ACTO Conference 2019

Event Summary

The annual ACTO Conference (Association of Coach Training Organizations) gathers together many of the most influential coaches in the industry in a collegial and cooperative atmosphere of sharing ideas and best practices.

In 2019, the Conference theme was: The Human Tapestry: Challenge, Illuminate, Celebrate, and focused on Diversity & Inclusion in the coaching and coach training professions. This conference was suitable for anyone in the coaching, education or other human support professions (e.g. social work, counselling, psychology, sociology, etc.).

The ability to negotiate difference is a critical skill for coaches to stay relevant in a world that is increasingly waking up to the value and urgency of diversity.

Attendees learned how to do their own personal work, and to initiate important conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and incorporate them into their coaching practices, coach training schools and organizations.

FEATURED KEYNOTES:

Dr. Robin DiAngelo: Seeing the Racial Water
https://robindiangelo.com/

As a self-identified “white person who speaks to white people about racism”, Dr. DiAngelo speaks in a way that is deceptively simple and mind-blowingly clear about a topic which is often rife with discomfort, fear and anger. She will speak to us about why as educators and as coaches, it is imperative that we work to create self-awareness and understanding within ourselves and in our trainees about the systemic issues that impact us all. What does it mean to be white in a society that proclaims to be multicultural yet is deeply divided by race? Dr. DiAngelo will describe the way race shapes the lives of White people, explain what makes racism so hard for White people to see, overview the dynamics of white fragility, and identify how White people can build their stamina to work towards greater racial equity. Weaving information, analysis, stories, images, and familiar examples, she provides the framework needed to develop white racial literacy. Although the focus is on white racial identity development, people of color may also find the analysis valuable as it is one that is rarely affirmed or provided in mainstream society.

Robin DiAngelo & Natasha Aruliah: Building Bridges Across Racial Divides
Natasha Aruliah, a woman of colour, and Robin DiAngelo, a white woman, will have a cross-racial dialogue on how the forces of systemic racism shape all members of society, albeit in different ways depending on their racial positions. Natasha will share the experience of racialised folk, the challenges they face, what they want from white people, and how white people can respond. Robin will discuss how white superiority shapes white people, common white patterns, and how white progressives in particular collude in racism. They will share the challenges in building authentic cross-racial relationships. Finally, they will explore how the coaching profession can better serve students and clients of colour and what white educators and coaches need to understand.

Monique Gray-Smith: Discovering the Stories Within Us
Award Winning Author, International Speaker & Consultant
https://moniquegraysmith.com/

Monique Gray Smith is a mixed heritage woman of Cree, Monique Gray Smith is a proud Mom of fifteen year old twins. She is an award-winning, best-selling author and sought after consultant. Monique’s first published novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience won the 2014 Burt Award for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Literature.

In this dynamic and inspiring keynote, Monique will share her personal story of recovery, including over 28 years of sobriety and how this journey led her to reconnecting with her culture and becoming a writer. As a woman of mixed heritage, Cree, Lakota and Scottish, Monique understands both the complexities and the gifts that diverse cultures, languages and ways of being and knowing influence one’s life journey. During our time together, we will explore such questions as:

• What role does culture, language, connection to the land, water and stars have in my life, my coaching practice and my role as a trainer?
• What don’t you know that you don’t know and if you knew, would deepen your coaching practice and teaching?
• How can culture, language and our stories support us and those we coach/train? How do they fundamentally both root us and create wings for change?
• Throughout the keynote address, Monique will weave in readings from her books, traditional teachings and stories.

View the full Speakers list here.