CANDID CONVERSATIONS MATTER - Candid Conversations Matter
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CANDID CONVERSATIONS MATTER

WHO WE ARE

Candid Conversations Matter (CCM), LLC is a company created by Dr. Adrienne Coleman to advance DEI work among organizations of all types.

CCM believes that organizations need the tools and training to facilitate the necessary changes.

CCM’s principal and founder brings approximately 20 years of deep experience in the DEI space. CCM is committed to creating inclusive and equitable opportunities for marginalized people in corporations, academic institutions, government, and nonprofit organizations. To create inclusive and equitable environments, CCM believes that organizations need the tools and training to facilitate the necessary changes.

Rather than focus interventions on helping marginalized groups change to be better suited to survive in these spaces, we believe that organizations must change to create inclusive, welcoming environments that create sustainable equity so that all people can thrive. CCM’s work is dedicated to helping organizations have the candid conversations necessary to create the environment for systemic change. Candid Conversations Matter helps organizations find and remove structural impediments to inclusion and equity.

CCM helps organizations find and remove structural impediments to inclusion and equity.

Diversity

In today’s interconnected world, embracing diversity isn’t just a choice; it’s a strategic imperative. By harnessing the richness of diverse experiences and viewpoints, companies unlock innovation, broaden their global reach, and build resilience to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving market.

Equity

Equity is the foundation upon which true fairness is built. We believe that every individual deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background. Through our tailored solutions, we assist companies in dismantling systemic barriers and establishing equitable practices that ensure everyone can access the same possibilities for success.

Inclusion

Inclusion goes beyond representation—it’s about creating an environment where every voice is not only heard but actively sought out. Our approach centers on fostering a culture of belonging, where each team member feels empowered to contribute their best. By fostering genuine inclusion, companies forge strong bonds among their employees, leading to heightened collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.

At CCM, we’re not just consultants; we’re catalysts for positive change. Join us on this transformative journey as we work hand in hand to shape a future where diversity is celebrated, equity is unwavering, and inclusion is the heartbeat of success.

We’re dedicated to transforming workplaces through the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As seasoned consultants, we partner with companies to foster an environment where every individual’s unique background and perspective is not only valued but celebrated. Our mission is to drive positive change, cultivate understanding, and create pathways for growth by embedding DEI principles at the core of your organization.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Dr. Adrienne Coleman, an innovative, creative, problem-centered, and equity-minded leader, speaker, and
researcher, serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). In this role, she is responsible for assessing potential barriers and developing strategies focused on diverse talent acquisition/retention, designing training initiatives on cultural competency, implicit bias, stereotype threat and other topics designed to increase awareness, as well as implementing related DEI policies and strategic plans.

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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

  • Over recent years, Dr. Coleman has facilitated many discussions and workshops for our high school, undergraduate and graduate interns. Most recently, leaders across the Department of Energy laboratory complex had the pleasure of learning from and being inspired by a powerful keynote address focused on diversifying the STEM pipeline and workforce. Adrienne's vision and delivery were on-point and impactful! Dr. Coleman's high energy, thought-provoking and engaging presentation style causes her workshop participants to pause and reflect. By using her experiences and identities to illustrate principles and concepts, Dr. Coleman creates a safe space for sharing and challenging perceptions.

    Sandra Charles of Fermilab:

  • Dr. Coleman's presentation on Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace was a wonderful training tool for staff. The information presented on diversity, equity, and inclusion was informative and eye-opening. Her topic of courageous conversations reiterates the importance of recognizing our differences and discussing them so that we can better understand each other.

    Angela Van Vuren - Aurora Public Library

  • For over five years, Dr. Adrienne Coleman has provided workshops, presentations, research data, participation, and keynote addresses for several forums, seminars, and roundtable discussions sponsored by the DuPage County NAACP Education Committee for youth, educators, and the community. Her topics have included: Equity, Inclusion, Implicit Bias, Diversifying STEM, and Motivation/Self-Empowerment. Dr. Coleman has collaborated with our science and technology based summer bridge program (S.T.E.A.M.)for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. Through her 3-year partnership with Northwestern University, she has helped to provide research data on the effectiveness of the S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp program and has enabled us to identify and update areas for enhancement. She has also provided leadership training for the S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp's teen volunteers. Dr. Adrienne Coleman is a valued professional. As a result of her exceptional expertise in education and partnership with our organization, Dr. Coleman was a recipient of our 2016 Trailblazers in Education Award and has been recognized for five years as a community partner.

    Mrs. Tomi Johnson - DuPage County NAACP - Education Committee Chairman:

  • Dr. Coleman has a truly inspired approach to her work. She takes the time to build partnerships with key institutional players in order to have a greater impact with her work, all while forming authentic mentoring relationships with the students she serves. On a personal note, her mentorship over a 3-year period as I started my work in social justice, inclusion, and equity was the hallmark of my professional experience at IMSA. Finally, it is her impressive ability to consider multiple institutional objectives at once and in tandem that make her an asset to any institution she serves.

    Eric Hetland - Marquette University

SERVICES & OFFERINGS

DEI CANDID CONVERSATIONS

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Candid Conversations

Utilizing the Four Agreements of Courageous Conversation, the Crucial Conversations Framework, and the Model for Bold, Inclusive Conversations, CCM facilitates candid conversations around challenging issues and assists clients in engaging in healthy discourse around DEI topics.

DEI Workshops

Workshops

Rooted in Inclusive Excellence and approached through an equity-minded lens, CCM works with clients in increasing their own awareness of how not only implicit biases impact community and organizational outcomes, but also how a lack of awareness about concepts such as privilege, systemic inequities, and a lack of cultural competency and cultural humility, all combine to impact how individuals interact with the community and ultimately undermine otherwise sincere and constructive DEI related initiatives.  In addition, CCM works with clients in understanding systemic racism that is interwoven into every fabric of America and rooted in privilege and power; as well as provides strategies to achieve racial justice through the creation of anti-racist policies, practices, programs, services, and resources.

DEI Policy and Strategic Plan Development

Anti-Racism Workshops

CCM works with clients to institutionalize and prioritize DEI through the development of policies and processes. Through the application of the Theory of Change, CCM works with clients in creating data-informed, constituent-centered, and equity-minded plans to impact systemic change and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DEI Research

DEI Research

To inform diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, strategic plans, and initiatives, CCM works with clients to assess the related climate, utilizing such instruments as the Intercultural Development Inventory, the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Racial Equity Audit, andan array of valid and reliable Climate Surveys.

CONTACT

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