For over two decades, I was deeply engaged in an internal multicultural initiative with the Mankind Project (MKP). What began as a three-year commitment evolved into a transformative journey—one that took me across North America and beyond, presenting multicultural workshops and fostering deep conversations about identity, power, and inclusion.
From Philadelphia to San Francisco, the Maskwacis Cree Reservation near Edmonton to francophone language dynamics in Montreal, and the rich cultural mosaic of Miami-Dade, Florida, the reach of our work was expansive. Others carried the torch even further, bringing the training to France, the UK, and South Africa—proof that the need for multicultural awareness transcends borders.
As Chair of the MKP Multicultural Council and a member of the Executive Committee, I held the line for multicultural awareness as a core organizational value. I was proud to be part of a community that unanimously committed to increasing diversity in its centers—not just in principle, but in practice.
This journey demanded introspection. To recognize power differentials in others, I first had to confront them within myself. I faced my own shadows around elitism and discovered a deeper sense of leadership. In many ways, we were given an entrepreneurial opportunity to make something meaningful happen—and we did.
I stepped away from MKP in 2020, but the lessons and impact of that work remain with me.
One recurring challenge was the need to continually justify the multicultural initiative. Critiques arose: the training was too wordy, not experiential enough, too disruptive, or not professional. But then, a conversation with a man I hadn’t spoken to in years reminded me why this work matters. He shared how our efforts had transformed the meetings he attends—men being asked to own their biases, do their personal work, and learn the language of inclusion.
That feedback reinvigorated my mission. I continue to bring this work to new communities and contexts.
The workshop is called Isms & Issues. And while it was designed for MKP, I’ve found it often resonates even more deeply with those outside the organization. It’s a space where people can confront internalized oppression, explore privilege, and begin the personal work of transformation.
I call it “the little workshop that did.” It changed an organization—and it continues to be a vital force for the change we seek within ourselves and our communities.