How We Work

Operationalizing equity is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.

Today’s challenges require a government built on an infrastructure of inclusive, diverse, and high-performing personnel. At C3E, we push the 20th-century narrative of “big government” to evolve into a renewed role of a responsive and inclusive public sector.

Through the implementation of organizational learning programs designed to build capacity and uplift communities inside public sector organizations, we acknowledge that centering equity into a vision of 21st-century democracy addresses historical flaws and builds an inclusive future for us all. We work with governments to train and inspire leaders who are ready to dismantle dated internal processes that create barriers and marginalize staff, with a mutual goal of building new structures of inclusion within our public institutions.

Our Approach

• Equity-driven change management and performance management strategies and implementation (REDI – multi-year, cohort-based, iterative model connected to high-level leadership vision for equity-driven change)
• Asset-based mapping of existing programs and policies
• Operationalization of equity review and assessment policies
• Design-driven process improvement
• Iterative testing of key performance indicators connected to outcomes, not outputs
• Professional development and workforce training connected to promotion pathways, upskilling existing staff and retention of high performing staff

Units of Government We Have Worked With

Organization-specific transformation work (multi-year), we have worked with:

For our transformative learning program, we have worked with (all are municipalities in Illinois unless otherwise noted):