“Lawrence Garrett is an engaging, dynamic leader who is relentless in his work of equity, diversity and inclusion. He understands the harm caused to our youth by institutional racism and is uncompromising in his journey to make real change within the system.  He challenges those he teaches in a way that can be heard – with honesty, respect, and from the heart. Garrett is a remarkable teacher, in a time and space that it is unquestionably needed.”  – Tracy Oster, Executive Director of Communities in Schools of Federal Way

“Lawrence Garrett is an agent of change and an influential leader for equity and inclusion. He provides valuable insight into the power differential, the pervasive inequities in the educational system, and the processes for systemic transformation. Skilled in the human dynamic, Lawrence grounds equity work in the philosophy of ‘calling people in’ before ‘calling people out’ to build capacity and advocacy for change. This book is a game-changer!”  – Alicia Nosworthy, Director of Instructional Leadership at Puyallup School District

“Learning from and growing with Lawrence has truly been a divine experience for me as a college administrator stewarding our most vulnerable students, many of whom are first generation, lower income, and from communities with diverse backgrounds … Equity is his purpose! … Lawrence ignited passion and instilled purpose in students with intentional design that could only be done because of who he is, his knowledge, and expertise … Readers, I dare you to read this book with an open mind, and more importantly, open heart. Be ready for the next level on your journey toward and through equity.”  – Dawn E. Reed, Director of Student Equity, Design, and Engagement at Pierce College

“I have an enormous respect for Lawrence Garrett and his dedication to equity work. What I most admire is his tireless dedication and endless determination to dismantle systems of racism. I am always in awe of his great knowledge and skill when it comes to human behaviors … he has a gift and the intelligence of interpersonal skills for working with people. It has been a privilege to get to know this brilliant individual who has become my ‘911’ in times of equity fatigue. His works have quickly become an asset to our organization. If you are serious about walking the walk of equity, this book is your compass.”  – Stacey Wright, M.S.Ed, Assistant Principal at Franklin Pierce High School

“Not only is Mr. Garrett exceptionally talented at positively impacting reluctant learners, he is also highly effective at empowering, celebrating, and acknowledging those who are interested and equity-focused individuals.  Perhaps most noteworthy, is Mr. Garrett’s ability to scaffold tough concepts within the context of race relations, systemic racism, bigotry, and implicit bias. He does this through creating and delivering hands-on or experiential activities that give participants of all backgrounds a chance to really understand race and racism in concrete ways. If your organization needs work surrounding the following: collaboration, eliciting and maintaining social-justice perseverance, and designing equitable and effective community culture, you would be hard-pressed to find a more fitting individual for the job.”  – Chimere Hackney, Dean of Students at Franklin Pierce School District

“Lawrence Garrett has had a transformative impact on me and our organization. He has a depth of empathy and compassion that makes tough conversations easier to receive and offers concrete strategies that illuminate the path for achieving DEI goals. He has helped me confront my own biases in a way that has been cathartic and healing, and in the process has helped me become a better leader. Our organization is more deeply committed to embedding equity and inclusion in everything we do and we are hopeful for the future because of our work with Lawrence.”  – Erin Guinup, Executive & Artistic Director of Tacoma Refugee Choir

“A skillful and thought-provoking communicator, Lawrence Garrett has led us in transformative conversations to help shift our approaches to achieve equity, organizational structures, and building healthy relationships. Equally impressive is this targeted guide for high schools to take concrete next steps towards equity, yet we also find the learnings included to be relevant and relatable to many other sectors. This book is a must read from front to back and highly recommended as a group dialogue starter.”  – Cindy Caldwell, Pierce County Community Engagement Taskforce

“Lawrence Garrett is a son, husband, father, leader, and role model in Pierce County. His energy and guidance have created a new set of standards for how support systems look. Since it’s inception, Lawrence has been on the leadership board for the Pierce County Community Engagement Task Force (PCCETF). He is also co-leading the Organizational Structures Committee, which focuses on institutions themselves, their governance, and how they operate. The team assists organizations in becoming more responsive and accountable to the communities they serve. This is done by guiding them through the restructuring of operational policies and improving professionalism and interagency integration. Lawrence has continued to motivate others, graciously giving the tools and advice needed to do so.”  – Collective endorsement from Tamar D. Jackson, Director of Community Engagement for WorkForce Central and the Founder of the Pierce County Community Engagement Task Force; Korbett Mosesly, Co-Founder of The Black Parents Alliance; and Dr. Cindy Caldwell, Co-Lead of the Organizational Structure Committee for Pierce County Community Engagement Taskforce

“Committing to work on diversity and inclusion can be complex, challenging and, at times, overwhelming work, which makes Lawrence’s skill and ability at fostering a sense of curiosity, inquiry and ultimately empowerment all the more remarkable.  His open, collaborative, and authentic communication style draws one into this work in a compelling and engaged manner … He is a dynamic agent of change; an inspiring thought leader and the most adept, relatable and inspiring coach I have worked with … Lawrence’s work led us to the establishment of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team for our organization – the most powerful teambuilding work we have done to date.”  – Suzy Green, owner of Three Trees Yoga LLC