates for individuals aged 18-29 

Read a recent McKinsey report on the future of education

Learn more about educational disparities in the United States

Learn more about how AI can be used to promote equity in schools

Listen to a podcast about how parents can play a part creating a more equitable education system

Research shows that performance gaps take root in the earliest years of our lives and often fail to narrow in the years that follow. While many countries around the world continue to face the difficult challenge of getting students into the classroom, once they are enrolled and at their desk, it is important to understand what other factors might support or hinder the success of young learners. 

Minority students are more likely to face significant barriers to quality education in public schools. Anecdotes, research, and discrimination lawsuits all reveal that students of color face bias in schools. Research shows they’re disciplined more harshly, less likely to be placed in advanced or honors programs, or to have access to highly qualified teachers. In the United States, two-thirds of minority students attend schools that are predominantly minority students. Most of these schools are located in cities and are underfunded compared to neighboring suburban districts. In total, non-white school districts get $23 billion less funding than white districts despite serving the same number of students. 

What is taught in schools can have a lasting effect on how we view ourselves, our community, and our world. School is meant to be an enriching and safe community to learn, explore, and grow. But for many students around the world, the education systems we uphold today fail to teach and treat all students fairly.

When implemented with strategic support from school districts, industry partners, and community support, education technology becomes an essential component of building a more equitable future. Online learning offerings can reduce barriers for young learners to continue to build skills at their own pace, which is especially important during this time of significant school disruption. Young people around the world also often face substantial challenges in their transition from school to working life and technology can help reduce inequity beyond the classroom by helping prepare young learners with skills and competencies to succeed after their formal educational years are over. Youth from disadvantaged backgrounds face even greater challenges as they are more likely to leave formal education prematurely and therefore lack the foundational skills needed to build a successful career. The learning crisis begins in schools, but manifests itself in the labor market.

A holistic approach to learning that combines community support, teacher enablement, technology access and training and vocational based learning can increase the chances of a prosperous future for all students. IBM's PTECH Program and free, online learning platform IBM SkillsBuild are two examples of how communities, industry partners and education systems are coming together to create more equitable communities.

Share your learning with a Social Sticker!

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create a more equitable education system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

Low educational achievement can lead to fewer economic prospects later in life, hindering the opportunity for social mobility across generations. Until all students are supported fairly in school, society loses out. There are both labor market and social returns on a strong, well-rounded education; inequitable educational opportunities have the potential to perpetuate deeper economic inequalities, especially in developing countries. While there has been progress made to reduce the inequalities in schools across some minority groups, many students continue to face significant barriers while pursuing their education. What students learn and experience in school affects their future. Hear the inspiring stories of how inclusive technology education has helped these PTECH students elevate their career opportunities.

When Schools Aren't Equitable, Society Loses Out

An investigation revealed one company's practice of allowing its advertisers to exclude users from seeing housing ads based on their race and ethnicity. As a result of the litigation, the company agreed to stop allowing advertisers to discriminate against people of color and other protected classes.

Housing has historically been the main asset for families to build wealth between generations, therefore equitable access to housing is essential to ensure equal opportunity to homeownership. The bottom line is that persistent housing discrimination perpetuates inequality.

Seventy-three percent of white families own a home compared with just forty-five percent of black families in the United States.

Difference in Home Ownership between Black and White Families in the United States

Learn more about how European cities can become more inclusive

Learn more about the impacts of bias in the housing system in the United States

Read The State of the Nations Housing report

Learn more about how segregation was imposed upon cities across the United States

Access to safe housing is one way privilege can manifest in our lives. Many factors contribute to an approval on a mortgage or lease; applicants must demonstrate a steady income, a clean criminal or eviction record, strong credit scores, have a great realtor and the flexibility to take time off work. This laundry list of systemic checks can be problematic for minorities who may face additional barriers due to their skin color, sexual orientation, criminal record, marital status or accent, to name a few.

When you think of the word "home," what comes to mind? A place to take shelter, to make memories with your family and friends, a safe space to relax? Sometimes we may not realize how important our home and a sense of community is and how access to a safe place to live is not always fairly accessible.

