Every Electives teacher has a unique story that makes them special. It's their lived experiences and stories coupled with their content that has such a memorable impact on employees’ learning and development. So, who are our teachers and why are they so passionate about the topics they teach? What are their stories?

Today, we’re excited for you to get to know Jeff Rogers. Jeff teaches four electives: Understanding Racism, Intersectionality & Equity, What Growing Up Mixed Teaches You about Race in America, and Working Across Differences.

Q: How did you get to where you are in your career focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion?

Jeff: I started working with youth with severe emotional disturbances, from ADD to bipolar disorder. It turned out that I had a gift for it and an interest in this, specifically the psychology of how humans work and how they change. So I started to train people how to work with these youth and then before I knew it, I’m training adults and working with adults but centering around how people strip themselves to the bare bones and rebuild themselves and change. So I really focus on how people change and what it takes for people to actually change.

Q: What inspired you to become an Electives teacher focused on diversity, equity and inclusion?

Jeff: Working with groups is something I do. I talked to Jason and I really liked what he was trying to do. The team is trying to connect people who want to learn and improve the world to people who have an opportunity to do that. So for me, it was a no brainer. Electives has a great model that is understandable - even the name Electives. Electives are things that enrich you in school, and Electives is trying to enrich people at work.

Q: Why do you focus on diversity, equity and inclusion training?

Jeff: My practice is based on the solution focused method and radical candor. Those are useful things you can bring into any interaction or situation...but with Electives I do a lot of diversity and equity inclusion work. It’s particularly needed because race and equity are so taboo and people struggle to even talk about it. So for me, it’s so important that we can’t fix racism and equity until we can first talk about it. Someone needs to be able to help people build the skills so that they can talk about race in a way that's unifying, not dividing.

Q: What do you want people to learn from your Electives classes on diversity, equity and inclusion?

Jeff: I hope everyone leaves my elective knowing that having the space to examine your ideas, thoughts, and beliefs can make your life more meaningful and can help you understand society better. And after attending my elective, if you come away with action items, you can actually apply those ideas and action steps to help make the world better. 

Also, after some of my electives, I work with the audience to build a vision around what change could look like, and I challenge them to do something within the next week to help them get closer to that vision.

Every Electives teacher has a unique story that makes them special. It's their lived experiences and stories coupled with their content that has such a memorable impact on employees’ learning and development. So, who are our teachers and why are they so passionate about the topics they teach? What are their stories?

Today, we’re excited for you to get to know Jeff Rogers. Jeff teaches four electives: Understanding Racism, Intersectionality & Equity, What Growing Up Mixed Teaches You about Race in America, and Working Across Differences.

Enjoy our conversation with Jeff below!

Q: How did you get to where you are in your career focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion?
Jeff: I started working with youth with severe emotional disturbances, from ADD to bipolar disorder. It turned out that I had a gift for it and an interest in this, specifically the psychology of how humans work and how they change. So I started to train people how to work with these youth and then before I knew it, I’m training adults and working with adults but centering around how people strip themselves to the bare bones and rebuild themselves and change. So I really focus on how people change and what it takes for people to actually change.

Q: What inspired you to become an Electives teacher focused on diversity, equity and inclusion?
Jeff: Working with groups is something I do. I talked to Jason and I really liked what he was trying to do. The team is trying to connect people who want to learn and improve the world to people who have an opportunity to do that. So for me, it was a no brainer. Electives has a great model that is understandable - even the name Electives. Electives are things that enrich you in school, and Electives is trying to enrich people at work.

Q: Why do you focus on diversity, equity and inclusion training?
Jeff: My practice is based on the solution focused method and radical candor. Those are useful things you can bring into any interaction or situation...but with Electives I do a lot of diversity and equity inclusion work. It’s particularly needed because race and equity are so taboo and people struggle to even talk about it. So for me, it’s so important that we can’t fix racism and equity until we can first talk about it. Someone needs to be able to help people build the skills so that they can talk about race in a way that's unifying, not dividing.

Q: What do you want people to learn from your Electives classes on diversity, equity and inclusion?
Jeff: I hope everyone leaves my elective knowing that having the space to examine your ideas, thoughts, and beliefs can make your life more meaningful and can help you understand society better. And after attending my elective, if you come away with action items, you can actually apply those ideas and action steps to help make the world better. 

Also, after some of my electives, I work with the audience to build a vision around what change could look like, and I challenge them to do something within the next week to help them get closer to that vision.

Check Out Jeff Rogers' Electives

Meet Jeff Rogers, one of the Electives teachers who shares why he focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion

Meet Electives Teacher Jeff Rogers: Expert on Conversations Around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Tue Apr 05 2022

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