Answer: We know that systemic change is what is most required. Structures and systems create and reinforce the hierarchies we seek to dismantle. And the decisions people make and how we treat each other matters — being knowledgeable and passionate about systemic change doesn’t absolve those who hold dominant group identities from causing interpersonal harm. We recognize that the challenges we are experiencing can feel intractable. We turn to research from the mind science of identity, as it helps to explain why others’ — or even our own — interpersonal behaviors may contradict the equality that our society and our workplaces espouse. We draw on practical, evidence-based strategies to align individual behavior and institutional practice with conscious values of equity. Since 2009, Perception has been committed to equipping individuals and institutions with deep insights about how we experience identity differences, recognition of the impact of current practices on individuals of various identities, and evidence-based strategies to live out their values of equity. In the years we have been doing this work it has become apparent that for institutional change to occur, those who hold power must engage authentically, commit to accountability and transparency, and invite everyone to be part of the conversation. This requires a data-driven approach, the identification of context-specific protocols, and culture change while centering the experiences of those impacted, that ensures genuine belonging for all.
