for Equity and Diversity
mission
As companies and organizations, groups and individuals continue to grapple with the intersections of their brands and identities and anti-racism and justice work; CRED holds the belief that naming harmful structures is at the center of the work. If we are unable to name the harmful and oppressive systems, process, and structures that we are working to deconstruct, we will never make progress in liberating all people. It is in service to this belief that we work to bring awareness to folx of all forms of dominance – white, male, heterosexual, et all – that must be challenged and dismantled for a free, just, and liberated society.
CRED is committed to providing specialized equity, anti-racism, and liberation learning for local and national non and for profit entities, as well as student groups and CBOs. As a Black Womxn, the founder and owner, Emerald Anderson-Ford, takes the work of educating folx on BIPoC liberation seriously, while honoring her own identities and using storytelling, small cohort dialogue, and traditional workshops to help guide people along their journeys.
Meet the team
An interview with the leaders of CRED
Emerald Anderson-Ford (Founder/Owner) and Rachel Tiongco (Executive Administrative Director)
took some time to sit down and answer questions about the current state of diversity and equity work
and why they are excited to continue moving forward in the movement.
What does liberation and abolition work mean to you?
Emerald Anderson-Ford (EAF): When I think about the work of liberating all people and abolishing practices, culture, and institutions that are harmful and inhibit us from becoming our best selves as a species, I center it all on community building. I firmly believe that in order for us to move past the oppressive nature of the culture that has been built around us, we have to lean into a sense of community. That includes community care and responsibility. Being an abolitionist and someone committed to liberation means being a creator and builder of community.
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Rachel Tiongco (RT): The primary focus of liberation and abolition is on a societal level, but the effect it will have on an individual is what motivates me the most. When people no longer feel oppressed then we are moving towards empowerment. By empowering individuals, we are building stronger communities that are benefiting everyone and not just the most privileged of us.
Why is it important for folx to have a baseline understanding of the movement for Black lives and race theory?
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RT: People tend to live in a state of ‘out of sight and out of mind’. If you don't understand race theory, how can you identify the experiences of racial abuse and misconduct happening around you? If you have no understanding of what the movement is about, how can someone do their part in equalizing us? It’s easier to sweep it under the rug or turn a blind eye if you don’t have a baseline understanding. When I was given more insight on these issues, my awareness grew and so did my need to act.
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EAF: To Rachel’s point, so much of what we are seeing happen in the world now is due to a lack of simple understanding of race theory and a misunderstanding of what the movement for Black lives is. If our end goal is liberation, that will require reconciliation- in order to reconcile there will need to be tough conversations and examinations of relationships. In order for these conversations to be effective, we have to be speaking the same ‘language’. That requires everyone to have a baseline understanding of race theory and history to fully grasp what the movement for Black lives is about and how it supports all people.
What does this moment in time mean for race relations, reconciliation, and equity work to you?
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RT: We are at a tipping point. Now is the time to strike and to imagine and to work towards a real chance for reconciliation. Momentum is on our side and can propel us forward at this moment. I’ve wondered why there haven’t been major changes prior to this, and now I know it’s because the moment is now. This is our moment in history to change and move the world forward.
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EAF: It’s interesting to think about this moment in time, in our world and culture as I think about equity work. There is a part of me that is very excited about the mass awakening that has/is happening. Another part of me is extremely annoyed, like many BIPoC who have been waiting for this type of awakening from white peers, that so much of this movement from white folx doesn’t feel authentic. It can feel performative because this is where the world is. Ultimately, it is important to strike when the iron is hot, to use Rachel’s sentiment, on this issue, and to move when there is movement and momentum, so I say we just keep doing the work.
What excites you about this work?
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EAF: When I think about equity work and starting to unravel the history of oppression, I get really excited. I’m excited to imagine a future where we are all able to live up to the greatness that exists within us- the greatness of the diversity of ideas and innovation and thought. If we can get to a point where we can highlight the greatness in all people, the world would thrive in ways that we have yet to see.
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RT: What excites me most about this work is that it matters. The more we push towards liberation the more I can feel hope that the future of the younger generations can live in a world that is truly free. The exciting thing is what’s to come; the things we can’t even imagine.
Services
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
" This was a great session (Logical Fallacies and Conversations About Race) and provided skills
key for anti-racism work, but also for any work related to communication with those of differing views.
Thanks, Emerald."
"Emerald is engaging, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. My training on anti-racism ran smoothly and was very helpful and eye-opening."
"Emerald exudes warmth, humor, and knowledge as a presenter. She is incredibly eloquent in balancing tough subject matter."
Equity Consulting & Coaching
CRED offers consultation services for any for or non-profit group looking to gain more knowledge on how diversity and equity work are showing up in their culture, policies, and practices.
Coaching services are offered for individuals and small groups upon request.
Equity Workshop:
Training Design & Facilitation
A customized workshop and training can be designed based on the needs of your group, along with facilitation and technical support.
Workshops can cover varied subject matter, including unpacking identity to dismantling white dominant culture.
Each workshop runs between 90 -120 minutes.