R.I.S.E. offers a New Approach to Dismantle White Supremacy through the Intentional Centering of Equity and the Redistribution of Power and Resources

Converge is taking a deeper dive into the traditional DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) training that has generally failed to deliver on its past promises of equality in the workplace. According to a Harvard Business School study, “Five years after instituting required training for managers, companies saw no improvement in the proportion of white women, black men, and Hispanics in management, and the share of Black women actually decreased by 9%, on average, while the ranks of Asian-American men and women shrank by 4% to 5%.”

As a result, it is kicking off a six-hour introductory online workshop on Friday, November 20, that introduces the proprietary R.I.S.E. (Racial InterSectional Equity) concept and helps attendees better understand systemic privilege. Approximately 25 attendees can participate in the first live Zoom session, the first of a much more comprehensive curriculum to be launched in February 2021. One additional R.I.S.E. workshop will be offered on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 and will focus on introducing the concepts of institutional racism and how it deeply affects corporate equality as well as productivity. 

Workshops will be followed by a voluntary immersion into R.I.S.E. digital communities where attendees can personally reflect on identity, how to reimagine a more equitable work environment and deal with the ongoing intrinsic nature of privilege. “A lot of professionals are committed to dismantling racism, but are unsure where to start,” said Converge’s Founder and CEO, Takema Robinson. “In this R.I.S.E. 101 workshop, we will unpack white supremacy and identify how companies can explicitly root out racism and replace it with equitable approaches that operationalize the company’s commitment to equity, which ultimately benefit everyone.” 

R.I.S.E. grew out of Converge Consulting’s more than 20 years of experience in driving radical changes in corporate environments so Black people, and people of all ethnicities, can thrive. But its roots stem from Robinson’s personal history of accelerating the creation of a radically just new world. Her expertise in strategic philanthropy, policy advocacy and fundraising, has enabled her to build a company with clients like the Ford Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Walmart Foundation and George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, representing over $50 billion in philanthropic investment worldwide. While she’s also tackled grassroots criminal justice initiatives, Robinson’s work has always centered on an analysis of systemic oppression and racism and how to operationalize racial and intersectional equity.  

“Throughout our client conferences and intensive trainings, we’ve consistently received feedback that tells us people value not only our strategies and techniques to drive radical change, but also the community that we build together,” added Robinson. “Now, in addition to the education portion, we are offering a platform so that attendees can forever stay connected with their tribe in order to continue to grow as individuals and leaders, and continue to make those vital impacts in our society.” 

R.I.S.E. 101: An Introductory Training is the first in a series of Converge College certified trainings that will be offered in the spring and fall semesters of 2021. As a completely virtual, online program, it will champion corporate profitability through a lens of inclusion and provide the space to do some very proactive, very effective racial equity programs. Interested attendees can learn more and register for R.I.S.E. at: www.convergeforchange.com/r-i-s-e