INCOGNITO: DEI tools for organization leaders Michael Fosberg

Michael wraps up the 5th season of the podcast with some thoughts around the condition of DEI education in the United States today. He tells of how the pandemic and current political state of affairs has affected his business and that of others attempting to teach and speak out about identity. 



Key Takeaways


In 2020 former president Donald Trump labeled any and all discussions of race, slavery or racism as CRT (critical race theory) and subsequently banned them from schools. This is still affecting DEI training and race conversations today.


The floodgates opened after the supreme court struck down affirmative action. Edward Blum is the anti-affirmative action warrior who is filing suits to stop organizations from offering opportunities to historically marginalized groups.


Volatile reactions to diversity and inclusion hurt everyone.


We’re all on the same team.





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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

Eric Grant is the managing partner and financial adviser with Polaris Wealth Management a firm that specializes in insurance, investments and financial advisory services for individuals and businesses. Eric has over 35 years of experience and knowledge in personal and business financial services and is a speaker and lecturer on matters related to personal and business financial planning. He also expresses himself as the host of a two-hour weekly national radio show “The Family Meeting” on WCPT and has been a contributor to various media outlets including Black Enterprise, The Wall Street Journal and WVON Radio. He’s a proud Howard University alumn with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance and insurance. And most importantly a husband and father. 

Key Takeaways


What is normal? Why do we accept things the way they are? — the word why is powerful


Collaboration comes from a high level of intellectual curiosity


Avoiding conflict avoids opportunities for understanding


In order to have good friends you have to be a good friend


Authenticity requires indifference to what other people think



Guest’s Media Recommendations:


“Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson (book)


“The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson (book)


“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” (book)


“Twisted Melodies” by Kelvin Roston Jr. (play)



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Find Guest’s work:


The Family Meeting: https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-family-meeting/



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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

John Noltner is an award winning photographer who is the founder and creator of A Peace of My Mind — a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us. A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. A Peace of My Mind reflects his belief that art and storytelling can help individuals, organizations and communities articulate their deepest values and encourage action toward building social capital and community connections.



Key Takeaways


Find the beauty and wisdom in everyone and everywhere


Reduce your filter and amplify the voices of others


Leave space for serendipity — no matter how well we plan the world sometimes has other ideas


When harms don’t get addressed they can never be healed


You don’t have to have it all figured out right now just start moving





Guest’s Media Recommendations:


“Hard Times” by Studs Terkel (book)



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Find Guest’s work:


Website: https://apomm.net/


Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/959767/13349345



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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

Chaazé P. Roberts, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist who over the last 16 years studied, trained, and worked at The Family Institute, Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic at Northwestern University. Mr. Roberts currently still works as a clinical lecturer and supervisor at the Family Institute for the MSMFT program at Northwestern University. Recently, he embarked on a new venture starting his own private practice, CPR Counseling. Mr. Roberts works with families, couples, individuals, adolescents, as well as conducting group therapy. He has a particular passion for and commitment to working with adolescent’s issues and men’s issues, including emerging adult males dealing with the stresses of life transitions. Mr. Roberts has worked clinically with diverse individuals and various combinations of cross-cultural couples and international families – from USA, Poland, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Ecuador, Jamaica, Venezuela, Nigeria, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Greece, India, Spain, Philippines, Zimbabwe, France, Suriname and Pakistan, to name a few. He has a particular interest working with people of the African American community of which he is from.  



Key Takeaways


Venture into the unknown and create something from nothing


Growth occurs when you step into discomfort


Be open, be honest, be vulnerable so you can heal


Drumming and music brings us together encourages engagement


None but ourselves can free our minds



Guest’s Media Recommendations:


“Redemption Song” by Bob Marley (song)



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Find Guest’s work:


Profile: https://mft.northwestern.edu/online-mft/leadership-faculty/chaaze-p-roberts/



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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

__

Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

Greg Moisio is a longtime Waukegan resident, a father of three daughters, a graduate of Waukegan East and a graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign. He holds a masters degree in education leadership from Aurora University. He is a retired educator from the Waukegan school district with 34 years of service as a football coach, a basketball coach, a baseball coach, and a powerlifting coach. He is on the board of directors of the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association and he is also a retired 3rd ward Alderman in the city of Waukegan for 20 years where he served as the judiciary committee chairman, as the public works committee chairman and the economic development committee chairman.



Key Takeaways


Don’t get stuck in a loop of judging people


Everyone comes with biases but if you slow down and talk to people you can overcome them


Trust comes with time and listening


Don’t flunk reality tests — don’t be hypocritical and meet same standards you set for others





Guest’s Recommendations:


“Influencer” by Patterson et al (book)


Powerlifting (sport) 



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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

Kevin Chan Bradley is the Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community for HUB International. Joining the organization in 2021, oversees the company’s overarching DEI strategy and provides coaching and consultation to ensure the execution of the strategy on all levels or the organization. Mr. Bradley is a seasoned Diversity & Inclusion practitioner with over 30 years in Human Resources. He has been a recruiter, business partner, EEO/AA Compliance leader and D&I leader. Bradley has worked in various industries including manufacturing, aerospace, fast food, and financial services. He is often asked to speak at events on the topic of diversity as a business driver and has received recognition for his work in advocating for diverse communities. He currently serves as Board Chair for Access Living, a nationally renowned disability advocacy organization. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Parents’ Alliance Employment Project an organization that finds gainful employment for individuals with disabilities and serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Philharmonic. He has been asked to serve on the Chicago advisory committee for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and is on the DEI Advisory Committee for his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon.



Key Takeaways


Allyship must be an action, don’t be a bystander — speak up


Assess your environment and adjust your response accordingly


Meet people where they are


Diversity is about counting heads and diversity is about making heads count


When discussing DEI at companies speak to their heads, hearts and wallets



Guest’s Media Recommendations:


“The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts, and Cultures” by Frans Johansson (book)



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Find Guest’s work:


Access Living: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/teammember/kevin-bradley/



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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

__

Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!