Move from Allyship to Activism
| Allies support diversity and want to learn about communities and identities outside of their own. Activists, on the other hand, engage in the causes they support. Creating an equitable work environment requires both types of people. Here’s how to move from allyship to activism in the workplace. * Identify where you can offer value. Think about your strengths. How can you support people in a way that leverages your expertise? Educate yourself on the specific community you want to help, and identify which of their projects or initiatives could benefit from your time and attention. * Participate in employee resource groups. ERGs often organize activities to help connect and build community around shared identities or life experiences. Volunteer to help organize those events so that the participants can focus on the programming. * Be a sponsor. You don’t need to be a tenured employee to help empower a colleague and boost their visibility. Help break down knowledge barriers by sharing advice that’s helped you in your career, providing feedback to help them navigate the organization, and being vocal about your support of them. * Intervene when you see microaggressions. If you notice that one person on your team is often interrupted in meetings, for example, take the lead and call it out. Likewise, if you hear an offensive remark disguised as a joke, speak up. |
| This tip is adapted from “6 Ways to Move from Allyship to Activism,” by Nahia Orduña |
