Level Playing Field Institute

Description

LPFI supports high-achieving, low-income underrepresented students of color with two innovative education programs -- The Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH) and the Initiative for Diversity in Education and Leadership Scholars Program (IDEAL).

Through these programs LPFI exposes and breaks down hidden barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their potential. LPFI provides financial, academic, employment, and leadership resources to help our students surmount the obstacles to their success.

In addition to our education initiatives, LPFI Workplace Programs studies hidden biases and barriers in the workplace and creates innovative tools to mitigate them through rigorous research. Given the ineffectiveness of traditionally one-size-fits-all diversity programs, our approach is to reframe the diversity conversation and understand how hidden biases adversely impact the recruitment, development, and retention of diverse and talented employees. In addition to producing quantitative research findings, we strongly believe in the power of sharing people's true experiences as a way of building empathy and cultural understanding. We are dedicated to promoting public awareness and education to companies around workplace unfairness and what specific actions and tools can be employed to create more equitable and inclusive workplaces for all employees.