Eleversity

Dr. Sharitta Gross – Career Conversion: Using What You’ve Got to Get What you Want

“An unprecedented, challenging time” has become a phrase commonly used when discussing the current state of our economy, as well as the job market.  Many of us have had to get uncomfortable and learn how to pivot after being downsized. For many of us, working from home unearthed a level of dissatisfaction with our professional roles that was exacerbated by micromanagement and microaggressions.

Balancing the complexities of a pandemic and daily responsibilities while seeking employment can be challenging, to say the least. This engaging, informative session will assist you in creating a customized, proactive plan to address your desired career path.

Objectives:

• Assess your existing skill set to identify transferable skills.
• Apply resources and techniques to facilitate the refinement of your marketing materials (e.g. resume and cover letter).
• Learn how to create a plan to work and work your plan.

Brianne Kilpatrick – Representing: Party of One

Being a minority in a homogenous workplace can be frustrating. You may feel your communication styles are different and you’re not always understood or that you’re asked to do certain tasks because of the color of your skin.  This workshop will give you tools that will help you navigate these difficult situations.

 Objectives:

• Staying focused on your goals.
• Using effective communication to address challenges and conflicts.
• Practicing and mastering perseverance.
• Shifting culture through leadership change.

 Tracy Boff – Action in Ally ship: Igniting Your Influence. Fanning the Flame

Many allies want to support their colleagues and friends of color but not always sure what to do. While the sentiment of desired action is well intended, inaction is not. In an environment where women of color are underrepresented in leadership and “C” suite roles, it is no longer acceptable for white “allies” to witness the struggle their colleagues of color face. Leveraging the power of influence is key to taking action in ally ship. Whether you hold a leadership title or not, learn how and where you can use your voice of privilege to impact change leading to a system of racial and social justice for woman of color. This workshop will:

Objective:

• Offer participants a stage and step framework to set a plan for the next level of “action in ally ship.”
• Provide information from experienced allies on how to advance from “igniting your influence” to “fanning the flame” necessary to burn the unjust systems of power.
• Include the voices of women of color as they advise and hold us accountable on what it means to be an “ally in action.”

Deborah Campbell – Level Setting: Boundaries in the workplace – Intent vs Impact

Personal boundaries can represent giant fences or “do not enter” signs. Setting boundaries at work is typically a bit less obvious. There are two things to know about boundaries. First, a boundary is a limit defining you in relationship to someone or something. Second, boundaries can be physical and tangible or emotional and intangible; most times boundaries at work fall into the “emotional and intangible” category. Boundaries function in many ways, with many reasons why they’re important. Setting boundaries at work leads to a more efficient, pleasant experience. Learning to set and keep clear boundaries with your boss and colleagues can lead to a happy and productive work life.

Objectives:

• Define your work relationships: Knowing your value will help prevent your work life from bleeding into your home life. Creating boundaries around the workplace is critical, and demonstrating to your supervisor, clients and colleagues how you want to be treated is important.
• Create structure to put work in its proper place: Creating structure in the workplace will improve your productivity and will keep your home, family and personal time in place.
• How to be heard, by voicing and expressing yourself in the most constructive way: When setting a boundary at work, giving concrete explanations while leaving the personal out is essential. Understanding that there will be violators of your boundaries and knowing how to not to get hijacked by your emotions will help keep protocols in place.

Crystal Tillman – Writing for Healing: Memoir Writing Workshop

2021 has shown us that we need major healing due to sickness, the grief of a loved one, or overcoming personal strife in our day-to-day life. According to Harvard Medical School, writing while grieving boosts the immune system and increases emotional and mental health for the writer. Writing for Healing invites participants to share their story and their growth during their personal, physical, or emotional conflicts, heartache, and/or sickness.

 Objectives:

• Partake in various interactive memoir writing prompts and conversations to stimulate their inner author.
• Learn the methods and techniques to write an engaging and thrilling memoir.
• Students will create an actual memoir outline and learn the next steps to get their memoir finished and published.