Key insights from our work have led us to develop two key services within the broader portfolio of Sova Equity Impact. These two services include DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Belonging) Strategy Design and the Equity Audit.
Sova Equity Impact; Real Transformation recently launched in June of 2021.
Reflecting on past bodies of work, the current climate within postsecondary education and workforce development, and the continued injustices perpetuated in our country, we are more committed to using our platform for justice and equity-focused systemic change.
As former faculty members, higher education administrators, operations specialists, community organizers, researchers, and on-the-ground technical assistance providers, we are tested professionals who understand how change happens, supporting partners and institutions that are committed to achieving significantly better and more equitable outcomes for today’s students.
Key insights from our work have led us to develop two key services within the broader portfolio of Sova Equity Impact. These two services include DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Belonging) Strategy Design and the Equity Audit.
DEI&B Strategy Design
The DEI&B Strategy Design approach is scaffolded, this modular work is facilitated through three distinct phases. A phased approach allows for information gathering and a curation of detailed knowledge that informs a series of whiteboarding exercises tied to the development of a vision and mission. These actions are paired with engaging strategic planning sessions and the co-creation of a detailed action plan with key KPIs.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Belonging Strategy Design sessions focus on Descriptive Analytics (what is happening), Diagnostic Analytics (why did it happen), Predictive Analytics (what will happen), and Prescriptive Analytics (how can we make it happen). Sova’s DEI Strategy Design sessions draw on multiple methods as a way to collect and analyze organizational and or institutional data tied to a set of key indices.
Equity Audit
Sova utilizes an asset-based equity audit that focuses on areas of opportunity for enhancement and growth. Sova’s approach is a departure from the traditional use of an audit rooted in compliance and or enforcement. Through a series of exploratory methods, Sova seeks to identify and understand systemic (systems focus) inequities that exist within an organization’s or institution’s culture and climate, with attention to policies, practices, procedures, trends, and behaviors, as well as the opportunities to remedy the inequities—to create a more just set of conditions through intentional action.
Sova’s Equity Audit helps leaders explore, identify, and understand the root causes and degree of systemic inequities —with a focus on the “what” and “why.” An Equity Audit provides a critical analysis of quantitative and qualitative data (collected through various methods) that supports leaders to craft, implement, and or iterate on equitable solutions and outputs for systems change. The audit includes multiple indices that are part of a larger framework of inputs and outputs.
An Equity Audit focuses on Descriptive Analytics (what is happening), and Diagnostic Analytics (why did it happen). Sova’s Equity Audit draws on multiple methods as a way to collect and analyze organizational and or institutional data tied to a set of indices. One specific method is our Climate and Culture Scan and Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) which looks at key indicators tied to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Belonging.
For more information on Sova Equity Impact services please email: equityimpact@sova.org.
