A nonprofit 501(c)(3) based in Charlottesville, VA

Race
Gender
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Disability
Class
Culture
together we are greater
Welcome to the Evolution of DEI
(diversity, equity, and inclusion)
DEI and HR Leaders: Take the Power of Difference Assessment FREE ($200 value) |
“BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD” ~MK Gandhi
BUILD WITH US: a thriving & just world where our aliveness, commonality & our differences are honored.
LET’S REACH THIS TOGETHER THIS SUMMER: 37 $5 monthly donors covers all our baseline operations.
DONATE ANY AMOUNT: one time, monthly, or yearly–choose the programs you want to support.
BUILD WITH US: a thriving & just world where our aliveness, commonality & our differences are honored.
LET’S REACH THIS TOGETHER THIS SUMMER: 37 $5 monthly donors covers all our baseline operations.
DONATE ANY AMOUNT: one time, monthly, or yearly–choose the programs you want to support.
FOR PRICING, CHOOSE A SPECIFIC FIELD BELOW
“THESE OFFERINGS ARE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE FINEST I’VE EXPERIENCED IN MY YEARS OF DOING THIS WORK”
~ NAOMI TUTU
The three Primary Patterns of the Power of Difference Model (PDM)o
Does one sound more like you?del
Find out your pattern by taking the Race Pattern Quiz (takes 5 minutes and it’s free). Just click the button below the descriptions!
Strength:
John is a confident, assertive, and ambitious individual. He experiences himself as a “natural leader” always ready to take charge and make decisions. He values independence and competition, thriving in environments where he can set his own goals and work towards them. John is not afraid to voice his opinions and stands up for what he believes in. He is goal-oriented, with a clear vision of what he wants to achieve. He can appreciate people if they support this vision, strategies, and processes for the team’s performance. While John’s assertiveness and ambition can be beneficial, they can also lead to tension across differences. He may come across as evaluative, combative, or overly competitive, which could create tension in team settings. His focus on individual goals might make him overlook the importance of collaboration. His strong opinions might sometimes prevent him from considering other perspectives. His learning edge is Oneness and valuing our common humanity.
Sensitivity:
Emily is an empathetic, understanding, and caring individual. She values harmony and cooperation, always striving to create a positive and supportive environment. Emily is good at reading people’s emotions and is sensitive to their needs. She prefers to work in a team and values everyone’s input, believing that every voice matters. Emily appreciates diversity as it brings different perspectives and fosters mutual understanding. She is always ready to listen and learn from others, believing that everyone has something unique to offer. Emily’s empathetic nature, while generally a strength, can also lead to challenges. She might struggle with setting boundaries, leading to emotional exhaustion. Her desire for harmony might prevent her from addressing conflicts related to differences directly. She might also have a tendency to take on others’ emotions, which can be overwhelming. Her learning edge is Strength, knowing when and how to “power up,” refusing both silence and violence.
Oneness:
David is a compassionate individual who values unity and interconnectedness, seeing everyone as part of a larger whole. David believes in the commonality of human experience and strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone. It enriches the collective experience and promotes unity in diversity. In the ways David is part of a dominant group, he can avoid looking at the power associated with his privilege. As a member of a marginalized group, he finds safety in oneness by not “sticking out.” He might struggle with making tough decisions that might not please everyone–he sees himself as a bridge builder. His desire for inclusivity might lead him to avoid necessary conflicts or difficult conversations. His learning edge is Sensitivity, acknowledging how differences matter to people and impact their experience, asking for and hearing feedback across differences.
What People Think…
“This model has totally changed how I do things in my school…especially the way I use power more consciously. For me, it’s so important to do no harm. And while I understand my role as a Latino leader in my school – I am learning from the PDA, the model, and from consultation with The Sum how my power and my privilege across many sociocultural differences can be used with more awareness, effectiveness, and care in my relationships to our school secretary, our custodian, the teachers, parents and, of course, the students.”
Guillermo Medina,
Principal, Columbine Elementary, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, Colorado
“As a person who is always engaged in inclusion work, whether it be in my job or in my life; sometimes we need to be reminded to take care of ourselves. This survey helped me to refocus on how I give of myself. I don’t have to give myself away. I was able to take a breath for my sake! Still carrying my torch!”
Phyllis Breland
Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
The Team

J. Elliott Butler-Cisneros
Executive Director/Founder

Lucero Castro-Frederick
Board President

Crystal Byrd Farmer
Board Member