Conversations on A More Beautiful Way

Chapter 3: Motivation Matters - Interrogating White Racial Identity and Practicing Antiracism w/ Jenny Potter

Insight: Your motivation for diversifying your team matters.

Action: If your motivation is to honor people's dignity, keep going. If your motivation is to appear relevant, stop now. 

Jenny Booth Potter is a woman who has dedicated her life to practicing antiracism and to supporting the work of Black women activists. Jenny is thoughtful and brings so much clarity and conviction to her antiracism work. In this conversation, we dive into what it’s been like for her as a white woman to go on a journey of show up to the work of racial justice with consistency and authenticity.

I am grateful for Jenny’s voice and leadership, and I know you will be too.



Episode Transcript is Available Here

About The Diversity Gap

The Diversity Gap exists to help leaders pair their good intentions for diversity with true cultural change.

You can order the book, The Diversity Gap, at www.thediversitygap.com.

Bethaney Wilkinson is the Host and Executive Producer.

Final Production is by Live Grace Productions.

Thank you to our guests and patrons who make this podcast possible!

Instagram - @bethaneywilkinson @thediversitygap

Website - www.bethaneywilkinson.com

Links from the Show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennybpotter/

Website: http://jennyboothpotter.com

TNQ Show: https://www.tnqshow.com

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Chapter Two: Impact Over Intentions

Insight: The impact of your organizational culture on people of color is more important than your good intentions for diversity.

Action: Prioritize hearing, believing, and following the leadership of people of color. Follow the lead of those most impacted by the problem.

Terence is a speaker, an activist, an author and thought leader on systemic poverty. He’s known for nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to issues surrounding homelessness and economic inequality. His awareness campaigns have been featured on MLK50, CNN, Good Morning America, TVONE, Creative Mornings, USA Today, NBC, AJC, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Upworthy, and have been viewed by millions of people worldwide.

In 2013, Terence founded the non-profit “Love Beyond Walls” and has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty to rebuild their lives. In 2019, Terence launched the Dignity Museum, the first shipping container museum in the U.S. specifically dedicated telling the stories of people who’ve experienced homelessness.

Terence has written six books, and his new book, “When We Stand: The Power Of Seeking Justice Together,” released in May. He also holds four degrees and is working towards his Ph.D. at Union Institute & University in Public Policy & Social Change.

So clearly, Terence is someone who has so much to teach us. But what I loved most about this conversation was how Terence pulled from his personal story and lived experiences to illuminate the nuances of living in a racialized society. This is a stellar conversation. Enjoy!

Access episode transcript here.

The Diversity Gap exists to help leaders pair their good intentions for diversity with true cultural change.

You can order the book, The Diversity Gap, at www.thediversitygap.com.

Bethaney Wilkinson is the Host and Executive Producer.

Final Production is by Live Grace Productions.

Thank you to our guests and patrons who make this podcast possible!

Instagram - @bethaneywilkinson @thediversitygap

Website - www.bethaneywilkinson.com

Episode Links

Website: http://terencelester.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imterencelester/

Love Beyond Walls: http://www.lovebeyondwalls.org

Racial Identity Development for BIPOC: https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/The-Ladder-of-Empowerment-for-POC.pdf

Racial Identity Development for White folks:https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/diversity/LifeLongJourney.pdf

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Chapter 1: Racism is the Problem - What Equity and Justice Require of Us w/ Tamice Spencer



Insight: Your team’s lack of “racial diversity” is not the root of the problem. Racism and white supremacy are the root problems.

Action: Adjust your perspectives and strategies accordingly.



My conversation partner for this episode is Tamice Spencer. Tamice graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a double major Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Advertising. At age 20 she felt the call to vocational ministry quite strongly and hasn’t looked back. She has worked with hundreds of young adults and has a passion for learning, speaking, songwriting, and teaching.

Tamice is the Founder of Sub:Culture Incorporated a non profit that seeks to eradicate barriers for black college students. Sub: Culture Incorporated was created with students on the margins in mind and a longing to see them centered, and holistically cared for while on campus. Tamice  is also co-founder of the Kingdom Collaborative, an Atlanta based collective of HBCU ministry practitioners. For six years she served on full-time staff with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the last two years on staff as the Associate Area Director of HBCU Planting & Strategy for the Southeast Region.

Episode Transcript Available Here

About The Diversity Gap

The Diversity Gap Academy exists to help leaders pair their good intentions for diversity with true cultural change.

You can order the book, The Diversity Gap, at www.thediversitygap.com.

Bethaney Wilkinson is the Host and Executive Producer.

Final Production is by Live Grace Productions.

Thank you to our guests and patrons who make this podcast possible!

Instagram - @bethaneywilkinson @thediversitygap

Website - www.bethaneywilkinson.com

Links from the Episode

Website: https://www.tamicenamae.org

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Faith-Reflections-Politics-Christianity/dp/1735833703/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=keeping+the+faith&qid=1627310140&sr=8-5

Sub:Culture Incorporated: https://www.subcultureinc.org

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In this season finale, Bethaney shares a few thoughts on recent incidents of anti-Asian racist violence. She talks about what it looks like to stand in solidarity with communities unlike your own, and encourages us all to lean into the hard realities of the society we live in. Be sure to check out the show notes to find and follow AAPI voices that may be new to you.

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In this episode, Bethaney unpacks the basic theoretical assumptions of Critical Race Theory (CRT), why they matter, and how they help us build toward increased diversity in our workplaces and communities. If you've heard the term but have no real sense of what it means, you're not alone. This episode is for you!

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Hey hey! In this episode of The Diversity Gap Academy we are unpacking the differences between stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and the four dimensions of racism. Listen in to get a refresher on how these practices are at work in your life and leadership.

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In this episode, Bethaney unpacks a tool you can use to interrogate your race-related stories in every day life. She shares 6-7 questions you can use to reflect on race-related memories and experiences, and drives the point home by working through one of her own race-related narratives in real-time.

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In this lesson, Bethaney unpacks four aspects of race and invites us to increase the nuance and curiosity we bring to how we identify ourselves and others.

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The *way* we pursue change is just as important as the *why.* In this episode, Bethaney reviews and closes out the culture series. You'll get a recap of every lesson in the series, as well as some perspectives on how to slow down enough to evaluate *how* you're pursuing change. The tools we use to pursue cultural change are important! Listen in to hear why.

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In this episode of The Diversity Gap Academy, we unpack how making villains of others limits our ability to embody the changes we are seeking the most. In this episode, our organizational change work gets personal. Listen in and answer four powerful questions to help you put today's lesson at work in your everyday life.

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