Undoing Racism®
Executive Collective Gathering
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Join Us on Zoom: Monday, March 3, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. ET
March Topic:
Connection Counts: Unlocking Hidden Strengths Through Trust and Relational Leadership
In an era marked by profound uncertainty and collective trauma, organizations across all sectors face immense challenges. Our leaders must navigate external pressures and internal divisions. With employees from all over the globe and five generations in the workspace, there are often diverse perspectives that reflect deeply-rooted differences that can complicate decision-making and undermine team cohesion.
This month’s gathering is designed for leaders committed to transforming their organizations into communities that prioritize relational integrity over tracking and producing. We will address the pervasive sense of fear and the emotional toll of navigating a world where safety and self-care are paramount. By focusing on trust, courage, and intentional self-healing, we will discuss how you and your teams can create a culture where every team member feels secure, connected, and empowered to contribute their best work.
Join us as we explore proven strategies to cultivate a culture that not only meets external challenges but also fortifies the inner fabric of your organization. Together, we’ll demonstrate how to unlock and multiply hidden strengths and foster resiliency, compassion, and connection to see your organization through turbulent times.
Presenters: Tree Willard and David A. Burks, MBA
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Undoing Racism® Executive Collective Gathering
ZOOM REGISTRATION
You Must Register in advance to join this gathering.
Click here to Register:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PagBRQgURUCIiVqU-C8DNQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the gathering.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL TO REGISTER.
If you have any problems with the Zoom link, please contact: mpgconsultingnyc@gmail.com
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Undoing Racism® Executive Collective Overview:
This group is designed for people in senior leadership in their organizations, particularly executive directors and their senior leadership teams, who have substantial decision-making authority and are invested in nurturing the organizations they lead to become more equitable, just, and anti-racist institutions. The group offers the opportunity to gather with peers and grapple collectively and honestly with the challenges leaders encounter and to build strategies and support for overcoming those challenges. Others are also welcome.
Our work is guided by the principles of The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, who are recognized internationally for their Undoing Racism® Workshop and Community Organizing Workshop.
Contact: https://pisab.org/undoing-racism-community-organizing-workshop/
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*Scroll down for Accountability Hubs and Resources. | |
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Tree Willard (They/Them) is a coach, facilitator, strategist, and speaker working at the intersections of justice, healing, and cultural restoration. Their passion for justice and peace has grounded their work as a nonprofit leader, activist, and antiracist community organizer, as well as their journey as a parent, artist, and singer/songwriter. A Two Spirit Cherokee citizen, they bring over twenty-five years of experience bridging cultures and nurturing holistic well-being in families and communities. Their expertise spans nonprofit leadership, grassroots organizing, and policy advocacy, with a focus on creating equitable systems of power—from local schools to national legislation. With deep expertise in nonprofit leadership, organizational consulting, and community engagement, Tree helps teams and leaders shift from command-and-control models and habits to a culture of collaboration and connection, fostering innovation, psychological safety, and collective impact.
Tree has founded organizations, led grassroots campaigns, and supported leaders in building cultures of care and collaboration. They are currently a coach, facilitator, trainer and speaker with MPG Consulting as well as fundraising for Hylo.com, a platform designed to help changemakers collaborate and learn from one another, and serve as co-chair of Youth Passageways, a national network dedicated to cultural restoration and community healing; working to reclaim, remember, and restore Indigenous cultures and the land that sustain our souls' thriving relationship with the Great Mystery.
Their work is grounded in three core principles: authenticity, interconnectedness, and transformation. "True change begins when we honor our whole selves, recognize our deep interdependence, and commit to creating systems that reflect our shared humanity."
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David A. Burks, MBA (He/Him/His) is a Senior Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, and Speaker with MPG Consulting. Throughout his career, he has leveraged his expertise in human resources, finance, technology, and operations to help Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies create a better world for members of marginalized and underrepresented communities. He especially loves harnessing his knowledge of pop culture to translate complex and diverse ideas to a great cross section of our society.
