We want White women to to respond to racism with courage, this means speaking up about racial injustice, and avoiding making excuses about racist behavior when confronted with it. During this discussion we will learn how to:

• Approach difficult conversations with courage
• Acknowledging oppressive structures
• Understand power and privilege

We have the power to build strong alliances, and can only do so if we take action. The time is NOW!

ABOUT OUR FACILITATORS

Simone D. Ross is a Colorado native who grew up in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. Simone’s upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of the importance of community, family, and building through investing in the success and dreams of one another.

In an effort to catalyze change, elevate, and create visibility surrounding issues of workforce equity. Simone founded Simone D. Ross, LLC, a consulting firm with the vision of catalyzing human thriving through effective and integrative change management. Simone uses her 15+ years of corporate experience to crystalize business operations strategy, and bring voice to the importance of creating equitable and sound enterprises. Simone also brings a refreshing voice and insight to many events as a Host and Auctioneer. She facilitates inspiring experiences, content, and presentations, to “ignite the light” in the participants at the events she hosts.

Simone has served as the Regional Managing Director of The Riveter, one of the fastest growing brands in the nation, leading the expansion and operations in the Denver and Minneapolis markets. Throughout Simone’s extensive corporate career she has served as the Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at SCL Health, where she facilitated strategic planning for regional hospital’s and facilities. Prior to joining SCL Health, she served as the Director of Business Development at Delta Dental, where she founded and operated the SpringRock Dental oral health corporation. Simone also spent many years at Kaiser Permanente, where she worked as an advocate for Colorado’s business community, pioneering Kaiser’s Business Development Department.

Simone holds a Master of Arts, and Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University. She has been recognized by the Denver Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” business leader; the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women; the Association for Corporate Growth as a David Sloan business scholar; and was recognized by the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce as a community service champion. She is a graduate of Leadership Denver, the Colorado State Chamber of Commerce CACI Executive Leadership Program, and is an Urban Leadership Foundation Chamber Connect alum.

Virginia Santy Virginia Santy, Ph.D. is co-founder of Women in Kind, a women’s co-working space, networked community, and research and design firm dedicated to meeting women’s needs and addressing the challenges and responsibilities they face through supportive programming, policies, and environments.

She is a researcher and thought leader in the area of women, work, and re-conceptualizing the design and creation of place through the perspective and needs of women. She has presented her research on women and work at conferences around the world and implemented a range of programs to recruit and retain women and under-represented minorities into nontraditional fields.

Her research on women and leadership in the workplace won her the Researcher of the Year Award—the top recognition in her field—from the Organization for Research on Women and Communication. Her most recent publication addresses issues of women and work post-Great Recession, including wage equity, access to non-traditional fields, and work-life balance.

Virginia received her Ph.D. in strategic communication and women’s leadership from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While a doctoral student, she served as a research assistant to the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) and the Colorado Coalition for Gender and Information Technology (CCGIT). Her work with both organizations involved identifying best practices for recruiting and retaining women and under-represented minorities in IT professions.

Virginia is also co-founder of Direct Object Communication, a strategic communication firm addressing marketing, communication, and strategy challenges for a range of clients in Colorado and nationwide—including Fortune 500 Companies, government organizations, startups, and national thought leaders.