Racing Toward Equity: A Community Workshop

Racing Toward Equity: What is Race? How do We Understand and Move Toward Antiracism?

In this session, we will consider identity and engage in a conversation about race, racism, and antiracism. This session will provide an overview of vocabulary and language to understand what race is, how race is constructed and created, and what we can do to move toward antiracism.

Attendees will receive an antiracism syllabus, booklist, and critical thinking questions.

This workshop is sponsored by the Racial Justice Team of St. John United Church of Christ, the Prairie Association of the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, and anonymous donors.

Biography

Jessica M. Oladapo is a Social Scientist and Mental Health Professional by trade with education and formal training in Sociology and Social and Counseling Psychology. She began her career as a Social Worker in 2005, but soon transitioned to teaching in higher education in 2009. Ms. Oladapo teaches courses in both Sociology and Psychology, emphasizing Belonging, Social Justice, & Restorative Justice Practices.

For Ms. Oladapo, “love is a business strategy.” She strongly believes that when we focus on love and belonging, vital to the human experience, businesses, organizations, families, and individuals benefit.

Ms. Oladapo is also a Professional Counselor, who works with clients on issues related to work/life balance as well as marginalized/minoritized identities and the impact that may have on our mental health. More specifically, she assists clients in unpacking the impact of structural factors on lived experiences and mental health. Her therapeutic approach encourages mindful living and belonging.

In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, traveling and hiking with her partner, and being a mother to her four children.

Relevant Experience

In 2015, after being convinced to conduct a diversity training for both a local police department as well as the school district of the same town, she began her small business, Diversity to Inclusion, Inc. (D2I, Inc.).

Since that time, Ms. Oladapo, has trained and led facilitated conversations for global corporations, school districts, religious organizations, regional banks, institutions of higher education, and more. Ms. Oladapo has also expanded to include the development of racial equity teams for organizations and educational entities, as well as individual equity coaching and facilitation services. The overall goal for Ms. Oladapo in the DEIBA space is to encourage all to seek liberation and equity by engaging in equity and justice filled conversation, critical thought, and advocacy and allyship. For Ms. Oladapo, the mission of the work is to move beyond diversity to seek inclusion and move beyond equality to seek equity and belonging. This movement is possible through deliberate and constant critical thought and self analysis that keeps the focus on intersectional approaches to equity and justice.

Web Address: www.diversity2inclusion.org

Host or Publisher St. John United Church of Christ