In his career, David has succeeded as a CEO, CFO, charter school founder, and Board President. He has built a level of expertise in which leaders in multiple sectors have benefitted from directing their organizations through the process of becoming more people-focused. Today, he helps clients create greater accessibility and opportunity for their staff and constituencies through strategic planning, organizational audits, executive coaching, and employee resource group facilitation.
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We encourage you to connect with ACCOUNTABILITY HUBS. All Hubs Are Free!
Our Virtual Accountability Hubs offer an additional place to grapple in meaningful ways with your anti-racist leadership, practice, and organizational culture.
See updates and NEW hubs below.
All hubs are FREE.
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AANHPI Undoing Racism® Collective
The AANHPI Undoing Racism® Collective is an Undoing Racism®Accountability Hub for all AANHPI Leaders who are invested in nurturing their organizations to become more equitable, just, and anti-racist institutions. This group offers the opportunity to gather with other AANHPI peers to explore our AANHPI identities and discuss collectively and honestly the challenges leaders encounter and to build strategies and support for overcoming
those challenges. We are a group of Asian Americans who meet via Zoom on the second Friday of every month at 11 am EST.
To learn more about he AANHPI Undoing Racism® Collective, email Ben at bchan@cfrny.org
BIPOC SHIP Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
BIPOC SHIP is a Black, Indigenous, People of Color Accountability Hub
that meets virtually every third Thursday at 2 pm EST to grapple with the
challenges in their organizations. It is a brave space where anti-racist professionals and service providers Support, Heal, Inspire, and Plan to dismantle barriers to equity. Participants enjoy an opportunity to add to their knowledge, focus on solutions, be in community, and expand their network with other passionate professionals committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression.
This gathering is open to all BIPOC who seek connection and solutions on their
anti-racist journey.
To join us for our next meeting, email Lynn at: lynn@mpgconsultingnyc.com
LEADERSHIP AND MIDDLE MANAGERS Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
The Leadership and Middle Managers Accountability Hub is a brave space
for Middle Managers, Directors and Leadership teams of all races and cultural
backgrounds who are passionate about dismantling structural racism within
their institutions. This is a gathering for leaders with substantial decision-making authority who are invested in helping their organizations in becoming more equitable and anti-racist environments where everyone feels that they belong and that they can succeed. Participants virtually meet with peers at 9:30 am EST on the second Tuesday of the month to grapple collectively and honestly with the challenges anti-racist leaders encounter in their organizations.
To learn more about The Leadership and Middle Managers Accountability Hub, email Shane at shane.king98@yahoo.com
MOCA (Men Of Color Assemble) Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
MOCA (Men of Color Assemble) is an Undoing Racism® Executive Collective Accountability Hub and a place for all men of color (Black, Indigenous, AANHPI, Latino) to shed some of the masks that we are forced to wear daily and grapple with the challenges in our professional and personal lives. It's an opportunity to be part of a community, experience joy, share pains, get answers from the collective, and expand your network with other passionate professionals committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression. Come laugh, vent, and try your hand at 90s Hip-Hop trivia. Hell, we might even frolic. We meet virtually every FIRST Thursday of the month from 2-3:30 PM EST.
Email David A. Burks, MBA at davidaburks.mpgc@gmail.com and Christian Smith, LICSW at christians.mpgc@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.
REST Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
REST - A New Accountability Hub for Black people and people of the Diaspora centering Black joy and healing. A space to lay down our masks and armor and breathe in liberatory practices that will aid in our collective healing.This space is open to anyone that identifies themselves as Black. Join us in community starting September 25th.The space opens at 3:30PM ET and lasts until 5:00PM ET. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month unless notified.
