We are all living in challenging times that our past experience and training has not sufficiently prepared us for. Too often, well intentioned equity efforts do not succeed—and even produce unintended consequences. This can lead to frustration, hopelessness and cynicism. This workshop offers an introduction to our Liberatory Design approach.

Liberatory Design is an approach to addressing equity challenges and change efforts in complex systems. It is a process and practice to:

• Create designs that help interrupt inequity and increase opportunity for those most impacted by oppression

• Transform power by shifting the relationships between those who hold power to design and those impacted by these designs

• Generate critical learning and increased agency for those involved in the design work

At the core of Liberatory Design are a set of beliefs: racism and inequity have been designed into systems and thus can be designed out of systems; designing for equity requires the meaningful participation of those impacted by inequity; and equity-driven designs require equity and complexity informed processes.

The Liberatory Design approach and card deck was originally created as part of a collaboration between the National Equity Project (Victor Cary and Tom Malarkey) and the Stanford d.school's K12 Lab (Tania Anaissie, David Clifford, and Susie Wise) in 2016. Our approach to Liberatory Design is grounded in our Leading for Equity Framework and integrates human-centered design (aka design thinking) with complex systems theory and deep equity practice.

We are excited to offer Center for Equity Leadership Virtual Workshops – 3-hour interactive sessions where participants will engage with a single focused topic, connect with other equity leaders around the world, and gain new tools to add to their equity practice. Workshops are bite-sized nuggets of knowledge, frameworks and tools that are delivered in a highly engaging way. Who should attend:

• Social service professionals , social workers, case managers, child welfare workers, etc

• Mental health clinicians

• Healthcare providers, physicians, and administrators

This workshop will be delivered in a live, 3-hour interactive learning session conducted online in Zoom. Attend the live session with facilitators and fellow participants and gain new knowledge and skills to bring back to your own context. Participants receive electronic versions of all resources and tools.

We are intensely focused on humanizing our virtual spaces. We focus on interactivity and connection (these workshops are not webinars), frequent screen and body breaks, and attending to learning, practice, and healing in community with people around the world.

“A beautifully crafted space where belonging and healing is centered. It is a must for BIPOC leaders!”

– Sandy Maldonado

“I cannot explain how valuable and much needed this virtual learning space was for my soul. The ability to unlearn, and be able embrace my own healing, power and agency was something I did not know I needed but found.”

– Edith

“The material, presenters, vibrations, and overall experience is something I've never felt in 23 years of life. 10/10 recommend. I can't find the entire words just yet, other than just please sign up. “

– Maribel Sanchez