Aside from individual awareness, legislation can help protect vulnerable communities. In Europe,  Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights helps protect people and communities from discrimination. The Protocol protects people from discrimination based on sex, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion and many other statuses.

In the United States, The Fair Housing Act helps protect people and communities from discrimination in a similar way to Protocol No. 12 in Europe. It prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks or other lending institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to persons because of:

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create a more equitable housing system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

Imagine this. You are moving to a new city for a new job. You know a few people in the area and ask for suggestions on places to live. As you narrow down your search, you find two options with all the features you want. You call the leasing office and a woman named Leslie answers. She seems friendly and knowledgeable about the area. She confirms the floor plan you want is available for move-in.

The next day you’re out running errands and decide to drive over to the complex to apply in person. As you enter the building, a woman walks up to you and says, “You can pick up the mail in the post office box around the corner.” You notice her name tag says “Leslie” and you clarify that you talked to her yesterday about one of the apartments which is available. Leslie says, “Oh” and gives you a wrinkled application to complete. She says they don’t have any model apartments to show today. You ask her to call you once something becomes available for you to view. 

You never hear back. A few days later, your application is denied without reason. You are confused because you have good credit and meet the qualifications and the leasing agents have not called your references. You ask your friend Avery to call and ask about the same apartment, and she is told it is still available.

You start venting to your friends in your group chat about what happened to you. Your friends are all minorities of different races, ethnicities, generations and backgrounds. Some of them say they’ve had similar experiences when they bought their homes. One couple said they noticed their first realtor wouldn’t even show them homes in certain neighborhoods. Lawful segregation has ended in most parts of the world, but many of the systems in place today continue to uphold this inequitable status quo. Despite your stable finances and excellent credit score, you feel anxious and stressed about finding a place to live in a biased community.

The Hurdles of Inequitable Housing

Racist acts begin with the reprehensible assumption that the color of a person's skin determines how they should be treated. That assumption can have major implications for the chance of fair opportunities for success for people of color, especially when they are part of a society or system that often fails to support people in their re-entry into society after imprisonment. The effects of an unsuccessful re-entry into society are devastating for the individual, as well as for their communities. In the United States, a conviction can be a permanent punishment against an incarcerated person and hinder them from leading a successful life. Often times, hiring practices use criminal records, limited education, lack of employment history, and other related factors as a way to narrow the candidate pool, eliminating qualified applicants from earning positions. When organizations neglect to consider the entire history of a person, they strip previously incarcerated people from one of the most important steps toward a fair future.

In Australia, Aboriginal people make up 3% of the population in Australia, yet constitute 29% of the prison population. 

In the UK, people from minority ethnic groups make up only 9% of the total population, yet constitute 26% of the prison population. 

In Canada, Indigenous people make up 5% of the total population, yet constitute 30% of the prison population. 

In South Africa, though both White people and Coloured* people populations make up about 9% of the population in South Africa, 18.2% of prisoners are Coloured people while only 1.6% are White people.  *Coloured is an official term used in South Africa user to refer to a person who has one Black parent.

See how the rates of incarceration highlight inequities in criminal justice systems around the world.

Global: Rates of Incarceration by Country and Race

Learn about the disproportionate number of African Americans in United States prisons

Learn about bias in the European justice system

Learn more about the story of the boys who were prosecuted in the Central Park, New York City jogger case

Hear the story of Kalief Browder, a man kept in a U.S. prison for 3 years without a conviction

Compare incarceration rates in U.S states to other countries around the world

For many of us, we believe that if a person is imprisoned, it is because they committed a crime and are serving a fair punishment for exhibiting behaviors that might harm others or threaten the safety of a community. But what if we told you that people are not protected equally? In Canada, indigenous people make up 5% of the total population, and yet constitute 30% of the prison population. Aboriginal people make up 3% of the population in Australia, yet make up 29% of the prison population. In the United States, white and black people engage in illicit drug use at similar rates, yet black people are more likely to be arrested for it. Black people comprise only 13% of the total population, but account for 34% of those incarcerated in federal prisons for drug violations. Hispanic people engage in illicit drug use at lower rates than white and black populations, and comprise just 18.5% of the U.S population. Yet, they represent 40% of those incarcerated in federal prisons for drug violations.

