Facilitation training

Thank you so much for the space you created for us to learn (and unlearn) about intersecting systems of oppression and exclusion - and the grace you extended to us as learners. I felt deeply supported to ask questions without worrying about how the wording of those questions or reflections would land. We need more of these spaces and conversations in the world.

What I loved about this course was taking the time to reflect upon such an essential subject in a safe environment, free of judgement. Through discussion, reflection, feedback and ideas from others, I was able to better define my own role as a change agent and as an ally. DLC was a real gift!

I enjoyed my experience at the meetings. Not only did I learn about the biases in the system but how it came to be. We looked at the obstacles in the workplace and worked our way in finding possible resolutions. In the ever-changing world, Diversity Learning Circles can help bridge the bias gap. From discussions, readings and reflection, our group sat down to focus on planning and resolutions. It will take numerous revisits to keep the focus as employees and employer change.

DLC course has been transformational. It helped me deepen my understanding of diversity and unconscious biases and their impact on behaviors, policies, and institutions. The expertise and passion the facilitating team brought were inspiring. They invited exceptional speakers and created an open space for participants to explore areas to make an impact. The course and the team helped me discover manageable commitments to propel diversity and inclusion into the innovation and start up space.

The course surpassed my expectations in terms of the content covered-succinctly summarizing a broad range of EDI concepts in very manageable chunks - it was very, very impressive. The broad range of environments that each participant came from was a large strength of the course, resulting in powerful and deep reflections and group conversations.

Thank you for leading the DLC Course 2023. It was challenging to contemplate spending three full days contemplating racism and bias and what we can immediately do to identify and address systemic racism, systemic discrimination, and unconscious bias to build alliances in employment, economic, political, cultural, and social institutions. That said, The time was well-spent. Your course was challenging, but engaging and educational, and you were always there to support and ready to help uncover the intricacies behind these societally relevant topics as Canada becomes more diverse.

Christine and Ranvir are phenomenal course curators. Their insightfulness, deep awareness, and patient guidance created an environment that was both thought-provoking and transformative. They skillfully challenged perspectives while fostering a safe space for reflection and growth. This course wouldn't have been the same without their expertise and compassionate approach!

As someone who has taken many courses with ICAA since 2016, I can say that the Diversity Learning Circles course lived up to my expectations. The content of the course balanced meaningful theory alongside practical opportunities for participants to explore their current understanding. Christine and Ranvir created a learning environment where participants could recognize the need to become agents of change and then find their individual path for making change happen in their local contexts. I have already used some of the resources from this course in my professional practice.

A course that offers a rich database on discrimination and its effects in different contexts of life, which is a wide-eyed opening, and the opportunity to meet a very interesting group of people who are committed to appropriate actions to tackle all types of discrimination within their own communities.

I took this course in 2020, and it was a mind opener. The content and resources are really top drawer. The delivery is passionate and patient with people’s process. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone.

An incredibly well-thought through and deep approach to understanding the interconnection between cultural racism and our individual experiences of racism. Perhaps, most importantly, creating and implementing an action plan to address racism in our realms of influence. Christine and Ranvir are true gifts to this work.

I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of the Diversity Learning Circles pilot program so that I could better understand systemic racism and discrimination as well as my own unconscious bias. The trainers quickly built rapport with the group and facilitated deeper conversations through a series of individual and group work. The learning environment was a safe space to ask questions and explore meaning.

I really enjoyed the self-directed Diversity Learning Circles course. Although I was familiar with a number of the concepts coming into the course, there was a richness and depth to the material that allowed me to have new learnings and reflections. The personal stories shared were very meaningful. The self-directed pace allowed me to come into the content at times that aligned with my schedule and commitments. It was easy to delve into specific sections and come back to the materials over time. I think that creates space for transformational (not transactional) learning. I found myself thinking about specific course information and stories and reflecting on these more fully over time. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to explore these concepts in a safe way. Thank you!

I found this course very useful; I learned the importance of putting things in context and being patient. I discovered new videos and content that will help me a lot in my job as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion agent. The Action plan assignment inspired me on how to apply some of my ideas.

The Diversity Learning Circles course has been a unique and very enriching opportunity for me. The first reason is the diversity of its participants and their patience. And the second, the course is a confirmation that it is possible to dismantle xenophobic ideas among people in power who believe themselves superior to other people who, due to circumstances, have had to immigrate to another place.

Awesome course! This 3-day program raised consciousness about social bias. The schedule and flow were perfect. It is a professionally-run course, and instructors delved into the context.