SunShower Learning’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We commit to creating uniquely powerful diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training resources that help people develop skills that contribute to an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel a sense of belonging and opportunity.
Going beyond typical DEI training, our resources 1) use realistic vignettes to reveal individuals’ experiences in the workplace, 2) can be implemented via an array of flexible formats, and 3) provide concrete skills and roadmaps so companies can move from mere diversity pledges to meaningful, purposeful action that transforms lives and drives business results.
What’s a sunshower, anyway?
Imagine rain falling at the same time as sun is shining brightly and no clouds to be seen. This magical paradox happens when rain drops are blown a long way into an area with no clouds. If you’re lucky, it is in this moment of contradiction where you can often find a rainbow.
A sunshower is a unique and inspiring event… As Joel says, “That’s what SunShower training is designed to be: a unique, engaging, inspiring experience that inspires curiosity and openness to fresh ideas and skills to bring about change in the world.”
Topics
SunShower addresses these topics (and more) in our eLearning courses, Trainer’s Toolbox materials and Live Webinars with experts:
- Microaggressions and Psychological Safety
- Unconscious Bias
- Culture of Belonging: What gets in the way?
- How to lead a multicultural team
- Are your Hiring Practices Inclusive?
- Inclusive leadership: What’s needed now
- Stereotypes: How to speak up
- Disability and accessibility
- Preparing for DEI resistance
Expertise • Quality • Experience
SunShower is recognized for:
- Subject matter expertise
- Highest quality film production – realistic scenarios with emotional impact
- Award-winning training courses
- Cutting-edge formats that meet today’s training needs
SunShower courses are in use by tens of thousands of corporations, schools, governments and other organizations.
What people are saying
About Joel Lesko
and the SunShower Team
Joel is a documentary filmmaker, author and speaker on recognizing unconscious bias and creating a more respectful workplace. Joel’s film work has appeared on PBS and has received over two dozen awards. SunShower Learning is the expression of his passion for film, online learning and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Joel has worked with leading organizations including Liberty Mutual Insurance, AT&T, UCLA and others to support their DEI initiatives with award-winning eLearning courses. In recent years he’s facilitated unconscious bias workshops for the CDC in Atlanta, Yale-New Haven Health and many others.
A native New Yorker who married into a Gullah family in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Gina Miller evolved her natural interest in culture, community and social justice into a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace and beyond. As an avid reader, prolific writer and community volunteer, she channels her thoughts and emotions into various forms of storytelling. This includes writing articles and furthering the important mission of SunShower Learning.
Joel is pleased to share more about the team of authors, speakers and facilitators who have been partners in creating and sharing these important programs. The collective intelligence and experience is only outweighed by the passion these talented leaders bring to the work.
- Dr. Robin Johnson – Being a Kind Leader: 6 Soft S.K.I.L.L.S. and SunShower strategic thought leader and co-creator
- Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D. – Defeating Unconscious Bias, Unconscious Bias in FOCUS, Diversity Dialogue Blunders
- Leslie Aguilar – Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts + Ouch! Your Silence Hurts
- Tina Dyer – webinar co-leader and creator of the Set and Setting course (coming soon)
- Connie Watson, Ph.D. – webinar co-leader and collaborator
- Dr. Derald Wing Sue – webinar co-leader and thought leader for Disarming Microaggressions + The 21-Day Plan for Disarming Microaggressions
- Dr. Steve Robbins – Inclusion Insights
Our Recent Insights
The Deafening Silence of DEI Allies: A Call to Action in Troubled Times
While the challenges may seem daunting, there remains hope in collective action. As King admonished, “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” That time is now.
DEI LEAP: Empowering Leaders Through Turbulent Times
Today, we are offering a way forward, through the turbulence, beyond and above the fray. Our aim is to empower you to not only engage in your DEI efforts but to take a leap into action with renewed vigor and determination! We are proud to announce the launch of a new eLearning training program, DEI LEAP: Fostering Inclusion and Building Humanity with Lisette Martinez, the Chief Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer at the National Audubon Society and one of SunShower’s distinguished experts.
The Colorblindness Trap
The Color Blindness Trap: How a civil rights ideal got hijacked. Nikole Hannah-Jones is a domestic correspondent for The New York Times Magazine focusing on racial injustice. Her extensive reporting in both print and radio has earned a Pulitzer Prize, National Magazine Award, Peabody and a Polk Award. She is the creator of The 1619 Project and also teaches race and journalism at Howard University.
The Unbearable Lightness of the “I’m Sorry if You Were Offended” Apology
Have you ever come across that non-apology apology? You know, the one that goes, “I’m sorry if you were offended,” or its close cousin, “I’m sorry that you…” These non-apologies aren’t just weak; they can actually inflict more harm and exacerbate hurt feelings.
The Power of Diversity: McKinsey’s Latest Report Reinforces the Business Case for Inclusive Leadership
In an era where corporate social responsibility is no longer just a buzzword but a fundamental aspect of successful business strategies, McKinsey’s latest report, “Diversity Matters Even More: The Case for Holistic Impact,” underscores the undeniable link between leadership diversity and company performance.