Ask yourself what it means to be an “ally.” Do you fully understand the word’s meaning, or are you jumping on another verbal bandwagon to fit in? It is easy for us to announce ourselves as “allies,” but “ally” is nothing more than an empty buzzword. Assuming the role of an “ally” is simply not enough. We need to be stewards and protectors for those who experience discrimination. In other words, if we want to transform society, we need to be Advocates and Accomplices. The Allyship Challenge™ workshop will explain the difference between an ally, an advocate, and accomplice and explain the steps on how to advance to each level.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Kimberly Harden is the best-selling author of The Allyship Challenge® and an award-winning educator and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, and keynote speaker. She advises corporate, nonprofit, and academic leaders on their recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion strategies. She also helps organizations shift from a traditional diversity model to a model that emphasizes, not only diversity, but also equity, belonging, interpersonal communication, and talent management (DEBIT Training™).
Dr. Harden is passionate about justice, leadership, care, and transformation. In 2022, she received the Innovative Response to Social Justice Award from the Commission of Social Justice Educators, the MLK Community, Equity, and Social Justice Award from Washington State University, and the Alumni Award for Excellence in Mentoring from The University of Washington.
Dr. Harden also served as a professor in the Department of Communication at Seattle University. Before she became an educator, Dr. Harden spent over 15 years working in the healthcare sector. Dr. Harden has spoken at various events including the Be on the Rise D&I Summit, Ignite Seattle’s Education Lab, One Woman Fearless! Summit, and the Rise to the Occasion Women’s Conference.
Dr. Harden received her undergraduate degree in Communication from The University of Washington, a master’s degree in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Dr. Harden agrees with Aristotle’s assertion that “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”