My Equity Journey

Despite being well-intentioned and somewhat inclusive-by-nature, I had no idea how much I didn't know - about the world, about our history, and about how I show up. As a straight, white, able-bodied, neurotypical woman, my being in this space brings up a lot of questions - Should I be doing this work? What is my place here? Am I helping or hurting? How did I get here? What do others think of me and my work?

My journey into equity work has been one of learning and self-discovery. It was through the powerful research of authors and the gracious support of several people, mostly Women of Color, that I began to understand the complexities of what has come to be known as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Several years ago, I found myself newly promoted, in a role centered on community engagement, and I quickly realized I could not be effective without having a deeper understanding of the systems I was working within and the history of my community. This realization lead me farther than I ever imagined.

In addition to the guidance of many mentors, three books in particular paved the way for my self-awareness: Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, and Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. These works opened my eyes to the systemic injustices, unconscious biases, and innacurate portrayals that permeate our society; and they challenged me to reflect on my own privileges, thoughts, and circles of control.

Throughout my journey, I have learned tough lessons about power – who has it, who gets to make the decisions, who gets to decide who is 'in' or 'out' – and I faced significant challenges and repercussions for advocating alongside people in the margins. It was during my deepest moment of adversity that the community, particularly People of Color and others who have been deeply committed to equity work, stepped in. Their encouragement and belief in me were the catalysts for my transition into consulting.

As a result, I've built ChangeBridge Consulting with a focus on equitable capacity-building, working in partnership with incredible individuals, groups, and organizations to fill the gaps they've identified and trying to make the world a more equitable and inclusive place. My passion is to support and empower those doing transformative work in their communities; as well as sharing what I've learned in my own journey with others who are like myself - those who want to do better but don't know where to start and might be afraid to ask. At ChangeBridge, we seek to be an entry-point for folks, with the hope of building-up their capacity and referring them on to more advanced experts in the DEI profession. 

I also recognize that passion and intentions are not enough. Therefore, I have taken concrete steps to embed equity into our business practices, striving to create an example for a more just and inclusive world. I welcome you to learn more about these efforts below, provide any feedback you might have through the form provided, and join me on this journey. 

​

- Becky Gabany, Owner, ChangeBridge Consulting