Keynote Offerings

Workshops, Keynotes, and Presentations 

All can be modified to the group's specific needs and event length

Allyship: Attainable? - Allyship cannot be claimed, it must be conferred upon you by members of the group you wish to align with. This practice helps you #learntoearn - The goal of this presentation is to promote and build mutuality, encourage "brave space" (within reason) and bring awareness to various vectors of "privilege of plac” so that you can understand your motivations for building authentic collaborations and relationships across differences and “isms,” particularly during a period of societal backlash against diversity and inclusion. This workshop will provide space for reflection and planning to turn values into action. (Super quick-and-dirty walkthrough of part one of the two-part training here.)

2)The Privilege Staircase – Each of us has some form of privilege. We will look at 22+ types of privilege and how the way we view them has such an enormous impact on our selves, our interpersonal relationships, and how we build community. From the common -isms: race, gender, sexuality, age, to some under-explored vectors of privilege including access to voting, autonomy over your day, and proximity to emotional and/or physical violence (or peace). From the bottom of the staircase to the top, we explore and discuss how “privilege” is a multi-sided die, and how the way we cast it has such an enormous impact on the way we show up as collaborators, aspiring allies, and/or inclsive leaders (Sample here )

3) MicroAggression Movie – In this workshop, we will explore ways to build trust, belonging, and personal growth and acquire points of reference for further co-creating and shared learning. You will gain sensitivity to sneaky micro-aggression-talk and ways to avoid them, as well as how to avoid slipping into defensiveness, deflection… or worse, deflecting tears and useless shame. Explore more appropriate ways of showing appreciation, inviting curiosity and creating mutuality. This workshop also includes readings from the “outtake version” of my award-winning book “Our Brave Foremothers,” to help build awareness and correct blind spots, exploring two dozen+ phrases “not to say” and examining other ways to create closeness, as well as why implicit bias hurts us all. (Sample here )

4)  The Belonging Playbook - How do we: 1) Grow into our best selves? 2) Model our values and form new ones? 3) Become Emotional Intelligence All-Stars? 4) De-escalate drama? 4) Minimize hurt feelings? 5) Separate facts from feelings? 6) Restore the right energetic balance to the world? 7) Stay focused on our mission? This interactive workshop explores four tenets of belonging (being seen, connected, supported, and proud) and adds the fifth vector, mattering – to help leaders and groups examine mindsets and commitments, as well as practical tactics, processes, and programs that will help build – and measure -- sustainable and resilient teams across difference. Mattering is the cherry on top: each person knows what they are the “CEO of,” the way they make an indelible contribution to the overall mission. Best of all, the rest of the team has clarity about each other’s value as well! (multi-session; customized)

5) Words that “other” and break trust - A key component of building belonging and/or building stronger coalitions and collaborate tion is minimizing microaggressions that come out of your mouth. How can we all become more sensitive to the “throwaway phrases” that are so common in our cultural speak, but which can wield undesired “othering” and additional negative outcomes? Is it wrong to say "aid"? What about "empowerment"? What everyday phrases do we all use that end up excluding and possibly offending others, or at least perpetuate stereotypes, power-hoarding and hierarchies? This is a space to start a new conversation. In these times, we all want to do all we can to build resilience and unity. 

• Read my take on the topic, https://lnkd.in/gEr-bDrx and bring your own phrases to the workshop. This is a processing space, not a problem-solving one!
• Watch Linkedin Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qITBOfHznSY&ab_channel=ChannelBraveSis)

6) Way Beyond "DEI" - Mitigating bias, blind spots, and barriers in navigating differences starts with a Roll Call of Isms. (This workshop incorporates parts of Privilege staircase, allyship, attainable? In a one-hour interactive format that attains the following: 1) Promote and build mutuality, encourage "brave space" (within reason) and bring awareness to various vectors of "privilege of place”; 2) Understand the hidden, nagging "traps" of privilege and positional power, and our individual navigation around these topics; 3) Build Reflection and action towards putting values into action (within reason, and also for personal growth outside of the company; 4) Energize yourself in remaining committed to your equity-advocate journey; 5) Move beyond performative or superficial measures! 

7) Book Event: Leadership, Persistence, and Resilience: Lessons fro BIPOC Foremothers - A presentation showcasing how everyday women can embody valor and resilience that will inspire us all. Reading from her 2024 Nautilus Award-winning book Our Brave Foremothers: Celebrating 100 Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous Women Who Changed the Course of History, Rozella Kennedy will present three little-known she-roes from her book and invite us to consider ways to use our inner strengths and wisdom for positive impact.

Meet Ada Blackjack, unwittingly dubbed “the Female Robinson Crusoe” for her ability to survive a stranded winter above the Arctic Circle —alone— on an early 20th-century polar expedition gone horribly awry; learn about Martha Louise Morrow Foxx, the Mississippi-era educator who instilled excellence in her young Black American students, blindness—hers and theirs—notwithstanding; and hear the story of Florence Ebersole-Finch: few knew the quiet elderly neighbor had once stared down extreme danger as a WWII Filipina insurgent and spy. Our book reading event will also provide an opportunity to reflect upon and share about unheralded she-roes in your life, and the many ways you can emulate their bravery. (Wome Profiled can be modified to suit your group's interests)

Testimonials/Endorsements

"Rozella is a brilliant thinker, writer, and facilitative leader who has created an amazing framework for understanding and decentering whiteness and dominant cultural norms, pulling together rich source materials that connect past with present and personal with the political in a way that few people can." — JJR, health nonprofit executive who participated in a two-month women’s cohort designed and led by Rozella Kennedy

"Even though I present as "white" I relate so deeply to BIPOC issues, as I am an immigrant to the US, and have had to face so many seemingly unjust challenges. My experience has made me deeply passionate about fairness and women’s rights across the board, and I’m so grateful for your presentation today!" — CR, Corporate work group participant

"I highly recommend Rozie for her exceptional training and facilitation. Her ability to create a safe, inclusive environment and facilitate deep, meaningful, yet difficult conversations is exceptional. She was able to inspire visionary thinking paired with remarkable pragmatism, turning innovative ideas into actionable, realistic solutions that drive impactful results. And she is more than just a great consultant: she personally inspired and empowered me with her authenticity, integrity, and care." — JWW, 2024 Interracial Sisterhood Retreat attendee

"I consider myself a “do-er” and a “humble servant.” Yet, I wasn’t fully able to see how some of the legacy biases and “blind-spots” handed down through my own community were holding me back from being the kind of collaborator and aspiring “ally” I want and need to be. "— JD, workshop attendee

"When Rozie told our group she would be taking on a couple of CEO clients as a coach, I yelled out: “first dibs!”" — SC, nonprofit CEO

"Rozella has a rare gift for calling people “in” instead of “calling out,” creating spaces of courage, compassion, and transformation in the pursuit of equity." — Dr. Robin B, Organizational Psychologist and entrepreneur