Learn From Lived Experience

Each course is taught by an instructor who belongs to—and works within—the community being discussed. This approach ensures authentic, grounded perspectives and deep, experience-driven learning. You’ll also hear from guests in our podcast segments, adding dimension to every topic.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the ADF Masterclass, you’ll be equipped to:



• Navigate intercultural dynamics with sensitivity
• Identify and interrupt personal and systemic biases
• Facilitate inclusive dialogue and dispute resolution
• Approach diversity with humility, not just knowledge
• Create safer, more equitable spaces in your work and life

Learn From Lived Experience

Each course is taught by an instructor who belongs to—and works within—the community being discussed. This approach ensures authentic, grounded perspectives and deep, experience-driven learning. You’ll also hear from guests in our podcast segments, adding dimension to every topic.

Course 1: Introduction to Diversity and Building Awareness

This course introduces the essential principles of diversity, cultural identity, and intercultural communication, providing a foundational understanding for the entire ADF Masterclass. Learners explore how bias—both conscious and unconscious—shapes perceptions and decisions, and begin developing the cultural humility and self-awareness necessary for inclusive, respectful engagement. By examining the value of diversity in both personal and professional contexts, this course empowers professionals to communicate across differences and build more equitable environments.

Course 2:  Indigenous Culture and Perspectives

This course invites learners to engage deeply with the lived realities, histories, and worldviews of Indigenous peoples in Canada—guided by an Indigenous instructor who shares from both professional expertise and personal experience. It explores the enduring impact of colonialism, including the legacy of the Indian Act, residential schools, and systemic displacement, while also highlighting the strength and resilience of Indigenous cultures. Through stories, teachings, and legal perspectives, students gain insight into Indigenous approaches to law, spirituality, and conflict resolution—rooted in community, land, and relationality. This course challenges participants to move beyond awareness into reconciliation by understanding treaties, respecting Indigenous sovereignty, and acknowledging the intergenerational trauma that continues to shape Indigenous experiences today.

Course 3:  Understanding Disabilities

This course offers a powerful and personal exploration of disability, led by an instructor with cerebral palsy, offering students the opportunity to learn directly from someone who is part of the community. It introduces key frameworks—including the medical, social, and human rights models of disability—and examines how these perspectives shape policies, attitudes, and everyday interactions. Learners are encouraged to rethink common assumptions about disability and recognize the systemic, architectural, and attitudinal barriers that often go unchallenged. Framing disability as a vital part of human diversity rather than a deficiency, this course equips professionals with the tools to foster inclusion, practice respectful communication, and engage more ethically with disabled individuals in all areas of life.

Course 4:  Anti-Black Racism

This course delivers a candid and deeply informative look at anti-Black racism in Canada, led by a Black instructor who brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the conversation. Students examine how historical injustices like slavery and segregation continue to shape present-day systems through institutional bias, stereotyping, and exclusion—particularly in education, media, law enforcement, and the justice system. The course challenges participants to critically evaluate how racism shows up in both overt and subtle forms, and to reflect on their own role in perpetuating or interrupting these dynamics. Through historical context, personal stories, and actionable tools, learners gain the understanding and confidence to name anti-Black racism, confront internalized and systemic bias, and actively support equity in their workplaces and communities.

Course 5:  2SLGBTQ+ Fundamentals

This course provides a grounded and compassionate introduction to 2SLGBTQ+ identities, rights, and histories, taught by a queer instructor who speaks from lived experience. Learners are guided through foundational concepts such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and inclusive language, using the SOGIEISC framework (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) to broaden understanding beyond binaries. The course traces the legal and cultural progress of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Canada while highlighting the ongoing barriers they face, including discrimination, erasure, and violence. With a focus on trauma-informed practice and intersectionality, students gain tools to create safer, more inclusive environments—whether in conflict resolution, education, healthcare, or workplace settings—and are empowered to move from passive allyship to active support.

Course 6:  Essential Tools for Difficult Conversations

Bringing together the themes explored throughout the ADF Masterclass, this final course equips learners with the practical tools, emotional intelligence, and communication strategies needed to navigate complex, high-stakes conversations with care and confidence. Grounded in real-world scenarios and facilitated by a skilled mediator and educator, this course tackles the nuances of power, privilege, intent vs. impact, and the emotional weight of identity-based dialogue. Students learn to recognize microaggressions, manage defensiveness, and engage in restorative practices such as meaningful apologies and accountability. As the culminating course in the series, it empowers participants to not only understand diversity, but to engage with it—moving from awareness into action. By the end of this course, learners are prepared to facilitate more inclusive conversations, de-escalate conflict, and lead with empathy in both personal and professional spaces.