Last September, I jumped to join that month’s Association of Junior Leagues International’s Racial Equity Challenge cohort. It was an intense, 21-day deep dive into racial issues in our country then. We had just come off the summer of protests following the George Floyd murder and were in the second wave of coronavirus, so I made good on my commitment to educate myself more.

I didn’t know what to expect as we were being randomly paired into small groups, but I was committed to having an open mind and listening. The goal was for your group to meet nightly Monday through Thursday and then participate in the community discussions on Fridays. While our nightly conversations were slated for an hour, we could have spent another hour or two talking. The first discussion centered around racial identity, and let’s just say that on the first day, I had long-standing assumptions busted by this group of extraordinary women that came from different backgrounds than me. It set the tone for what has become one of my life’s most educational and life-changing experiences.

Those of you who don’t know me can look at the photo on my about page and see I look white. Notice I said look. I’m actually half Native American, and I identify as Native. My heritage is something I am proud of, but even though I claim to be Native, this initial conversation showed me that the way we look at race in this country really is only skin deep. While I identify as Native, I look white. And because I look white, I am treated as white.

I also assumed that every career woman had the same experience I had regarding relevancy in the workplace. Being a woman in male-dominated industries has proven to be difficult. My expertise has often been dismissed or uncredited, and I have had to fight to have a seat at the table because I am female. I just assumed this was the case for most women. I now know that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color women have faced similar experiences because of the color of their skin more so than their gender.

Our conversations over that three-week period were some of the rawest and most serious discussions I’ve ever had about living in America today. For someone that considered herself aware of race issues in America, I can tell you I had no idea. Because I identify as Native, white privilege has blinded my ability to see reality. And white privilege has afforded me opportunities others still struggle for.

I was put in my place more than once, and I’m thankful for that. I’ve learned what I can do to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and I’m working on being more inclusive in how I approach my professional career and everyday life. I’m making changes and being more conscious about my decisions surrounding inclusivity.

We started a group text at the end of the challenge, and we still communicate regularly. I know I have a group of women that are as committed to change as I am, and it’s an asset to me to ask questions and get advice. I also know they’ll hold me accountable, which is the best part. If you can participate in a similar program, I encourage you to do so. We all have a long way to go beyond just reading books, and it starts with looking in the mirror and being open to vulnerability and change.