Words matter, making the balance between upholding brand language and avoiding making watered down promises a challenge. Though all workplaces have them, mission statements, communication guidelines, and company policies can clash with words that mean the most to many employees. Additionally, concepts like coded language and loaded position descriptions continue to uphold social constructs such as racism, ableism, sexism, and beyond. How do we stay true to our brand without perpetuating stereotypes and creating harm in the workplace?
This session will lead participants through an exploration of how we unintentionally reinforce social constructs with language, and how to end the practice at work. Together we will examine the impact of sanitized language in nonprofits, the ways in which it is most commonly used, and where the most meaningful adjustments should be made.
Learning outcomes:
- Explore the most common ways dominant cultures use language and control narratives.
- Examine the impact of sanitized language in the workplace, and where it shows up.
- Extend the vocabulary commonly used at work, and replace unnecessary or outdated language.
Event Details
This virtual event will take place on the Zoom platform. Your access link will be emailed to you the day before the event after 12 p.m.
This session will be recorded. The recording will be made available to registrants after the live event.
Captioning is provided automatically through Zoom. For information on requesting CART, ASL, or another accommodation, please visit our
Registration Policies page.
To learn more about events, registration, and payment, visit our
Event & Registration FAQ page.
Speaker Information
Ashley Oolman was born and raised in Minnesota, and is a wife and mom of three. As a Black neurodivergent woman, leveraging differences to strengthen human connection was a means to both survival and healing. To her work with Allied Folk, she brings lived experience, multiple degrees, and an unwavering belief that we all have the power to change the future. Together with organizations and community partners, she co-creates spaces for exploration and re-learning, designed to advance equity, reconciliation, and ultimately, change. Ashley is operations director of equity and inclusion with the Minnesota Department of Human Services.