This inequitable representation of people in our prisons reflects inequities in criminal justice systems around the world. How does your home country compare? Explore the interactive data from the World Justice Project to learn more about how law is perceived and experienced where you live.

Mass incarceration rates point to a disproportionately high rate of imprisonment for black men, and these numbers can be traced back to early interactions with law enforcement. We know this is a heavy topic, but it's important to be informed about police brutality so we can demand reform and show up for communities of color. Read more about policing in different democracies  and how that impacts policy brutality by country.

Imagine walking through the hallway of a prison. What do you see? What do you assume about the actions of the people who are locked away? What constitutes a crime, and who gets to decide?

Organizations, governments, and prison systems all have a role to play in leveling the playing field for people of color. Businesses can partner with local prison systems to scale online learning platforms and provide industry-backed up-skilling opportunities to equip incarcerated people with skills they need to be successful upon re-entry into society. Governments can re-evaluate programs that perpetuate incarceration and refocus on developing more cost effective programs aimed at rehabilitation and community services. Cities like Chicago and Portland in the United States have seen tremendous success reducing the rates of juvenile crime by offering alternative detention programs to address the disproportionate confinement of youth of color.

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create a more equitable criminal justice system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

A juvenile Detention Center in New York City was an intake facility for young people under 15 years old who awaited trial or placement in a larger detention facility. These inmates were often the victims of an inequitable criminal justice system; 95% of the juvenile detainees were African-American or Latino, and 54% of detainees came from the same 15 low-income minority neighborhoods. Recognizing the failings of this system, the state committed to permanently closing and repurposing the facilities. Instead of maintaining the status quo by creating a new prison facility, the city committed to strengthening the local community and invested over $300 million USD in affordable housing, retail and community space in hopes of creating a brighter, more fair future for all community members.

A Story of Hope

A popular health care algorithm that helps identify which patients need additional support was found to have racial bias. An estimated 200 million people are affected each year by similar algorithms that are used in hospitals and government agencies.

There are great opportunities to blend technology into different sectors. Within the healthcare industry, and especially in hospitals, there is a need to make decisions quickly. All health care workers do their jobs to the best of their abilities with the resources they have. Unfortunately biases can show up anywhere, even within tools that shouldn't factor in race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or other identifiers.

In South Africa, research found that 40.8% of Black people and 22.9% of Coloured people reported going without medical care at some point in the last year, compared with 10.9% of White people and 6.9% of Asian people. 

*In South Africa, the word "coloured" is an official term used to refer to a person who has one Black parent. Under South African law, Black people include Africans, Coloureds, and Indians with South African citizenship. 

Percentages of people of different ethnicities going without medical care. In South Africa, the word "coloured" is an official term used to refer to a person who has one Black parent. 

Population in South Africa Without Access to Healthcare in 2020

Learn more about how Watson Health can promote equitable access to quality healthcare

Serena Williams speaks out about her experience of racism in the healthcare system

Read more about the importance of racially diverse doctors and medical training

Imagine this: You wake up with severe stomach pains. You decide you need medical attention and when you arrive at the doctor's office they ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10; you rate your pain a 7.

Do you expect your doctor to trust your judgement and treat your pain as you describe it? 

Bias in the healthcare system can contribute to unequal care for many minority patients. For example, research shows that black people and other minority groups in the United States experience higher rates of illness, worse outcomes, and premature death.  A few of the other ways healthcare experiences can differ in the U.S. include access to quality doctors, location of facilities, doctor awareness of diagnosing illnesses on darker skin tones, and a lack of funding to establish care centers in higher minority population communities.

