YOUR THOUGHT PARTNER FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVES
Suzanne Edwards-Acton
Coach, consultant & guide in the fight for racial justice
“I want to do something but I don’t know what to do.”
Nuance was inspired by the line above, expressed by a number of my white acquaintances, mentees, colleagues and friends who felt stuck because they lacked a knowledgeable resource to sort through questions related to racism, equity, diversity and inclusion.
With more than 20 years of experience as both an educator and a diversity consultant, as well as a lifetime of experience as a black woman, my mission is to support my clients in deeply understanding the complexity of multiculturalism. This happens by analyzing, integrating and living all aspects of life — personal, professional, psycho-social, spiritual, emotional and financial — through a racial justice lens.
This begins by acknowledging and understanding the deeply nuanced systems of dominance, supremacy, complicity, privilege, oppression, and inequality that we live in every day.
I look forward to partnering with you or your organization... no matter
where you are on the journey to becoming anti-racist.
GROUP AND 1-1 COACHING & CONSULTING FOR DEI/EDI/EID INITIATIVES
CULTURAL COMPETENCY CURRICULUM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
STAMINA BUILDING &
CONSTRUCTIVIST LISTENING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE
REPARATIONS PLANNING & AS A RULE OF LIFE
TESTIMONIALS
“Being able to discuss what we need to work on, what we do not know, what we need to know, and what actions we need to take in order to combat racism is a privilege and a gift. Suzanne has provided a safe environment and an open conversation on racism, white privilege, colorism, segregation, inequities, white supremacy and so much more."
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“Suzanne is a thoughtful leader, giving us all time to share our goals, reflections, and real-life strategies in seeking more connection to and with women of color. In doing so, I was given tools that helped me start consistently living publicly in solidarity with women of color."
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"I am a better manager, leader, communicator and all around citizen because of the coaching I have received from Suzanne Edwards-Acton. She approaches coaching on race-based topics with a blend of candid conversations, resource sharing, “role playing” and graciously explaining her own lived experience as a Black woman, diversity expert and educator. Her guidance has pushed me to challenge my beliefs and build necessary stamina for discussing race that I have been able to apply in all aspects of my life. With her help, I have achieved a greater understanding of the nuances of race and how I fit into that picture/what my responsibility is (as a White woman). I have grown in my capacity for being more comfortable with discomfort. Using what Suzanne has taught me, I have pitched ideas to my company (a top 10 consulting firm) that have resulted in organizational change and enhanced both internal and external communication within our Diversity, Belonging and Inclusion for Success initiative. I have been asked to share my knowledge with our team members, directors, Chief Information Officer and Legal Counsel, among others - and I have Suzanne to thank."
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"Working with Suzanne as my coach not only opened my eyes to my own use of white privilege, but she taught me how to think more broadly in terms of the impact my actions or decision can and do have on People of Color. She was and is a patient truth teller, filling in the blanks with me as I work on issues of race. At times this has been/is hard work. I am much more aware of and able to either “check” my own whiteness or consider the effect my actions (as well as inactions) and decisions have on people of color and other white people. I have grown and the people around me have grown because of Suzanne’s relational approach."