Email Michelle Lawrence, she/her creator and co-anchor, Michelle.Lawrence@safehorizon.org or Levon Williams, he/him co-anchor Levon.Williams@RootedinEquity.com
WHITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
The Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub for White Executive Directors is a brave space for White Executive Directors to come together and grapple with what it means to be a white executive director doing ant-racist work. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month from 8:30am–9:50am EST and the fourth Tuesday from 4:30pm-5:50pm EST. Gather with your peers to discuss challenges, opportunities and the state of affairs. There are occasional guest speakers as well. Email Brigid with your questions: brigid.lang@gmail.com
WHITE LEADERS Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
The White Leaders Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub is a brave space for White folks who are looking for a community to learn about and practice Undoing Racism® in our work and personal lives. In collaboration with the multiracial First Monday gatherings, we meet as a collective to:
- Help each other while we are at different places on our anti-racist journey.
- Learn and do the work together.
- Lean on other white people which takes the burden off people of color who shouldn’t always have to teach us, hold emotional space for us, or tell us what to do.
- Allow a space for more honesty; not “performing anti-racism,” but to work through problems.
- Our group emphasizes accountability as well as putting theory into practice.
Meetings are every second Thursday of the month from 3-4:30pm EST.
For more information, email Jenn at jenniferrosepatel@gmail.com or Hillary
at hkolos@gmail.com
WHITE MEN'S Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub
The White Men's Undoing Racism® Accountability Hub holds space where white men committed to undoing racism can support, inspire and plan together. There is an opportunity for white men to share their stories and ideas, get and give feedback on personal and professional challenges, and be in community with other white men in the antiracist movement. The group values the freedom to share vulnerably, reflection on how our race and gender have been socialized, compassionate mutual aid, and antiracist organizing. Meetings are every second Tuesday of the month from 2-3pm EST.
For more information, email Dr. Ben Kohl at benkohljr@gmail.com
Please click the link below for updated information:
Accountability Hubs Flip Book
Please reach out directly to the Hub anchors to RSVP and with any specific questions you may have. We welcome additional Hub ideas.
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RESOURCES FROM JANUARY MEETING | | |
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A Ray of Sunshine is something that makes people or places happier and more cheerful especially during difficult times. | | |
UNDOING RACISM® WORKSHOPS
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Our work is guided by the principles of The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, who are recognized internationally for their Undoing Racism® Workshop and Community Organizing Workshop. Contact: https://pisab.org/undoing-racism-community-organizing-workshop/
MPG Consulting is the CE Provider for The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond’s Undoing Racism® Workshops in New York State. This workshop provides 16 CE Credit hours.
All are welcome! See the full schedule here: https://pisab.org/workshops-in-your-area/
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Undoing Racism® Executive Collective Co-anchors:
Lisa Martin, Bonnie Cushing, David A. Burks,
Robin Schlenger, Benjamin Kohl and Mary Pender Greene
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Dr. Lisa Martin
Dr. Lisa Martin (She/Her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and trauma informed DEIB consultant, trainer, and coach. Dr. Lisa’s work centers on building community, fostering healing, and solidifying the voice and impact of established and emerging BIPOC leaders and white allies.
Dr. Lisa maintains a private practice in New York and Florida and is a rostered psychologist for the National Basketball Players Association. She has been featured in several local and national publications, podcasts, and news broadcasts sharing her expertise on racial equity, stress management, and mental health. Dr. Lisa holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University.
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Bonnie Cushing, LCSW
Bonnie Cushing, LCSW (she/her), is a family therapist and an anti-racist organizer and educator. She is a trainer with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, the Center for the Study of White American Culture, the Soul Focused Group and the Center for Racial Justice in Education. Bonnie speaks widely on the impact of racism on the practice of social work, as well as its impact on white people and the specific role white people can play in the movement for racial justice.
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David A. Burks, MBA
David A. Burks, MBA (He/Him/His) is an anti-racist consultant, coach, facilitator, and speaker hailing from New Orleans, LA. Throughout his career, he’s worked with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and educational institutions to create a better world for members of marginalized and underrepresented communities. He especially loves leveraging his knowledge of pop culture to translate complex and diverse ideas to a great cross section of our society. Additionally, he serves on several nonprofit boards and is a Core Trainer with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond.
David’s work is centered on three core principles: strengths, equity, and joy. Everyone should have the opportunity to spend as much time working in their areas of STRENGTH instead of languishing in their areas of weakness. Our work should bring EQUITY, not just equality, to communities harmed by historical injustices. Finally, whenever possible, we should bring JOY to our interactions – especially when the topics of discussions are difficult.