If our families can afford healthcare to take us to a doctor as children for regular check-ups, we assume everyone has access to doctors who are focused on our growth, diet, exercise, and overall well being. As children, we hope to have a positive experience when we seek medical care. This assumption is not something to take for granted. Not everyone is afforded equal access to quality doctors and medical care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions have transformed our healthcare systems. Vast data sets, including health records, images, population data, and clinical trial data can be analyzed to uncover patterns and insights that humans might not be able to uncover on their own. Healthcare organizations can use algorithms to help them make better business and clinical decisions and improve the quality of the experiences they provide. By diversifying data sources, increasing AI literacy in society and increasing transparency in algorithms, data scientists and healthcare professionals can ensure the AI deployed is equitable.

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create a more equitable healthcare system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

Two patients of the same age visit the same doctor, but their experiences are dramatically different. 

Emily is pregnant at the age of 30. She dropped out of high school to support her family. Presently, she works a 9-5 job, 5 days a week. She is excited to meet her baby boy, Jacob! She starts her maternity leave and a week later Emily starts feeling contractions. She calls her friend to take her to the hospital and 16 hours later Jacob is born. Emily continues to feel pain in her abdomen after delivery; in an abundance of caution, the doctors decide to keep Emily at the hospital a few more days to monitor her pain and keep her on close watch. A few days later Emily is pain free and goes home with Jacob and begins a new chapter in her life as a mom. 

Grace is pregnant at the age of 30. She earned her legal degree from a well acclaimed University and runs a successful practice. She owns her own home in a great neighborhood. She is excited about her baby girl, Elizabeth! Two days before her due date she starts to feel contractions and her family takes her to the hospital.  She delivers a healthy baby girl. The next day she notices some swelling in her right leg which she mentions to her doctor. Her doctor dismisses her pain and says that it's likely related to swelling she had before delivery and will probably go down in a few days. She is released to go home with Elizabeth the same day as her delivery. One week later, Grace is rushed back into the hospital due to excruciating pain in her leg resulting from an untreated, life-threatening condition.

Why did these two women have different experiences ?

Even with all of the emotional, physical, and monetary support, Grace's health was still threatened due to faults in the healthcare system that show bias in the treatment of patients based on race. It was discovered that Grace developed a blood clot after giving birth which would have been identified and treated if only further evaluation was done at the time she pointed out the swelling in her leg. 

Grace's story is unfortunately not unique. While there are many drivers of maternal mortality according to the CDC, data suggest the majority of deaths, 60% or more, could have been prevented. Identifying and addressing implicit bias in health care would likely improve health outcomes.

A Tale of Two Patients

There is no doubt, the media has the power to influence behavior and call attention to important social issues. But it can also be used to undermine progress toward equity. With social media, for example, it's easy to amplify your message and quickly share with friends, family and your broader network. However, it's challenging, if not impossible, to control the audience of your post once it is shared. 

Without a diverse network or social media following, posts can circulate in an "echo chamber" of like-minded people, thus reinforcing potentially misleading or racist messages. These networks of information can detract from the momentum of movements like #BlackLivesMatter and ultimately hinder progress toward equity. Similarly, a blanket anti-racist statement or post on social media can make individuals or organizations complacent. Sharing a post is not the same as taking action. We must hold ourselves, our friends and families, our governments and businesses accountable to their commitments to progress.

What, and who, we see on our screens matters. Under representation or misrepresentation of minority groups can reinforce stereotypes. It is essential we continue to demand better from the shows, movies, and music we love to ensure equitable representation reflective of the reality of our multi-cultural world.

In Canada, only 4% of female characters and 12% of male characters in Canadian dramatic series are people of minority backgrounds.

Representation of Minority Women and Men in Canadian Drama Series

Research on immigrant representation on TV and what moves audiences to action

Learn to see through protesters' eyes with these podcasts

For journalists: How to cover racial inequality

The Science of Political Polarization and Social Media: an interview with Jaime Settle

The impact of COVID-19 has magnified this reliance on the media and digital content for information globally; book reading and audiobook listening increased by 14 percent, social media usage increased by 21 percent, and news consumption surged 36 percent. With this increase in consumption comes an increase of power that the media has to influence the perceptions of ourselves, and of others, through the way it represents, or under-represents, people around the world. 

