In this, the final episode of season one, we’re in dialogue with Natalie Williams. Natalie has over 25 years of experience in human services—working at the national, local, and community level and currently serving as the Chief Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer (EDIB) at the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). In this episode, she touches on the need for self-care and data-driven strategies to tackle challenges in racial equity and racial justice. Data, Natalie comments, provides focus on what may sometimes be a hard conversation by removing some of the emotion and focusing on outcomes and successes. She talks about witnessing successes first-hand in her work at Jefferson County (Colorado) Human Services, where she had the opportunity to see systems come together to help move people and families out of poverty. Discussing how she sees the principles of EDIB incorporated in human services work, Natalie spotlights the necessity to understand the value of different perspectives and to think big in making advancements in racial justice.
“I would tell future leaders to dream big about what’s possible because our communities are going to need strategy and planning to be able to access, compete in, and understand what a global world means to them.”
Be a part of Disrupt the Dialogue: use the hashtag #DisruptTheDialogue or write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org.
Disrupt the Dialogue is produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design for this episode was done by Bea Mitchell.