The Equity Lab

In 2014 Michelle Molitor founded Fellowship for Race and Equity in Education (FREE). She came from a background in education with experience as a teacher and school administrator. Molitor developed customized training for more than 60 schools and institutions across the country. She found an eager audience in educators who wanted to have a language to discuss racism and were looking for useful tools to address racism. As she points out “the most dangerous conversation about race is the one we don't have.”

Molitor called on educators to claim the reason they work with young people: to empower students so that they can use their gifts and potential to participate in a community-centered society. She believes that “change comes from within. Through our engagements, fellowships, institutes, and open-source materials, we build individual and collective will, skill, knowledge, and courage to interrupt racial inequities.” Therefore, she begins with a consideration of identity by looking at “the skin you’re in.” 

After working with educators for four years, Molitor recognized that the methods and insights she brought to schools have application beyond educational institutions. The problems of race, equity, diversity, and inclusion are present in every organization in America. And the place to start in all of those institutions is the same place: with the people who manage, work in, and benefit from the organization. 

In 2018 Molitor expanded her support network, rebranded her organizations, and offered resources to all public and private organizations. The new name is The Equity Lab (https://www.theequitylab.org/). The goal remains the same: to seek out and eradicate oppressive systems, engendering a more humane and just society. To this end she empowers people to have the skills and “courage to interrupt racial inequities”