CLAIM SPACE: Rebuilding Equity in a World That’s Trying to Erase It
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are under attack. Across industries, institutions are quietly—or not so quietly—rolling back DEI initiatives, eliminating positions, and pretending that if they stop talking about equity, the need for it will disappear. But here’s the reality: the systems that created inequities in the first place are still fully intact. Removing DEI efforts doesn’t solve the problem—it just sends the message that some people’s access, success, and well-being don’t matter.
For those of us who have spent years pushing for more equitable workplaces, this moment feels like a gut punch. But here’s what I know: equity work doesn’t stop just because organizations want to walk it back. If anything, this is the moment to double down, get strategic, and make change in ways that aren’t dependent on whether a company is currently in the mood to care.
CLAIM SPACE: A Framework for Navigating Uncertain Times
This is exactly why I’m developing the CLAIM SPACE framework. It’s not just about DEI—it’s about how individuals navigate power, confidence, and safety in systems that were never built for them. Right now, workplaces are sending a clear message: We are deprioritizing equity. And if that’s the case, what do leaders, advocates, and professionals do next?
The CLAIM SPACE framework helps people assess:
✅ What’s within your control when institutions refuse to change
✅ How to advocate for yourself and others in environments that feel hostile
✅ When to push for change—and when to redirect your energy elsewhere
We cannot wait for organizations to “wake up.” We have to navigate these spaces strategically, powerfully, and with an understanding of where real change can still happen.
Where Do We Go From Here?
In this blog series, I’ll be breaking down:
Why “safe spaces” don’t always lead to progress—and what we need instead
How leaders can use the CLAIM SPACE framework to drive real change
The difference between surviving and thriving in workplaces that resist equity
The rollback of DEI isn’t the end of the conversation. It’s proof that the work is more necessary than ever. So, if organizations won’t claim space for equity, we have to do it ourselves.
Let’s get to work.
