Illustrations to share

To create these illustrations, I partner with Digital NEST, a tech career development center that prepares young people for tech-involved jobs. Their centers serve predominantly Latinx youth in the overlooked agricultural and rural communities of Watsonville, Salinas, and Gilroy in California. I absolutely love how they bring the Better Allies messages to life.

Feel free to download and share these illustrations. (Please credit Better Allies, link to http://www.betterallies.com, tag @betterallies on social media, and use the image descriptions for people with vision disabilities.)

Illustration titled Responses to Racist Behavior. There is a spiral notebook page with 4 points. Seek clarity: “Tell me more about __.” Offer an alternative perspective: “Have you ever considered __.” Speak your truth: “I don’t see it the way you do. I see it as __.” Find common ground: “We don’t agree on __ but we can agree on __.” The page has the National Museum of African American History & Culture. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Responses to Racist Behavior read more

Image description: Illustration titled Responses to Racist Behavior. There is a spiral notebook page with 4 points. Seek clarity: “Tell me more about __.” Offer an alternative perspective: “Have you ever considered __.” Speak your truth: “I don’t see it the way you do. I see it as __.” Find common ground: “We don’t agree on __ but we can agree on __.” The page has the logo of the National Museum of African American History & Culture. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Don’t dismiss racism against employees of Asian descent read more

Image description: Illustration of a person holding a sign reading This racism is real, it impacts employees, and violence against this community is growing. Above them are the words When racism against employees of Asian descent happens… If someone says, “They’ll be fine,” Push back. Ask “Why do you say that?” In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Illustration of a person holding a sign reading This racism is real, it impacts employees, and violence against this community is growing. Above them are the words When racism against employees of Asian descent happens… If someone says, "They'll be fine," Push back. Ask "Why do you say that?" In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.
Illustration titled “5 Ways To Give Coworkers From Underrepresented Groups a Platform To Speak”. There is a Brown hand holding a megaphone with these phrases projecting from it. Ask them to give project updates at meetings. Start a lunch-and-learn series and invite them to speak. Introduce them to conference organizers. Invite them to join you on stage. Attend practice runs to show support and provide feedback. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

5 Ways To Give Coworkers From Underrepresented Groups a Platform To Speak read more

Image description: Illustration titled “5 Ways To Give Coworkers From Underrepresented Groups a Platform To Speak”. There is a Brown hand holding a megaphone with these phrases projecting from it. Ask them to give project updates at meetings. Start a lunch-and-learn series and invite them to speak. Introduce them to conference organizers. Invite them to join you on stage. Attend practice runs to show support and provide feedback. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Being An Ally Is a Journey read more

Image description: Illustration titled ‘Being an Ally Is a Journey.” There are four hands of different skin tones holding 5 puzzle pieces which form a circle. They read Understand Your Privilege (blue background), Get Curious (gold background), Start With a Single Act (red background), Be Okay With Making Mistakes (light yellow background), and Keep Learning (purple background). In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Illustration titled ‘Being an Ally Is a Journey." There are four hands of different skin tones holding 5 puzzle pieces which form a circle. They read Understand Your Privilege (blue background), Get Curious (gold background), Start With a Single Act (red background), Be Okay With Making Mistakes (light yellow background), and Keep Learning (purple background). In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.
Illustration titled Disrupt Office Housework. There are 5 yellow post-it notes reading Set up rotations for ongoing chores, Spread tasks among a team, Coach frequent volunteers to step back, Don’t assume coworkers find it enjoyable, Men: volunteer yourself. Below the notes are three office workers of different genders and skin colors. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Disrupt Office Housework read more

Image Description: Illustration titled Disrupt Office Housework. There are 5 yellow post-it notes reading Set up rotations for ongoing chores, Spread tasks among a team, Coach frequent volunteers to step back, Don’t assume coworkers find it enjoyable, Men: volunteer yourself. Below the notes are three office workers of different genders and skin colors. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Celebrate Black History Month By Taking Action read more

Image description: Illustration titled Celebrate Black History Month By Taking Action with the title words in ovals that are the colors of the Black History Month flag (red, yellow, and green). Five arms in varied skin tone from pale to dark, some wearing bracelets and rings in the BLH flag colors, holding black signs that read Capitalize the word Black, Reflect on a time you weren’t inclusive, Advocate for supplier diversity, Mentor a Black person, and Seek systemic change, not one-off fixes. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Illustration titled Celebrate Black History Month By Taking Action with the title words in ovals that are the colors of the Black History Month flag (red, yellow, and green). Five arms in varied skin tone from pale to dark, some wearing bracelets and rings in the BLH flag colors, holding black signs that read Capitalize the word Black, Reflect on a time you weren’t inclusive, Advocate for supplier diversity, Mentor a Black person, and Seek systemic change, not one-off fixes. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.
Drawing of a Black person and a white person at a table. Title: 5 Feedback Tips for Better Allies, with text bubbles above the people with the phrases Don't soften your feedback just to avoid hurt feelings, Write reviews of roughly the same length, ask for feedback on how to be a better ally, flip the feedback to test it for bias, focus on the business impact. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

5 Feedback Tips for Better Allies read more

Image description: Drawing of a Black person and a white person at a table. Title: 5 Feedback Tips for Better Allies, with text bubbles above the people with the phrases Don’t soften your feedback just to avoid hurt feelings, Write reviews of roughly the same length, ask for feedback on how to be a better ally, flip the feedback to test it for bias, focus on the business impact. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

