Systemic Bias Bows to the Power of Genuine Relationships

the team at an evaluation nonprofit poses together during a conference

When organizations tackle complex social challenges, the strength of their internal connections often determines their impact. The Change Matrix team demonstrates how bringing your whole self to work creates ripples far beyond any single project.

Building community is additive! The more care you show neighbors and colleagues, the more likeminded people coalesce around you.

You can see this ethos in the Change Matrix crew -- the way they gather together and celebrate. All the relationships at the center of their work.

Some organizations merely talk about diversity and inclusion. Others embody it through every interaction, decision, and celebration. The Change Matrix team falls firmly in the latter category, approaching equity work not as an abstract concept but as lived experience.

What struck me while documenting their gathering was the absence of performance. No one posed for "professional" photos or adapted some corporate persona. Instead, I witnessed colleagues who genuinely enjoy each other's presence, who laugh freely, challenge respectfully, and celebrate authentically.

Here's what they had to say about the experience:

"Professional, talented, and exceeds expectations. I wish I could hire Nick full-time. Highly recommend!"

That sort of human-centric momentum? It's unstoppable.

The images capture something vital about effective change work -- it happens through relationships first. Technical expertise matters, but the willingness to be present with one another, to navigate complexity together, and to find joy amid challenging work creates resilience that no strategic plan alone can build.

When we document organizations at their most connected moments, we're not just preserving memories. We're creating visual evidence of their values in action, reminders they can return to when the work gets difficult, and tools for showing others what makes their approach unique.

Events that Reverberate for Years

Change Matrix
October 23, 2024
$4000
Event Photography

Learn More About My Human-Centric Values >

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