VISIONS, Inc

🎉 Introducing the Online Conference! Tickets are now available for our Online Conference this June. If you join us online, you'll get the livestreamed keynotes from George Kohlrieser and Heather Mason. And you'll be invited to join our online workshops. Meet our morning workshop host for the Online Conference, Dr. Valerie Batts, Founder of VISIONS, Inc., who will be running a session on cultural trauma and its implications for coaching ... Culturally imposed trauma impacts all of us. Dr. Valerie's workshop will explore the impacts of racial/ethnic trauma on those historically and/or currently seen as “less than” as well as on those seen as “better than.” Using a four-level analysis, participants will hear examples of how coachees enhanced their leadership skills by identifying and challenging the cultural, racial, or ethnic "scripts" they caught and/or were taught growing up. Participants will explore how they can continue their growth, using real-life examples they may be facing. Tools for creating healing spaces that allow creativity, and new beginnings, will be illustrated and practised. Anyone joining the In-Person conference is welcome to join this workshop (subject to availability) from their own computer at Ashridge. More information and tickets https://lnkd.in/eKP3uqnG

Ready to deepen your skills in communication, connection, and creating belonging? Join us for our virtual foundational workshop—now registering for 2025–2026! Build awareness, facilitate change, and connect across difference. Register today at visions-inc.org/pace-i Let’s build a more connected, courageous future—together. #VISIONSInc #PACETraining #PACELevelI #VirtualWorkshops #Belonging #FacilitationSkills #DiversityandInclusion

Ready to strengthen your communication across differences? Join us for our signature one-hour workshop: Guidelines for Effective Cross-Cultural Dialogue Wednesday, April 30 | 4–5:15 p.m. ET Whether you're navigating tough conversations at work or building deeper relationships in your community, this interactive session offers practical tools for meaningful, respectful dialogue—across cultures, identities, and perspectives. Led by experienced VISIONS facilitators, you'll leave with actionable strategies to: -Build trust across lines of difference -Navigate conflict with curiosity and care -Communicate with clarity, empathy, and intention -Spots are limited—register today and take the first step toward better dialogue. https://lnkd.in/eG9zmDrR

At VISIONS, Inc, we’ve always known this to be true: meaningful human connection changes everything. Now, science backs it up. A new study published in Nature Scientific Reports confirms that feeling connected to others significantly boosts mental well-being—even more than money, education, or career success. This aligns with what we’ve seen for decades in our work across communities, corporations, and classrooms: when people feel seen, heard, and valued, they thrive. Healing begins. Innovation grows. Systems shift. We believe that #bridgingdifferences isn’t just the “right” thing to do—it’s essential to our collective well-being. Let’s keep doing the work that helps us see the humanity in one another. 🔗 Link to article in comments below #Belonging #Leadership #OrganizationalHealth #VISIONSInc #HumanConnection #MentalHealth

💡Honored to be quoted in this important piece by TheStreet examining how political rhetoric—especially from leaders like J.D. Vance—is shaping the future of U.S. AI policy. 🤖 At VISIONS, Inc., we’ve seen how emerging technologies like generative AI are not neutral. They reflect the values, power dynamics, and systemic inequities of the people designing and deploying them. When politicians call AI “a good replacement for jobs,” especially those held by vulnerable workers, it signals a dangerous disregard for human dignity. 🟰The idea that we can accept a world where certain people are ‘replaceable’ for efficiency is a betrayal of our collective responsibility to each other. The real innovation we need is in equity, not just algorithms. 🧑🧑🧒🧒 AI policy is not just about tech—it’s about people. And we must ask: Who’s shaping it? Who benefits? Who’s left behind? At VISIONS, Inc, we’re committed to helping organizations and communities navigate this moment with humanity, systems awareness, and care. We don’t just prepare people for the future of work—we advocate for a future that centers belonging, justice, and relationship. 🙏🏽Grateful to be part of this timely conversation. Read the full article below: #AI #FutureOfWork #Equity #DEI #Leadership #VISIONSInc #SystemsChange #Policy #GenerativeAI #HumanDignity

