What does racism sound like here in Portland? Is it subtle? Is it overt? Have I said something wrong? Have I been misunderstood? Why is racism so tricky to talk about?

This experiential engagement will explore the spoken and unspoken cultural norms of communication as key pieces to advancing racial equity in yourself and your workplace. Here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), which includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho, we have a unique flavor of communication norms referred to as passive aggressive and conflict aversion. Based on WASP (white, anglo, saxon Protestant and middle class), the PNW regionally communicates indirect and 'watered down' sharing of information. This is significant because it is hard to manage for something if you cannot name it clearly for everyone to understand. Tone policing, vagueness, deflecting, blaming the messenger rather than engage in the content of the message, civility politics, conflict aversion etc are a few forms this takes.

Presenters Fleur Larsen and Jodi-Ann Burey, originally from Seattle and New York City respectively, will draw from their own lived experiences and invite attendees to do the same. We will identify how these regional norms impede addressing racial equity when people and institutions are not able to squarely name dynamics. White dominant culture is held together with the glue of passive aggressive communication norms here in the PNW making it really sticky to pull apart and identify racism in situations or conflicts. Together, we will name the ingredients needed to live into a better conversation and take racism head on.

Ticket pricing is on a sliding scale. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds for this event. Contact [email protected] for more information.

About Fleur Larsen:

Fleur Larsen grew up in Seattle and learned how to relate to others based on the dominant identities she holds: white, protestant, working class, and socialized female. The norms of this region have a particular flavor of conflict aversion, indirectness and passive aggressiveness that are deeply ingrained in me from an early age. Unlearning these has been a HUGE place of personal and professional growth as she’s aimed herself at racial equity work.

Fleur started facilitating 18 years ago on challenge course programs with youth and adults. Currently, she works with several companies utilizing challenge and experiential facilitation with corporate and nonprofit groups. People often learn better by doing. Experiential facilitation engages and activates more parts of the brain. Her style is based on sharp analysis, flexible thinking, fun, purpose and results. Her work is relationship-based with connection, collaboration, and community as integral elements to reach results.

About Jodi-Ann Burey:

Jodi-Ann Burey is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at The Riveter, a membership workspace and community platform built by women, for everyone. She leads the development of a robust programming portfolio that powers The Riveter’s mission to redefine equity in the workplace. With a strong focus on intersectionality, Jodi-Ann works to ensure all women and their allies—inclusive of any gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, ability, and child status - can leverage The Riveter to develop as impactful leaders in their businesses, networks, and the world.

Jodi-Ann is also one of the founding members and co-chairs of the Seattle DEI Community of Practice (DEI CoP), an expansive network of professionals across industry committed to improving DEI practices at work. Jodi-Ann earned her Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan and her Bachelors in Communications from Boston College.

The future of work is one with womxn of color at the center.

Join The Riveter and Future for Us for The State of Womxn of Color Roadshow, an evening to tell audacious stories of womxn of color at work, accompanied by an overview of the data, insights and solutions. This collaboration provides a platform for rising and established womxn of color professionals to share their experiences and next step strategies as they build powerful communities to create a future for where womxn of color lead at the highest levels across all sectors.

This is a special roadshow edition of Future for Us’s State of Womxn of Color, featuring a panel of local leaders. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, Paige Hendrix Buckner and others will share personal experiences, discuss how womxn of color can navigate the world of work, and leave us with insights on negotiation, building community, and true allyship. Portland is one of the fastest growing cities on the West Coast. With its history of racial inequities and increasingly diverse population, it is of critical importance that we are actively working to build community, and ensure that across all sectors, womxn of color are in visible leadership roles across the city and state.

Allies and champions are invited to come together to support womxn of color professionals through community, culture and career development - to create equity of access and opportunities for advancement. Together we can take actions to advance womxn of color and explore what it takes to build intentional communities for and with womxn of color, examine how allies can strengthen their cultural competency muscle, and explore what true workplace collaboration can make possible!

6:00 - 6:30pm Registration and Networking

6:30 - 7:00pm The State of Womxn of Color Presentation with Future for Us Founders

7:00 - 8:00pm Panel + Q&A

8:00 - 8:30pm Networking

Why womxn and not womxn?

The spelling of womxn is meant to show inclusion of trans, nonbinary, womxn of color, womxn with disabilities and all other marginalized genders. Both The Riveter and Future for Us use this spelling to indicate that our spaces and platform are open to anyone who identifies as such. We respect people of all genders, identities, and the use of pronouns that best identify an individual.

Speakers:

Paige Hendrix Buckner is the Program Director of Founders Gym, an online training center that helps underrepresented founders build successful tech startups. In the first six months of operation, FG has trained 70 founders across 7 countries, who've gone on to raise over $10MM. Throughout her career, Paige has operated at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and social justice. She is a well-respected leader in the Portland startup scene and has helped cultivate their ecosystem, including co-founding the Xxcelerate Fund for women entrepreneurs.

Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty is also the Principal Partner of Consult Hardesty. She is focused on increasing democracy in low-income communities & communities of color, eliminate barriers to advocacy, public policy deliberations, and public policy improvements that create disparate outcomes in communities of color and low income communities. JoAnn is also the President of the NAACP Portland Chapter.

About Future for Us

Future for Us is a platform dedicated to advancing womxn of color at work through community, culture and career development. We envision a future of work where womxn of color lead at the highest levels of corporate, government, and social sector organizations. We do this through a mix of monthly events, large-scale conferences for both womxn of color professionals and allies, and research. Join the movement and a community dedicated to womxn of color on Slack! Visit futureforus.co for more information.

More speakers to be announced soon!

Ticketing Information: Tickets for this event are on a sliding scale. Nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Host level tickets (25 max) will include individual and/or company name and/or logo in the event program.