Is Your Workplace Truly Welcoming?

Are You Really Walking the Talk?

Many organizations proudly wear a badge of honor, waving the "Look at me!" flag, to signal how welcoming, equitable, and inclusive they are. Yet behind the scenes, a different story unfolds: high turnover, burnout, Black and Brown staff walking on eggshells, employees feeling silenced, unsupported, and deeply harmed.

What's Really Happening Behind the Scenes

The truth? A glossy, polished exterior filled with Black and Brown faces on marketing materials, tokenized staff attending outward-facing meetings with fancy titles, and consistently sharing quotes from Black and Brown ancestors and change-makers does not equate to true inclusivity and a healthy workplace culture.

We've heard the stories, too many to count!

Stories of staff who poured their hearts and souls into mission-driven work, only to be met with silence or worse, retaliation when voicing concerns.

Stories of Black and Brown employees who created groundbreaking programs, developed innovative trainings, and led key initiatives— only to see their work remain on display long after they were pushed out, terminated, or walked away in exhaustion.

Individuals spotlighted during Black History Month, yet denied opportunities for advancement, support, or basic respect behind closed doors.

These Stories Are Not Anomalies

These are not isolated incidents. They are well-documented patterns. Patterns we must interrupt.

At TooREL, we don't just listen to the stories— we honor them. We use them to guide our work and hold space for truth-telling, healing, and accountability.

Because real transformation begins the moment we speak the truth about what's happening, and commit to being and doing better.

In our first year, TooREL provided support to eleven Black and Brown individuals navigating oppressive work environments, toxic leadership, and deep harm.

These requests haven't slowed down, in fact, they're growing in our second year.

Ask Yourself

What stories would your recently departed Black and Brown staff, whether they resigned, were pushed out, laid off, or fired, tell about your organization?

At TooREL, we believe in lovingly digging below the surface. It's not enough to appear inclusive, real transformation requires deep, honest assessment of your workplace culture.

We believe in uprooting what no longer serves, keeping what works, planting new seeds, and nurturing growth.

And, at the heart of it all? Love. Grace. Respect. Healing. Wellness. Accountability.

So, What Does Real Transformation Look Like?

How do you know if your organization is truly walking the talk and living into the words of the ancestors and change-makers you frequently quote?

We encourage organizations to examine five key areas of their internal culture, policies and practices, spoken and unspoken:

1. Leadership & Decision Making

2. Communication

3. Employee Wellbeing & Mental Wellness

4. Culture & Inclusion

5. Growth, Development & Collaboration

At TooREL, our motto and mission from day one has been: Going beyond diversity, equity and inclusion to create welcoming work environments for all people.

These five areas are the foundation of a thriving and liberating workplace. When ignored— or treated as performative checkboxes-- the result is often a culture of fear, exclusion, burnout, and oppression. Toxic work environments fueled by ego, power, and control.

The Contrasts: Toxic vs. Liberatory Cultures

Let's examine the contrast between toxic organizational culture and what becomes possible when we root our work in equity, healing, wellness, and collective care:

In Toxic Cultures:

• Leadership operates behind closed doors.

• Trust is lacking.

• Employees are micromanaged rather than empowered.

• Communication is one-way.

• Feedback is unwelcomed or scrutinized.

• Benefits and perks are offered as band-aids for deeper harm.

In Liberatory Cultures:

• Leadership is transparent, shared, and accessible.

• Employees feel trusted, seen, and valued.

• Communication flows in all directions with honesty, respect, and care.

• Individuals and teams prioritize collaboration over competition.

• Mental wellness, trauma-informed practices, and collective care are centered.

• Conflict is addressed equitably, with grace and accountability.

• Mistakes are met with curiosity and growth rather than shame.

In toxic environments, leadership is about titles, hierarchy, and proximity to power—who you know, not what you contribute. Opportunities and influence are reserved for a select few, often leaving others—especially Black and Brown staff—on the margins.

In liberatory cultures, power is distributed, not hoarded, and leadership is demonstrated through action, not just titles. Leaders recognize the wisdom and value in all roles—not just the most visible or credentialed. Look at our history and thriving movements.

And most importantly, these organizations make room for healing. They acknowledge harm, past and present, and commit to doing better, not just saying better.

Diversity is not just about numbers! It is embedded in decision-making, policies, and strategic vision.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about the willingness to reflect, repair, and reimagine.

Why TooREL? Why Now?

At the TooREL Institute for Social Change, we specialize in helping organizations move:

• From survival mode to sustainability

• From performative practices to meaningful transformation

We support individuals and organizations:

• Identify root causes of harm

• Develop trauma informed, equity-centered practices and policies

• Create systems that support all employees—especially those most impacted by systemic oppression and institutional bias

• And so much more...

We're here to support your journey! Moving from "I think we can" to "We're proud we did."

We don’t just help you check the box, we help you build something truly transformative, human-centered, and sustainable.
We co-create brave, welcoming spaces where all employees are thriving—not merely surviving.

The Collective

The Collective is not new to this work! We have been living it for decades. The team brings nearly 75 years of combined lived experience and professional expertise in advancing equity, inclusion, justice, and liberation.

For us, equity and inclusion aren’t trendy buzzwords—they’re foundational to who we are.

Long before it became the “right thing to say,” we were living these values, leading, healing, advocating, and disrupting oppressive systems from the inside out.

Ready to Begin?

Email us at info@toorelinstitute.org to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Let's build something bold, beautiful, and better. Together.

- Arlene Vassell, Founding Director, TooRELInstitute for Social Change