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.

Upcoming Chats include:

January 3, 9:30 a.m. — The Racial Politics of Time by Brittney Cooper

In her TED Talk, Brittney Cooper explains how time in the United States has been shaped by racial inequality, with Black communities often denied the same opportunities to progress, rest, and thrive that White communities have been given. She argues that this unequal access to time has lasting effects on health, finances, and freedom. She calls for a more just understanding of time that values everyone equally.

Brittney has written 4 books and is releasing another, Mama Says I'm Fine in early May 2026. Her fifth book will center around the powerful and resilient bond between a mother and daughter.

Planning to join us? Be sure to sign up so we’re ready to welcome you!

Get the Zoom Link Now

February 7, 9:30 a.m. — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Set in the mid-to-late 20th century, The Vanishing Half follows identical twin sisters whose lives take radically different paths. One remains in the Black community where she was raised, while the other reinvents herself by passing as White and leaving her past behind. Through their diverging choices, the novel explores identity, race, family, and how the past continues to shape who we become.

Books are available online on bookshop.org and eBay, among others.

Aside from writing 4 books, Brit has written countless essays, all of which are available to read on her website.

March 7, 9:30 a.m. — White Supremacy Culture by Tema Okun

Tema Okun explains how everyday norms like perfectionism, urgency, and defensiveness are rooted in systems that uphold racial inequality. She argues that these behaviors often go unnoticed because they are treated as “normal,” and she encourages readers to challenge them in order to build more equitable and inclusive spaces.

Her website is also a fascinating resource, intertwined with lyrical and visual art, outlining white supremacy and gives lots of information regarding current implications of this culture and useful facts for readers.

April 4, 9:30 a.m. — Jim Crow of the North from PBS

A documentary that examines how racist housing policies, especially ones rooted in segregation, shaped the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area and helped create deep racial disparities that persist today. The film tells the history of these discriminatory practices and highlights how African American families and community leaders resisted and worked for change.

May 2, 9:30 a.m. — Sparked: George Floyd, Racism, and Progressive Illusion by MNHS Press

A novel which examines the murder of George Floyd and the uprisings that followed, challenging Minnesota’s image as a progressive state. Through essays and reflections, the book exposes how deep-rooted racial inequalities persist despite claims of progress.

With nearly 40 writers contributing to the essays that make up this book, the novel covers all aspects of the aftermath of George Floyd's murder from all across the Twin Cities and beyond.

About the Chats

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 conversation?

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 julie@daily-work.org with questions

What to expect

A warm welcome from facilitators
Round-robin check-in: How are you as a human?
Share out from each attendee about the materials
If there's time remaining, 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, December 6: The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong by john a. powell
Saturday, April 5: Hijab Butch Blues, a memoir by Lamya H.
Saturday, May 3: The Urgency of Intersectionality, a TED Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw
Saturday, June 7: Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
Saturday, July 12: Origin, a movie based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson. Watch the trailer.
Saturday, August 2: The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Saturday, September 6: Solito by Javier Zamora
Saturday, October 4: Coming Up Cuban by Sonia Manzano
Saturday, Nov. 1: A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, edited by Sun Yung Shin

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.