Testimonials
“Not speaking the truth reinforces racism. It allows us to believe it’s our normal.” - Tiffany Jewell
Catherine D'Ignazio
Assistant Professor of Urban Science & Planning, MIT
Director, Data + Feminism Lab
Our majority-white team did a project about equity in maternal health and Jenn had a leadership role in helping to shape the project over the course of 18 months. In the course of that time, we built relationships with communities of color who are leading community-centered change, created inclusive spaces for women of color to innovate, and published a book of 27 birth and breastfeeding stories. It wasn't flawless, but with Jenn's guidance we were able to navigate bumps in the road and continuously tune our relationships for racial equity. I am tremendously proud of everything we accomplished.
As the director of the project, and a white woman, I carry forward deep learnings about white supremacy and the role that well-meaning white people like myself can play in upholding it. Jenn's guidance on this project set me on what I know to be a lifelong learning trajectory. She was patient and met our team where we were with our racial equity knowledge, providing eye-opening materials and identity-based exercises. She helped surface key racial elements of decision-making where white members of the team hadn't noted a racial component. And she was a kind and joyous partner throughout the process. I feel a great debt of gratitude to Jenn for the work that she does as well as its on-going impact on my life, and I give her the highest possible recommendation.
Elan Drennon
Former Sr. Manager, Student Equity and School Climate Strategy, Camden City School District
While working at the district office within Camden City School District in Camden, NJ, I called upon Jenn Roberts and Versed Education to support the mindset shift needed within our district in order for policy changes to be effective and sustainable. Jenn was an active and intentional thought-partner. I came to her with an idea of a fellowship for educators that would support them in developing the tools for equity that would make them change agents in their schools and communities. I appreciated the focus on co-creation. Jenn listened, she learned, challenged, and planned alongside those with the perspective she needed to support building solutions. Versed Education took the idea and created a transformational experience for a cohort of educators. Each time we met, there were practical, actionable things that we walked away with--things we could start that day!
Educators went on to implement restorative practices in their schools, to productively push conversations, and to deepen the way they challenge themselves personally and professionally. Almost 3 years after the initial cohort was formed, I still get calls and emails from educators talking about the journey they went on with Versed, and how it changed the lens through which they see themselves showing up for children, families, and each other.
Suezette Yasmin Robotham
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practitioner in Tech
Jennifer Roberts and the Versed Education team were an immense value add to and resource for the Google Search and Assistant team. Jennifer was an integral partner in our work to create and implement our first-ever comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy for our global team of 7,000+ team members. She created a transformational learning experience for my leaders which allowed them to tap into their own understanding of the significance of this work and generate meaningful action items and high-impact goals for our organization. This wouldn’t have been possible without her partnership.