Neuroscience research over the last decade reveals that our day-to-day behaviour is dictated - contrary to popular belief - by how we feel rather than what we think. Emotions, invisible and controlling, are rooted in the unconscious mind and frequently impact our actions without our awareness. Developing greater emotional intelligence - self-awareness, empathy and relationship-building - is widely recognized as the most important personal competency for leaders to possess. The terrain of emotions raises important and profound question for issues of diversity in the workplace:

• What is the role of emotions in our interactions with people from backgrounds different than our own?
• How do we uncover our personal "blind-spots" that reside in our unconscious mind in order to create truly inclusive, welcoming environments?
• What is the role of unconscious bias and emotional triggers in how well we handle conflict that involves issues of difference (i.e. race, gender, class or sexual orientation)?

Anima Leadership and Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) continue their successful partnership to offer this ground-breaking fall institute with an optional 1.5 day Train-the-Trainers component.

The Diversity & Equity Leadership Institute is a highly interactive and experiential course grounded in adult pedagogy and layered with cutting-edge information from the fields of neuroscience, social psychology, and bias research. By combining anti-racism strategies with emotional intelligence and conflict resolution, a deeply holistic approach has been developed that balances intellect with emotions, and internal factors with external forces. This methodology is successful in nurturing personal growth, learning - and unlearning - through the use of various theoretical lenses without being confined to a singular ideological position.

Managers, supervisors, educators, facilitators and diversity representatives from the public, non-profit and private sectors will be equipped with the emotional competency to both navigate through difference and lead effectively. Through processes tested in national and international settings, the Anima/CRRF programme will both support and challenge your approach to diversity and inclusion.

To make the programme accessible, there are a limited number of scholarships available.

"If you work in diversity and equity and can only attend one workshop this year, this is the one."
~ Craig H, Children's Aid Services Diversity Supervisor

"This course makes me feel whole; that there is a real and urgent need for 'all of who we are' to step forward, to be present in our roles as leaders, educators.... especially if we are to transform our communities in healthy and holistic ways."
~ Indy Batth, Program Manager, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC

"The activities were excellent and useful to take back... Incredibly useful. Incredibly. I can't say enough good about these amazing 2 days!"
~ Kim MacKenzie, O.C.I.S.O.

"I know that what I learned in terms of being present, checking in, building inclusive communities up front (as a form of "prevention") will stay with me and inform my teaching and research practices as will the emotional intelligence piece and how this is connected to equity work."
~ Susan Walsh, Professor, Mount Saint Vincent University

"A wonderful weaving of the emotional, the spiritual, the political, the communal, intellectual. Great!"
~ Njeri-Damali Campbell, Peel Diversity Roundtable

Event Details:

Course Instructors:

Shakil Choudhury, Senior Partner, Anima Leadership
Shakil Choudhury is a diversity and leadership consultant with 15 years of experience working nationally and internationally. An award-winning equity educator and author, he has a background in anti-racism, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. Shakil has been leading and building teams for almost 15 years in a variety of work contexts including the education, health and non-profit sectors. He uses his experience to design high-impact, empowering training sessions.
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (416) 462-9512 x 2

Annahid Dashtgard, Senior Partner, Anima Leadership
With an extensive background as a leadership consultant, bodywork practitioner and social justice educator, Annahid is known as a powerful agent of change. Her specialty lies in impactful and transformative adult education, grounded in concepts of self-awareness, equity and social change. Simply put, she is a catalyst in helping people to connect more authentically to themselves, to each other and to the community at large. Annahid has over twelve years experience designing and coordinating programs at local, national and international levels, in government, education, non-profit and healthcare sectors. She uses an innovative and holistic philosophy that combines concrete leadership training with community responsibility and spiritual awareness.
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (416) 462 9512 x 1

Sandy Yep, Director of Education and Training, Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Sandy Yep is the Director of Education and Training at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. He has conducted education and training in equity, human rights and anti-racism at all levels of government and in various sectors including education, health, policing and justice. Actively engaged in the field for over 20 years, he brings a keen understanding of the current tensions surrounding multiculturalism and its interplay with issues of race and racism. Trained as an educator, he likes to bring practical, work-related solutions in all his engagements, through dynamic and transformative learning processes.
Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (416) 952-5019