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Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help us to set up the structures to keep OAAARS afloat and care for the mental health of our staff!

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Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help OAAARS Make Waves

Help us to set up the structures to keep OAAARS afloat and care for the mental health of our staff!

Help us to set up the structures to keep OAAARS afloat and care for the mental health of our staff!

Help us to set up the structures to keep OAAARS afloat and care for the mental health of our staff!

Help us to set up the structures to keep OAAARS afloat and care for the mental health of our staff!

Simone Gamble
Simone Gamble
Simone Gamble
Simone Gamble
1 Campaign |
New York, United States
$2,615 USD 55 backers
13% of $20,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Overview 

My name is Simone Gamble and I am the founder of OAAARS

OAAARS is a people of the global majority-led consultancy that provides social justice-centered education and training to create saf(er) and inclusive workplaces while cultivating change agents in the workplace and beyond.

OAAARS was created in response to Silence. 

I remember going to work the day after a major police killing.  I remember so clearly holding back tears on the train, closing my eyes with rage as I walked on sidewalks heading to work, slowing down my breath so anxiety didn't overcome me. When I opened the door I walked to my desk and just sat. The world does not disappear when we arrive at our desks. What I remember most vividly was the silence.  No room to process. 

 So I choked my grief with professionalism and pushed through the day.  What shocked me most was the idea that I had to still perform.   As I reflect on this day, what I wanted more than anything was for my job to be as enraged as I was. As inspired as I was to act and fight for change. To make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone again. To create a safe space to process. To lean into the discomfort and not silence due to lack of expertise. To outsource help when needed. Although this experience is deeply personal to me it is not an individual one. This is the experience of many marginalized identities in the workplace. 

Psychological safety is something that many marginalized folks lack access to in the workplace. The stability of this safety many times is thinly upheld by the comfort or discomfort of the leaders of the workspace. Most have leaned into the latter. 

OAAARS wants to change that. We want to support workplaces in recognizing that safety includes centering training and conversations in the workplace around the ways systems of oppression impact folks both outside and inside of the workplace and provide the tools to transform the root causes internally and externally. 

We do this uniquely by using the expertise of community organizers, activists, artists, advocates, healers, and educators to lead this transformational work. We work with folks who challenge power in the workplace and in community. We are changing the face of consulting and making sure those who see Justice as the end goal are on our team and center it in our practice. 

Our vision is a world where people of the global majority have workspaces that center their humanity, push for social justice, and where their identities are seen, heard, and honored.  With leaders of various marginalized identities as our guide. We reimagine professional development as a tool for equity, justice, safety, and wellness. 

OAAARS is growing but we need support from our community.  We are planning for the longevity, growth, and sustainability of our work. With that goal, we need to invest in many of the structures that will support us in building our capacity. One of those structures is our first website. We also look forward to using this funding to hire part-time staff, cover major admin costs, and contract a part-time finance manager. Lastly, we want to support our consultants in doing this amazing work. We are also looking to host healing spaces for consultants in order to care for their mental health and wellness. This work is full of emotional and physical labor. If we are to sustain this vital work, we must first center ourselves and that is a top priority for OAAARS. Thank you for investing in us not only for what we can produce but in our overall wellness. 

What We Need

Every coin will go to building the capacity of our OAAARS. Here are our plans for the use of these funds. 

Fundraising goal: 20k

  • 6k: Development of OAAARS online internal and external platforms (website, database, intake structures)
  • 7k: Hiring of two part-time staff members to dedicate to building out OAAARS admin structures 
  • 7k: Mental health spaces and skills-building training for our consultants 

Additional needs 

  • Executive assistant 
  • Curriculum specialist 
  • Accountant 

The Impact

In 2020/21

  • We have worked with over 25 organizations about improving their workplaces to center justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
  • We have hired over 10 consultants to earn equitable compensation for their work in the last year. 
  • We have hosted mental health spaces for consultants during the pandemic to center our healing Make it real for people and build trust.

We hope to continue this impact and so much more with your help. 

Other Ways You Can Help

  • Spread the campaign on your social media platforms or to target folks with access to fund and are aligned with our work
  • Spread the word to dope changemakers who can join our team of consultants
  • Mention our name in rooms where opportunities arise 

Spread the Word!

If you can't contribute to this campaign, you can still support us by sharing it –spreading the word about OAAARS.

Don't forget to join our communities on: Instagram  

Check out our website: OAAARS.COM

A BIG THANK YOU for your support!

Video Credits:

Freelance Photographer and Videographer: Neha Gautam

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