As our media consumption increases, so must our commitment to careful examination of the sources of the content we're reading, watching and sharing. We must move away from being passive consumers and scrollers and swipers, to engaged allies in ensuring that the perspectives we share with others, and the perspectives we form of ourselves, promote and foster equity, rather than perpetuate existing bias and racism.

We consume more content and information today than ever before, using new digital technologies and platforms to source and share content at lightning speed. 

While there are drawbacks to using social media, it can also be a powerful tool to activate and inspire change. Information moves more rapidly than ever before and social media can help you spread learning and resources easily among your community, or reach new audiences. Your ideas and behaviors can affect people beyond your immediate circle; a post not only can influence your friends and immediate network, but also friends of friends whom you may never have met, and the friends of those friends as well.

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create more a equitable media system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

The faces and stories of the people we read about in books, on TV shows and in movies affects both how we perceive others, and how we perceive ourselves. Despite this, minorities are not adequately represented in mainstream media. As you learned above, in Canada, only 4% of female characters and 12% of male characters in Canadian dramatic series are people of minority backgrounds. Native Americans are rarely portrayed in mass media and when they are, they are typically depicted in a way that reinforces stereotypes. 

Representations associated with minority groups in the media can convey to minority group members that they do not belong and can't be successful in achievement-related fields outside of their reinforced stereotypes. A study conducted by The Opportunity Agenda uncovers a disturbing connection between media representation of black males and and lowered life expectancy. As a consumer, you can contribute to more equitable representation in the following ways:

Consider your consumption. Show your support by watching, sharing or donating to minority-led creative outlets

When contributing to media publications, in writing on online, use this communications builder tool from The Opportunity Agenda to ensure your coverage is equitable

Sign petitions, like this one in the United States, that demand for equitable reporting and representation in news and media outlets

A New Entertainment Media

People often naturally gravitate to groups of like-minded people to establish a level of comfort in their environments, like the workplace, the gym, worship center and social gatherings. This desire to fit in and feel accepted is no different in a workplace environment. But in a corporate environment, that natural inclination to gravitate towards people like yourself can result in hiring and promotions being affected by unconscious biases. Companies must educate managers and be intentional in their decision making to ensure that their hiring and promotion practices foster an environment of inclusion so that the talent pool is maximized, and every team member is supported and valued and can live up to their full potential. Managers need to be properly trained about unconscious bias and the concrete benefits offered by diverse teams to reduce the likelihood of situations like the one Aniko and Omid experience in the story above.

Transparency around diversity data is one way corporate leadership can be held accountable for taking steps toward greater equity. There is a long road ahead to improving representation, but there are also many reasons to celebrate progress. Learn how an inclusive work environment helped people of all different backgrounds and abilities build rewarding careers, develop new skills and find meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging in the workplace in IBM's 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Report. 

While we recognize gaps where progress is still needed, it is also important to celebrate small wins and allyship. Take a look at IBM's Be Equal Timeline to see how IBM has lead the charge in allyship for the past 100 years and explore the many ways you can become an ally yourself.

Global: Minority Representations by Role at IBM in 2019

Read the inspiring stories of how IBM is inspiring the next generation of technology leaders

Confronting Racism at Work: A Reading List

IBM Establishes First Quantum Education and Research Initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Read more about IBM's history and commitment to diversity and inclusion

Learn more about IBM's Be Equal initiative

Regardless of when you start a corporate job, you may hear the words “mentor,” “sponsor,” or “champion.” These informal roles are filled by experienced individuals and can have very real, beneficial impacts on your career. You know that having an influential, strong leader in your corner can help propel your career, so you start looking for potential mentors on day one of your new job. As you begin your search for a mentor, you realize there aren't many minority leaders at your organization. The lack of diversity makes you wonder if you can have genuine conversations about your struggles adjusting to corporate life. Will your opinions be heard and valued? What can you do to make a difference?

