Daily Work is Committed to Building Equity in St. Paul and Beyond

Equity Chats: Join Us the First Saturday of Every Month

At Daily Work, we believe listening is essential to growth and connection. That’s why we launched monthly Equity Chats in April 2025—a Saturday morning Zoom series where we can come together to reflect, learn, and build community. Each session is grounded in a shared resource, like a book, article, or video.

The June 7 conversation will be about the book Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey.

Get the Zoom Link Now

I really appreciated the format for the recent Equity Chat. Uninterrupted turns to share our reflections on the materials and simply listen creates space for everyone to participate equitably.

~ From a participant at the April chat

About the Conversations

Equity Chats are open to all and provide a reflective space for community members, staff, volunteers, and board members to listen to each other and learn about ourselves. It’s an opportunity to grow in awareness, challenge our assumptions, and take intentional steps toward becoming more anti-racist—both individually and as a community.

We strive for a relaxed, come-as-you-are space where people of all races are invited and welcome. We aim to be honest and open with one another—gently pushing the boundaries of our thinking, questioning social norms, and inviting new perspectives. We believe in calling each other in, not out, creating space for growth rather than judgment. Over time, we seek to expand a set of shared norms that keep us accountable to this vibe and the community we’re striving to create.

Interested in joining the Chat?

Mark your calendar for the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
To receive the Zoom link via email, please click "Get the Zoom Link Now" button below.
Email Maria.Carlson@daily-work.org with questions

What to Expect

A warm welcome from facilitators
Round-robin check-in: How are you as a human?
Reflection on key takeaways from the materials
- Click here to read a review or purchase the book at Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
Open space for additional thoughts and questions

If you are worried about participating due to accessing the materials, please let us know. We are working to find a way to ensure everyone can participate.

Materials from past Chats

Saturday, April 5: Hijab Butch Blues, a memoir by Lamya H.
Saturday, May 3: The Urgency of Intersectionality, a TED Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw

Our Commitment to Equity

Racism and oppression are built into our society’s language, systems, and practices. We actively seek to dismantle racism, challenge discriminatory actions, reject oppressive practices, and reduce disparities in our community. We cultivate self-awareness and practice self-reflection in order to co-create an environment of radical acceptance.

~ Revised and adopted April 22, 2024 by Daily Work Board of Directors

Since the Beginning: Advancing Equity Through Employment

Daily Work was born from a commitment to social justice when pastors from several Twin Cities' churches, mostly in St. Paul's Midway-area, noticed that immigrants and other marginalized community members were unable to secure living wage jobs due to inequitable employment practices.

Over the past 25 years, Daily Work has focused on providing practical support to address the systemic barriers in the job application process and the workplace. From resumes to online applications, nearly every job today requires written communication or digital skills—even for positions that do not demand them. Job seekers often face convoluted online forms or pre-employment questionnaires that ask irrelevant questions, while failing to assess the skills essential to the job.

While these barriers may seem like a product of our digital age, Daily Work sees the disproportionate impact they have on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. In addition to these systemic challenges, we also hear firsthand accounts from job seekers about attitudinal barriers such as bias, racism, and discrimination.

These challenges have deepened Daily Work’s commitment to social justice and advancing racial equity in every aspect of our organization. We are dedicated to breaking down both systemic and attitudinal barriers to create an inclusive environment where all job seekers can thrive.