When Giving a Recommendation read more

Image description: Illustration of a hand holding a pencil writing on paper. It reads When giving a recommendation, I show complete confidence. No Hedging: she might be good. No Faint praises: she’ll do okay. No Undermining: she needs only minimal guidance. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Illustration of a hand holding a pencil writing on paper. It reads When giving a recommendation, I show complete confidence. No Hedging: she might be good. No Faint praises: she'll do okay. No Undermining: she needs only minimal guidance. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.
Illustration titled 5 Ways to be more inclusive with your language. A person is presenting in front of a conference room table with people of different skin colors and genders clapping. On the wall is a projected list of 5 items, reading Avoid phrases that diminish or disparage Indigenous people, Mirror language used by a member of an underrepresented group, Say sexual orientation not preference, Retire one ableist phrase (or more) from your everyday language, Clarify your pronouns. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

5 Ways to Be More Inclusive With Your Language read more

Image description: Illustration titled 5 Ways to be more inclusive with your language. A person is presenting in front of a conference room table with people of different skin colors and genders clapping. On the wall is a projected list of 5 items, reading Avoid phrases that diminish or disparage Indigenous people, Mirror language used by a member of an underrepresented group, Say sexual orientation not preference, Retire one ableist phrase (or more) from your everyday language, Clarify your pronouns. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

I Don’t Make Decisions on Someone’s Behalf read more

Image description: Illustration with the title As I assign projects and give promotions, I don’t make decisions on someone’s behalf. Instead, I let them decide. It has a person of color and a white person seated at a table. Around them are text bubbles. One has gray text reading She’s a new mom and wouldn’t want the travel (with the universal do not enter symbol of a red circle with a red line through it.) Another bubble has gray text reading They’re Black and need space to process trauma right now; they wouldn’t want that role (also with the universal do not enter symbol). A third bubble with bolder black text reads There’s an opportunity I’d like to tell you about. In the lower corners are @betterallies and betterallies.com.

Illustration with the title As I assign projects and give promotions, I don't make decisions on someone's behalf. Instead, I let them decide. It has a person of color and a white person seated at a table. Around them are text bubbles. One has gray text reading She's a new mom and wouldn't want the travel (with the universal do not enter symbol of a red circle with a red line through it.) Another bubble has gray text reading They're Black and need space to process trauma right now; they wouldn't want that role (also with the universal do not enter symbol). A third bubble with bolder black text reads There's an opportunity I'd like to tell you about. In the lower corners are @betterallies and betterallies.com.
A large pipeline along the bottom with the text Don't blame the pipeline: 5 ways to attract candidates from underrepresented groups. Feeding into it are five smaller pipelines labeled 1 Diversify your network, 2 Vary where you post openings, 3 Rethink referrals, 4 Create ambassadors, 5 Understand the journey. In the lower corners are @betterallies and betterallies.com.

Don’t Blame the Pipeline read more

Image description: A large pipeline along the bottom with the text Don’t blame the pipeline: 5 ways to attract candidates from underrepresented groups. Feeding into it are five smaller pipelines labeled 1 Diversify your network, 2 Vary where you post openings, 3 Rethink referrals, 4 Create ambassadors, 5 Understand the journey. In the lower corners are @betterallies and betterallies.com.

I Pledge to Not Use These Racist Greatest Hits read more

Image description: Illustration titled I pledge to not use these racist greatest hits (Credit to Minda Harts). A person with white skin is holding their hand over their heart. Surrounding them are red text bubbles reading I’m not racist, You’re taking it the wrong way, Don’t play the race card, Race has nothing to do with it, I have Black friends, I’m color-blind. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Illustration titled I pledge to not use these racist greatest hits (Credit to Minda Harts). A person with white skin is holding their hand over their heart. Surrounding them are red text bubbles reading I’m not racist, You’re taking it the wrong way, Don’t play the race card, Race has nothing to do with it, I have Black friends, I’m color-blind. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.
Illustration titled When I pay a compliment, I reduce negative stereotypes by providing context. Under the title there are two white hands holding cards. The left card reads DO. Underneath it there is a bubble with two checked boxes reading You have a unique ability to simplify any problem and I watch a lot of webinars, and you are the best at engaging a remote audience. The right hand is holding a card reading DON'T. Underneath is an x'd out checkbox reading You were so articulate in that meeting just now. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

Compliment with Context read more

Image description: Illustration titled When I pay a compliment, I reduce negative stereotypes by providing context. Under the title there are two white hands holding cards. The left card reads DO. Underneath it there is a bubble with two checked boxes reading You have a unique ability to simplify any problem and I watch a lot of webinars, and you are the best at engaging a remote audience. The right hand is holding a card reading DON’T. Underneath is an x’d out checkbox reading You were so articulate in that meeting just now. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies.com.

How to Set Up Job Candidates for Success read more

Image description: Illustration of a Black person shaking the hand of a White person, both in professional business attire. The title reads How to set up job candidates for success. Underneath, there are three text bubbles reading Be transparent about your interview process, share interview questions ahead of time, and offer a practice interview with feedback.

Illustration of a Black person shaking the hand of a White person, both in professional business attire. The title reads How to set up job candidates for success. Underneath, there are three text bubbles reading Be transparent about your interview process, share interview questions ahead of time, and offer a practice interview with feedback.
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