Working in a corporate role can open the door to opportunities, but navigating the corporate world as a new hire can be daunting. If you have friends or family with corporate experience, they can help answer questions you have and give advice to help you prepare for your first day. But what if you are the first person in your family to join a corporate team and don't have an established support system? 

Research shows that teams with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and mindsets deliver better results.  

Inclusive decision making is becoming a significant part of corporate strategy given that inclusive teams drive better decision making up to 87% of the time. It is also smart business to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  Where available talent is limited, programs like P-TECH help propel underserved youth into successful entry level jobs. P-TECH, an alternate model of public education, enables students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year post-secondary degree in a STEM field while concurrently participating in workplace experiences, including mentorship, worksite visits and paid internships. P-TECH is designed to help build a pipeline for young tech talent, diversify the talent pool and close the skills gap in underserved communities. These programs have become world-renowned and speak to the importance of supporting diverse and inclusive practices at every stage in the employment relationship.

What can leaders like Aniko do to prevent bias in their hiring and promotion practices?

Leaders have an additional responsibility to guard against bias in the workplace. Learning about racial equity and how to combat the factors that may hinder it is an important first step, and becoming a mentor or sponsor for junior employees is another way to take the commitment to racial equity to the next level. Mentors can drive equitable change within an organization, regardless of their role or rank, much like Sam supported Omid in preparing for promotion conversations and navigating challenging work environments. Here are some resources to help you become an effective, equitable leader and mentor:

Seven ways to be inclusive in your every day life

How to be an inclusive leader through crisis

Use your everyday privilege to help others

What can employees like Omid do to advocate for themselves or others passed up for an opportunity?

Finding a mentor or a sponsor is a great place to start when trying to navigate the nuances of a new role or a corporate job. Many organizations have formal mentoring programs, but if yours doesn't, ask your manager or another trusted teammate for suggestions. Mentors can be people inside or outside of an organization, and Omid should lean on the expertise of Sam to help him advocate for himself. Lastly, if you feel you have been adversely affected by bias at work, raise the issue to your Human Resources team. They will help you navigate the situation to find a solution, and, if necessary, take appropriate disciplinary action.

Thank you for taking the time to learn how together we can create a more equitable corporate system. Share this sticker on social media to show off your new learning and invite others to join the conversation. When we put in the work together, we advance towards a more equitable and just future for everyone.

Omid recently finished a career-accelerator fellowship program with his university. As part of the fellowship program, he was paired with a mentor, Sam, who is a Vice President at the company that he hopes to work for upon graduation. Sam's company partnered with Omid's university, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), to bring in new talent from underrepresented communities. Upon graduation, Omid is delighted to accept an offer to join Sam's company in a new, innovative product development division. 

Three years later and Omid is thriving in his career. Sam is no longer at the company, but Omid sees Sam as a mentor and they speak regularly. Omid is a top performer; a product idea that he pitched has become one of the company's best sellers. Omid is happy because of the recognition he has received for his work from his manager Aniko and hopes for a promotion. In the past, Omid has initiated promotion conversations with Aniko without success, despite receiving stellar marks in evaluations. Omid hopes this year's annual review is different.

Omid is nervous as he walks into Aniko's office, but after preparing with Sam, Omid is confident he deserves a promotion and feels ready to ask for one. Aniko praises Omid's work ethic and performance, but Omid is shocked and disappointed that he will not be promoted again this year.

Omid walks out of the room and approaches a table where some colleagues are sitting. Omid tells them about the conversation with Aniko and how disappointed he is about the final results. Omid's colleagues are shocked because Omid is clearly a top performer. One colleague says, "I didn't have to do nearly as much as you did for my promotion," and a few others around the table agree. Another colleague says she has also been fighting for a promotion with no progress, despite receiving high performance reviews for the past four years in a row. Omid notices the people who have been promoted under Aniko are all of the same race. Could Aniko's promotion decisions be biased? How can Omid advocate for himself and where can he go for help?

Spread the word!

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