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Robin Schlenger, LCSW
Robin Schlenger, LCSW (she/her) has many years of clinical and supervisory experience working in the nonprofit and public sectors. She is a practicing Anti-Racist Consultant, Coach, Organizer and Trainer, As a consultant, Robin specializes in facilitating presentations and trainings that are rooted in restorative and anti-racist principles. Robin is a current member of The People’s Institute of Survival and Beyond’s (PISAB) North East Leadership team and a member of The European Dissent (ED) leadership team, a group of people of European descent who “dissent” from the ideology of white supremacy. She speaks extensively on white privilege from an individual and organizational perspective and what it means to partner with people of color in antiracist work. She is also a regular contributor to the digital magazine, Three-Fifths and has co-written a chapter in Dr. Kenneth Hardy’s book The Enduring, Invisible and Ubiquitous Centrality of Whiteness.
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Benjamin Kohl, PhD, LCSW
Benjamin Kohl, PhD, LCSW (He/Him) is a social work clinician, educator and administrator whose career has focused on behavioral health services for children, youth and families in urban and rural settings. Ben is an antiracist organizer, trainer and consultant committed to the principles of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. Dr. Kohl has published articles and chapters on cross-racial clinical best practice, race-based caucusing, and antiracist organizational development. Currently Ben is an executive coach for MPG Consulting and convenes a monthly accountability hub for white men. He provides leadership on several non-profit boards and maintains a small psychotherapy practice on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
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Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP
Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP (she/her), is the President & CEO of MPG Consulting (MPGC), a company that is committed to eliminating bias and structural racism in the workspace. She is a career/executive coach, antiracist consultant, public speaker, and a psychotherapist with a private practice in Midtown Manhattan. She is a thought leader in the social services industry, recognized by her peers for her wisdom, contributions, and novel ideas on implicit bias, structural racism, and creating an inclusive institutional culture.
MPG Consulting supports organizations and leaders in their pursuit of an inclusive, fair, and respectful workplace that values all individuals and embraces diversity. Their racially and culturally diverse team brings to organizations a wide range of experience as coaches, clinicians, trainers, managers, and anti-racist organizational consultants in mental health, education, child welfare, business, legal, social justice and social service settings. MPGC is certified in New York City and New York State as an M/WBE.
Mary is the former Assistant Executive Director at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. She is the author of Creative Mentorship and Career-Building Strategies: How to Build Your Virtual Personal Board of Directors and coeditor of Strategies for Deconstructing Racism in the Health and Human Services.
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Lynn Mercredi
Lynn Mercredi (She/Her) is the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO of MPGC, Mary Pender Greene. With 15+ years of experience as an administrator, Lynn manages MPGC’s coaches, trainers, consultants, and clients with compassion and connection. She ensures the efficient handling of client inquiries, trainings, and consultations. Lynn provides logistical support for the monthly Executive Undoing Racism Collective and is the anchor for the BIPOC SHIP (Support Healing Inspiration Planning) hub, a virtual accountability hub for all BIPOC. She earned her BA in English from SUNY Albany.
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Kayla M. Cordero
Kayla M. Cordero (she/her/ella) is the Project Coordinator at MPG Consulting, bringing over 13 years of experience in administrative and office management, with a focus on serving diverse communities. She provides essential planning and logistical support for the monthly Executive Undoing Racism Collective. Kayla earned her BA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and her deep commitment to community empowerment fuels her work.
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Claire Julian
Claire Julian (she/her/hers & Afro-Caribbean) is the Learning and Branding Coordinator at MPG Consulting, working on diverse tasks, including Accountability Hub support. Her professional background includes extensive corporate and vendor-side Human Resources, Recruiting, and project management at global, publicly traded organizations and small entrepreneurial environments. Claire is enthusiastic about using her diverse skill set to advocate for antiracism and equity. She is also a mother, writer, yoga teacher, traveler, and music lover.
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