Over the past year, our team has been working with a creative agency to refine our brand. Today, we are excited to share this work with you! The Foundation of our New Visual Identity Over the course of our lives, our perspectives are shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and learned behaviors. No two people are exactly alike, and creating true community requires navigating our different edges to create how we fit more effectively together. The wonder of a mosaic is the careful effort to arrange unique pieces into something cohesive and beautiful. Our new brand highlights how VISIONS’ process takes people’s individual foundations—and the external context that informs them—and fits them together to capture and appreciate the beauty of difference. #learnwithVISIONS #antioppressionforall #moregood #betterworld #liberationwork

“You care too much.” “You’re too empathetic, too trusting, not tough enough.” I hear this a lot. And you know what? That’s my secret sauce. Sure, it might sound hokey. However, caring deeply—about our mission, my team, and the people we serve—isn’t a weakness. It’s the foundation of our impact. I’ve been told I should micromanage more, control more. No, thanks. I intentionally hired people I trust. I trust their skills, their alignment with our mission, and their ability to tell me when something isn’t working. I don’t want a team that fears me—I want a team that thrives together. At VISIONS, Inc we: ✔️ Have over 50 consultants facilitating, coaching, and training others in equity-based leadership ✔️ Have an incredible board of directors who believe in our mission ✔️ Operate with 7 staff (not all full time) ✔️ Respect different working and learning styles ✔️ Embrace emotions in the workplace—because we are whole people, not just workers So no, I won’t put on fake armor to be the kind of leader who rules with an iron fist. I lead with authenticity and care—and that’s exactly why, when I became Executive Director 5 years ago, we implemented: ✨ Meetingless Mondays ✨ Unlimited PTO ✨ 4 weeks of all-staff vacation every year Nonprofit work is hard, and at the very least, I want my team to feel seen, valued, and supported. 💡 Want to do this work with us? Connect with our VISIONS, Inc Leadership Institute and be part of the change. We have a info session coming up soon! Stay tuned and ask us to keep you on the mailing list! #Leadership #WorkCulture #EmpathyInAction #changemakers

Join us tomorrow Wednesday April 2nd at 5:30-6:45 ET / 2:30-3:45pm PT for the first session of our highly popular offering Staying Centered in Uncertain Times: Emphasis on Empathy. We will gather together to learn and practice how to hold space for the emotional experiences of others as a way to better understand, connect, and take care of yourself. Each session is 75-minutes. Cost per session: $5 hardship rate, $10 community rate, $20 standard rate, $35 donation/support rate.

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we’re reminded that honoring women means not just celebrating the past—but addressing the barriers many still face today. At VISIONS, Inc, we support mission-driven organizations and institutions in creating people-centered strategies that drive sustainable impact. From leadership #coaching to strategic #advising, we help align your work with your #values—while navigating today’s challenges with clarity and #compassion. Let’s build systems that lift up—rather than hold back—women and communities working to thrive. We’d love to set up a time to further discuss with you! (Link in comments) #WomensHistoryMonth #Leadership #PeopleCentered #InclusiveSolutions #ValuesDriven

“#Neutrality is not the absence of #bias. It is often the disguise of it.” Today, VISIONS, Inc had the privilege of presenting “Restorative Practices Through an Anti-Racist, Cross-Cultural Lens” at the Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference. Though we were unable to attend in person due to the current climate in this country, we’re incredibly grateful to the organizers (Kristin Scheyer🙏🏽) for making space for us to join virtually and still engage meaningfully with this powerful community. We are deeply grateful to the organizers for accommodating us remotely and modeling the kind of #inclusion and responsiveness that our session aimed to uplift. Our session explored how traditional models of conflict resolution can unintentionally replicate harm when they fail to account for race, power, and history—and how equity-centered #restorativepractices can lead to more #transformative outcomes. We shared tools from VISIONS’ #crosscultural framework, including: — Guidelines for Effective Cross-Cultural Dialogue — #TransactionalAnalysis and #powerdynamics — #Restorativejustice practices grounded in #antiracism and #culturalresponsiveness — The myth of #neutrality in #mediation, #tech, and #AI — #Emotions as valid data in #healing and #conflicttransformation Thank you to everyone who showed up, reflected, and leaned into this conversation with us. Presented by: Elika Dadsetan-Foley, Executive Director Nikki Glass, VP of Administration Let’s keep building #justice—not just resolution. #NWDR2025 #ConflictResolution #EquityInPractice #TraumaInformedMediation #CrossCulturalDialogue