An Introduction to Working with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) - Training of Trainers

Do you wish you could have more productive conversations with your clients, colleagues or peers about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)? 

Do you wish you had the skills to help your clients, colleagues or peers better understand DEI?

Are you increasingly receiving requests for training related to DEI or assistance navigating conversations or conflicts related to DEI?

Would your clients benefit from a deeper understanding of how DEI impacts their growth and effectiveness? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions (or maybe all of them), we invite you to join us for an introductory 4-hour online training. In this introductory workshop, you will:

This workshop is designed for anyone who would like to strengthen their skills in working with DEI, including (but not limited to) facilitators, trainers, coaches, consultants, senior leaders, HR practitioners, educators and community workers. While this workshop focuses primarily on the South African context, the concepts are universal and can be applied to all other contexts. Therefore, we welcome participants from around the world.

This workshop serves as a valuable stand-alone introduction to working with DEI. In addition, for those wanting a more in-depth training experience, it serves as the springboard into our broader, comprehensive DEI training of trainers (ToT) programme:

Module 1: An Introduction to Working with DEI

Module 2: Creating a Safe Container

Module 3: Understanding Diversity

Module 4: Understanding Equity

Module 5: Understanding Inclusion and Exclusion

Module 6: Understanding Unconscious Bias

Module 7: Understanding Microaggressions 

Module 8: Understanding Rank, Power and Privilege

Module 9: Developing Skills to Facilitate Courageous Conversations

Module 10: Practicing Facilitating Courageous Conversations

Module 1 is the prerequisite for accessing the other modules in the programme (each of which is delivered as a separate, stand-alone 4-hour workshop). 

Once you have attended a Module 1 workshop, you will receive updates on when the other modules are offered and you are welcome to sign up for them as and when you choose! (There are no particular requirements in terms of the number of modules you complete, when you complete them or the order in which you complete them.)

The costs for Module 1 are: R950 for participants located in Africa; and R1250 for participants located outside Africa (approx. €65/$75, depending on the exchange rate at the time of purchase).

If you are unavailable to attend this Module 1 workshop, the other opportunities this year include:

• 15 August
• 10 October

Here is what some of our past participants are saying about this workshop:

"I was really inspired by this train the trainers workshop - I was really inspired by the other participants and the shared commitment to learn and grow as we strive to create a more just and equitable South Africa and world. I’m looking forward to future modules of this workshop series!" (Participant based in South Africa)

"This is a fantastic experience. One of the best models I've seen for anyone interested in hosting dialogues around DEI topics. I can't recommend it highly enough." (Participant based in the USA)

"It was very insightful and great to gain knowledge about D&I through the South African lens in addition to a European perspective. I very much liked that your program is suitable for participants from everywhere." (Participant based in the UK)

About the Facilitators

Samantha (Sam) Stern is a facilitator, trainer and coach with twenty-five years of experience working in the areas of organisational development, team effectiveness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), leadership development, personal empowerment and psychosocial wellness.

Sam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science with a concentration in Psychology and a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is a certified Facilitator and Assessor (with the ETDP SETA) and she has trained in a range of approaches for managing social change and working with complex systems. This includes Theory-U, Deep Democracy, Systems Thinking, Organisation and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) and Process Work.

Sam is the founder and lead facilitator of Journeys to Remember, which designs and facilitates transformative learning experiences for individuals, affinity groups, teams and organisations. She also serves as an Associate for a number of consultancies including the Centre for Mental Wellness and Leadership (CMWL), Nurturing Growth Trading, The Next Chapter Studio, he Nexus Experience and The SEVA Collective. In these roles, Sam has facilitated hundreds of DEI workshops, leadership development trainings, team coaching processes and psychosocial wellness sessions with corporate companies, government departments, NGOs, universities, schools and affinity groups.

Busisiwe (Busi) Dlamini is a dialogue practitioner focusing on issues of social justice and transformation. She is a co-founding member of Democracy Works, a South African organisation working on citizen participation in deepening democracy.

She is also a founding member of the South African chapter for Pioneers of Change, a learning community of young social change agents on five continents. During her tenure she led learning journeys including a social entrepreneurship exchange between South Africa and Sweden in partnership with the Social Entrepreneurship Forum.

Busi uses a range of modalities in her work, including Deep Democracy, Systems Thinking and Scenario Planning.