Practical Guidance for Embodying Equity in Implementation Part II
October 3, 2023 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Are you striving to embed equity into your implementation efforts?
As a follow-up to our highly attended 2021 event, we hosted Practical Guidance for Embodying Equity in Implementation Part II to continue this important conversation in a space where deep reflection and dialogue can drive impactful change.
Our aim was to help you delve into the heart of equity in implementation by focusing on the deeper levels of the Equity Iceberg, hidden below the surface: systems and structures + mental models.
We shared new reflections we’ve had since our last event and an updated set of guiding questions to support your understanding and approach.
This interactive event was designed to ignite conversations, foster reflection, and inspire action towards more inclusive and just practices.
Together, let's deepen our commitment to equitable implementation.
What we explored
Where we started and what we’ve learned along the way
We recapped how we, at TCI, started approaching equity in implementation and how we simplified the guiding questions we first released in 2021 to facilitate better discussion and understanding — all based on the challenges we heard directly from changemakers like you.
Deeper levels of the Equity Iceberg
We navigated deeper into the Equity Iceberg and reflected on questions that look at systems, structures, and mental models – the foundation of equitable actions and relationships.
Illustrative examples
We provided concrete examples to demonstrate what it means to reflect on these questions to help you apply the Equity Iceberg and guiding questions in your work.
Reflections and calibrations
We shared reflections about our own experiences when talking about equity in real implementation projects and some of the changes we’ve made to our processes to help us become more equitable, plus how we plan to further embed equity into what we do.
Opportunities for engagement
We included interactive activities for you to anonymously self-reflect on the Equity Iceberg and guiding questions, share what you’ve been working on or thinking about in this space, and identify which areas you have yet to focus on. We also had a Q&A at the end.
Our approach
We’re "topic agnostic" in how we approach implementation, meaning that the information we provide can be applied to multiple content areas.
Our expertise is in bridging the gap between implementation science and implementation practice. We’re not equity experts and we’re not claiming to be. We’re making sense of equity in our implementation work like so many of you are.
We present on what we know, acknowledge what we don’t know, and would love to hear from and collaborate with those of you who have been working towards equity for much longer than we have.
Equity is an integral part of any change effort and can’t be an afterthought. We can all be better at bringing equity principles to the forefront of our daily implementation work.
“Equity is a social process. We can't interact with one another in any meaningful ways without being equitable, and without working in a context that is just. We can be more equitable in implementation, and use implementation to be more equitable. Let's work together to see how we can achieve this.”
“Imagine what would happen if all implementation initiatives were able to truly embed equity into their processes and relationships. When we embed equity the actions we take and also how we work together, the systems and structures in which we operate, and our values and beliefs, we’re better able to meet people where they are at and address their needs.”
Watch the recording
Download the equity guiding questions
In this PDF, you’ll find the updated list of equity guiding questions.
These guiding questions were created to help all of us reflect on equity in different ways throughout each implementation action or activity.
We developed them by reflecting on our own equity practice, performing a review of the literature, and having important discussions with people in the field.
We’ve simplified these guiding questions since first releasing them in 2021 to facilitate better discussion and understanding (and also added new questions based on what we’ve been hearing from changemakers!).
And check out the online version!
The updated list of equity guiding questions are also available in an interactive online version!
Additional resources
From the event:
Responses from event activity #2 (Padlet): “Reflecting on your own implementation work, what ‘equity wins’ have you experienced over the past two years?”
Responses from event activity #3 (Padlet): “What can you do to bring up equity in your organization and/or with your implementation team?”
Related:
Practical Guidance for Embodying Equity in Implementation: Watch the recording of our 2021 event.
Embedding Equity into Implementation: The Equity Iceberg: Check out Dr. Sobia Khan’s overview of some of our equity work.
Inspiring Change 2.0: Our free mini-course that introduces you to implementation science and practice in under 2 hours.