Systems-Led
Anti-Racism Education
Systems-Led
Anti-Racism Education
for Systems Change
Racism is systemic, which means solutions have to be too.
Our trainings and resources explore how systems create barriers—and how communities can work together to dismantle them and build belonging for all.
Systems-Led Anti-Racism Training Program
The Systems-Led Anti-Racism Training Program combines systems-change frameworks with anti-racism education.
Through interactive sessions, you’ll explore practical tools and frameworks and see how they fit into your day-to-day work.
By the end of the program, you’ll leave with:
- A clearer understanding of how racism operates at interpersonal, structural, and systemic levels.
- Skills to identify barriers and redesign policies and practices.
- Confidence in your role as a systems leader to make sustainable change toward building equity.
Why This
Training Matters
Many DEI efforts spark good conversations but don’t go far enough.
Policies stall. Culture slips back. And internal champions’ work doesn’t gain traction.
Our Systems-Led Anti-Racism Training helps change that story. Built on systems-change frameworks, it provides teams with practical tools to identify barriers and redesign policies, ensuring equity becomes an integral part of the organization’s daily operations.
Our Training Focuses On

Seeing systems clearly.
Every team member is a systems leader, no matter their title. We look at how power flows and how decisions get made, so barriers are easier to spot.

Naming racism at every level.
From day-to-day interactions to policies and structures, you’ll learn to recognize how racism shows up and what it takes to address it.

Building leadership skills.
You’ll try out tools and exercises that make it easier to lead tough conversations, map out systems, and test new ways of working.

Putting change into practice.
We move from reflection to action, exploring strategies you can try right away to redesign practices, revise policies, and shift culture.
Inside the Modules

Ways of Being
We start with you.
Through exercises like the Positionality Matrix, you’ll explore your own identity, values, and purpose—and how those shape the way you show up as a systems leader.

Ways of Knowing
Then we look outward.
Using frameworks like the System Map and the “water of systems change,” you’ll build a stronger understanding of how racism operates interpersonally, structurally, and systemically.

Ways of Doing
This is where theory becomes action.
You’ll develop Anti-Racism tools, practice policy review, and test strategies you can bring back to your organization.

Ways of Relating
Finally, we focus on relationships.
How do you build trust, navigate tough conversations, and create connections that transform culture? Through reflection and practice, you’ll leave with tools to carry this work forward.
Ways to Learn With Us
Presentation
UP TO 2 HOURS
A brief introduction for teams just starting this work.
Presentations cover the key concepts and give everyone a common starting point.
Sessions
HALF-DAY
More time means more engagement.
These sessions combine learning activities with group dialogue, allowing participants to start practicing the concepts rather than just hearing them.
Workshops
FULL-DAY
For teams ready to go deeper.
We design this 8-hour workshop in consultation with your organization, tailoring scenarios and exercises to reflect your real-world challenges.
The session creates space for honest conversations and practical action. It also includes six bi-monthly Communities of Practice to help you sustain your anti-racism work over time.
What Participants Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we talking about racism? Why don’t we focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Equity and inclusion are the goals. To get there, we need to examine the systems that create these barriers in the first place. Racism is one of the root causes. By learning how it operates and how to interrupt it, we can build workplaces and communities that are truly equitable and inclusive.
Who is this training for?
Any organization that wants real, systemic change. We start from the idea that anti-racism is good for people, business, and society. Every team member, not just senior leaders, has a role to play in that change.
How much does it cost?
Costs depend on the format and your organization’s needs. Complete the inquiry form, and we’ll follow up with details.
Where is the training held?
It depends on your needs. We can deliver the training at your workplace or a community space of your choice. Contact us through our inquiry form, and we’ll determine the best solution for your team.
What will we learn?
You’ll learn the foundations of systems change and anti-racism, explore how racism shows up at every level, and practice strategies to shift policies and practices. Tools include the Wheel of Power and Privilege, system maps and policy review exercises. We will also support you in developing your own Anti-Racism toolkit.
Who leads training?
Dr. Towani Duchscher, an educator with more than 30 years of experience, including teaching at the University of Calgary. She’s also the co-editor of Decolonizing Literacies: Disrupting, Reclaiming, and Remembering Relationship in Literacy Education.
What is a systems-leader? Is this training only for people in leadership roles?
No. Systems-leadership means everyone has influence. Whether you’re on the front line, in administration, or in management, your choices and actions can shift how systems work. This training helps you recognize and use influence.
How is this training different?
It’s grounded in Alberta. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with RMTL Consulting, using the Indigenous Relational Model for Teaching and Learning. It doesn’t just address interpersonal bias or microaggressions, but also delves into policies, practices, and systemic barriers. And it’s interactive. We customize workshops with real scenarios from your workplace, so you leave with tools you can actually use.
If my community association is a member of ActionDignity, do we have to pay?
No. This training is a new social enterprise designed for external organizations and corporations. It doesn’t affect the training ActionDignity already provides to members.
Available Resources
Systems Change
|
John Kania, Mark Kramer, Peter Senge
Online Document
Anti-Black Racism
|
Bailey and Soda Films; Deborah Dobbins
Video
Eurocentrism
|
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Video
Anti-Racism Blog
- Helen Zhang
This blog post is written by the “Anti-Racism Blog Team” of ActionDignity, and is the ...
- Helen Zhang
This blog post is written by the “Anti-Racism Blog Team” of ActionDignity, and is the ...
- Helen Zhang
This blog post is written by the “Anti-Racism Blog Team” of ActionDignity, and is the ...