Facilitating Effective DEI Discussions Train-the-Trainer Certificate Program

Do any of these thoughts sound familiar to you?

"I know how important it is for my workplace to engage in conversations about race, gender, and other social identities, but I'm afraid I'll say or do something to make things worse!"
"I tried to start this conversation at my workplace, and it was a disaster!"
"I know we should probably hire a diversity professional to facilitate these conversations, but they are expensive and I really want to learn how to do this myself!"

Studies show that one of the main reasons diversity trainings fail is because of an unqualified and/or inexperienced facilitator who is ill-prepared and/or who unintentionally microaggresses during a training or discussion. This causes a feeling of mistrust among the participants which can lead to resistance, backlash, and ultimately exactly the opposite of the desired effect of the training or discussion.

Get FEDD! (Facilitating Effective DEI Discussions)
In this 8-week Train-the-Trainer Certificate Program you will learn to avoid these common pitfalls and facilitate an inclusive, effective conversation that can transform your team, your workplace, and your company culture.

Book a meeting with Dr. Samuels to get started!

The DSC FEDD Certificate program provides:

Effective language to facilitate the conversations
An opportunity to uncover and reflect on your own biases and behaviors
Specific skillful strategies for effectively facilitating difficult conversations
An opportunity to ask questions along the way from Dr. Samuels, who has been leading these discussions effectively for almost 25 years
Preparation to engage in conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and other potentially volatile topics in the workplace
The choice to take the course one-on-one with Dr. Samuels, or with a group of your colleagues and Dr. Samuels. Decide what's best for you and your organization!

Learn new skills

Gain specific strategies to preempt challenges and resistance during these often challenging conversations.

Get a fresh perspective

Learn how to effectively and inclusively call people in to the conversation rather than calling them out on their behavior.

Create an inclusive culture

Learn how to increase trust, openness, and a sense of belonging in your organization.

What is included?

8 Weeks / Course includes:

5 weeks live scheduled with Dr. Samuels at your convenience (90 minutes each)
3 weeks pre-recorded/self-paced interactive courses led by Dr. Samuels (2 hours each)
Homework - short essays
Facilitation Assessment
Certificate for successful completion of the program

What are the details?

8 Weeks / Course includes:

Week 1: Intro & Overview
Week 2: Intro to D&I - unpacking terms, social identities, self-reflection
Week 3: Using Mindfulness as a tool for effective facilitation
Week 4: Implicit/Unconscious Bias - understanding bias, self-reflection
Week 5: Microaggressions - what we don't know we don't know; how to effectively intervene
Week 6: Facilitation Skills - story telling and receiving; how to navigate an effective discussion
Week 7: Dealing with Resistance - what to do if contention arises; how to pre-empt resistance
Week 8: Conclusion Q&A - addressing fears and concerns

We will find a mutually convenient time to meet for 90 minutes/week for the 5 weeks we will be together in a virtual classroom. For the other 3 weeks, you do the self-paced work on your own schedule (each is approx. 2 hours).

If one-on-one, Week 8 will include an assessment; if in a group, additional time may need to be scheduled after Week 8 to assess facilitation competency.

What is the investment?

Cost for the DSC FEDD program:

Corporate Pricing

1 learner: $4597
Group of 2: $3997 each
Group of 3: $3497 each
Group of 4 or more: $2997 each

Nonprofit Pricing

1 learner: $3997
Group of 2: $3497 each
Group of 3: $2997 each
Group of 4 or more: $2497 each

Please call for larger group pricing

Train-the-Trainer Testimonials

"I so appreciated your time, commitment and patience guiding us through this very important (and often difficult) training."

"I have so enjoyed this course/training program and getting to discuss these topics with you."

"I really enjoyed working with you and I have learned so much from it that I was not expecting to learn when I started! Thank you for your time and passion you have put into working with us - it already has and will continue to make a positive difference, I am certain about that."

"Your teachings have helped grow my mindfulness/anti-racism practice in ways I had not previously experienced. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and guidance."

"I feel prepared and confident to facilitate in most spaces and I know that I couldn't have done it without your help."

100% of previous students strongly agreed

Some of our Clients

About Dena Samuels Consulting

Dena Samuels, PhD

Leadership Development Consultant, Speaker, Author & Executive Coach

Dena Samuels Consulting provides evidence-based diversity, equity, and inclusion services grounded in more than 25 years of experience facilitating these conversations effectively across higher education, corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Samuels brings the same mindful, compassionate, and skills-based approach to DEI facilitation that she brings to all of her leadership development work — creating environments where people feel safe enough to engage honestly, learn deeply, and build the inclusive cultures their organizations need.

Her clients include NASA, Yale University, PBS, Humana, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Facebook/WhatsApp, among more than 150 organizations and Fortune 50 corporations across the U.S. and beyond. She was an award-winning tenured professor at the University of Colorado — Colorado Springs who now consults full-time. Dr. Samuels has authored several books, including The Mindfulness Effect: An unexpected path to healing, social justice & environmental justice, and Fast Relief from Anxiety: 25 Tools to Calm Your Nervous System. She is also the creator of The Inner Edge Leadership Series.