Shrewsbury, PA. — What image springs to mind when you hear the zip code 90210? Whether we’re aware of it or not, our brains form narratives (or biases) about others based upon what diversity, equity and inclusivity consultant Christopher “CJ” Gross calls their “zip code story.”
Within the past five years, diversity and inclusion, as well as unconscious bias, have been the main drivers of organizational training, politics and community engagement. And Gross helps clarify the impact of class bias and racial disparity in his new book, What’s Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace.
“The renewed focus on class, race, and equality in the workplace and beyond is making an indelible mark on society,” Gross says. “This clarion call for change is sweeping inequality from every corner of the nation, including law enforcement, schools and businesses.”
What’s Your Zip Code Story offers research-based solutions for employees seeking professional growth and for business leaders seeking new ways to engage their teams. Gross provides strategies to help class-migrants — whether college students, recent graduates or overlooked employees — climb the career lattice and transform themselves from undervalued employees into respected leaders. He also offers insights to help organizations understand the impact of diversity on a business’s productivity, turnover and revenue.
What’s Your Zip Code Story is a powerful book that expands the conversation surrounding class bias, race and equity in the workplace, and offers effective solutions.
Author CJ Gross is a TEDx Speaker, international speaker and the founder of Ascension Worldwide, a firm dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity training and consulting based in the Washington, D.C., area. Gross has 20 years of experience as an international organizational development consultant specializing in leadership development and diversity and inclusion. He is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator and executive coach, with additional expertise in organizational mediation.
He also serves as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Master Faculty for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Center for Innovation and Business Management, Adjunct Faculty for the Community College of Baltimore County.
Gross holds a B. A. degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University through the Forbes Entrepreneurship Scholarship and an M.A. degree in Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure University. He has been featured in the Washington Post, the Washington Informer Newspaper, and other print, radio and television outlets.
For more information, please visit https://cjgrosstalks.com/ and https://ascensionworldwide.com/, or follow Gross on Twitter (@cjgrosstalks), Instagram (cjgrosstalks) and Facebook (ascensionworldwidemd).
What’s Your Zip Code Story?
Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication Date: May 20, 2022
ISBN-10: 1538160587
ISBN-13: 978-1538160589
Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and other online booksellers
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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.