Annemarie Shrouder is passionate about creating healthy workplace communities where people feel seen, heard and valued - and can thrive.   To advocate for change, Annemarie facilitates engaging, dynamic and interactive presentations with the goal to help audiences think differently about diversity, to understand the importance of inclusion, and inspire the creation of healthy workplace communities.   Her signature methodology is called the ‘ABCs of Inclusion’ and works on two premises - that inclusion is an outcome and that leadership has to "get it" and build their capacity first, in order for change to be effective.    She believes strategy drives change and helps solidify commitment to diversity and inclusion and one of her strategic writings includes her best-selling book, Being Brown in a Black and White World.   So dive in, get your ‘Aha moment’ for the day, and let’s learn about embracing all parts of you: BOTH what you see AND who you are!  [00:01 - 7:59] Opening Segment   I introduce Annemarie Shrouder Bio  Annemarie shares a bit about her background and revelations How she started her career as an elementary school teacher Active member of the LBTQ+ community A glaring need for people to see themselves in other things Working with organizations to help them realize how they view the world  ‘Aha moment’ - when people understand we are in the same situation We all have different experiences What needs to be changed in our perspective It’s ok to see color, gender and identity  Look at the way kids can see glaring differences  We seem to learn to ascribe value to people   [08:00 - 25:37] Embracing All Parts of You: What You See vs Who You Are   Annemarie reveals how every part of who you are is important A poem from Annemarie’s book  “... as if these can’t coexist: being and loving.”  “How can you love ME, if you don’t see my brown skin?” You don’t need to fear devaluing someone based on noticing race  Race isn’t real, but the impact of racism is  Annemarie talks about her lived experience search for belonging  Race was constructed based on someone’s decision  The impact of that teaching is that we now separate ourselves It’s just DNA “... Connects me with everyone in a DNA dance.” I am not more or less based on race, “I am just me” Annemarie talks about her poetry and writing process A path to greater self-acceptance and understanding Words are the quickest way to someone’s heart  Bring out the best in humanity and amplify our future on the The Goodness Exchange More information on how you can join in below   [25:38 -  41:42] Living in the ‘Both, And’ Space   Annemarie shares how we don’t have to divide into them and us Feeling like you have to choose between races When we polarize we begin to create barriers  “I am BOTH black, I am white, AND I am me” There is room and space for us to learn, listen and share with each other  How do we get to the point of living in ‘both, and’? Is it true? - challenging your assumptions  How do I know it’s true?  What if it’s not true? - accept that there are thing you don’t know Pause, get out of the autopilot, and ask these questions I give my own practical tips of pausing before responding  How this revelation can impact inclusion and belonging in the workplace  Our stories affect who we include in the workplace  It takes pausing and asking questions to our assumptions  Are you seeing the person in front of you?  This can apply to age and sexual orientation just as much of race A look at the viewpoint of Neurodiversity  We miss out when we don’t accept something because they don’t come out a certain way [41:43 - 50:30] Perception’s Struggle with Self-Identification  Annemarie answers a few interesting questions related to diversity and racism  Why is Barack Obama identified as the ‘first black president?’ Perception vs. self-identification The One Drop rule - how history affects us today How does the One Drop rule play i