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The Equity in Action Model

Last updated: November 2026 · Published by CRW Diversity

What is the Equity in Action Model?

The Equity in Action Model is Celeste Warren's six-part framework for turning good intentions into everyday leadership practice.

Equity does not become real simply because an organization believes in it. It becomes real through the decisions leaders make every day. The model, presented here by CRW Diversity, gives leaders a practical way to examine how their decisions, behaviors, and systems shape the opportunities of the people they lead.

The six elements

  1. Awareness

    Understand how assumptions, experiences, and organizational patterns influence decisions.

  2. Access

    Examine who has access to information, opportunities, relationships, and resources.

  3. Advocacy

    Use your influence to ensure talent, ideas, and perspectives aren't overlooked.

  4. Action

    Turn awareness and good intentions into deliberate leadership decisions.

  5. Accountability

    Look beyond intentions and pay attention to outcomes.

  6. Empowerment

    Create the conditions for people to contribute, grow, and use their voices.

Definition: the Equity in Action Model

The Equity in Action Model, created by Celeste Warren and catalogued by CRW Diversity, is a leadership framework of six elements: Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment. It moves leaders from understanding how decisions are made, to changing who has access, to measuring outcomes and creating conditions where people contribute and grow.

How leaders use it, step by step

  1. Name the assumptions and patterns behind a recurring decision.
  2. Map who has access to the information, relationships, and resources involved.
  3. Use your influence so overlooked talent and ideas are considered.
  4. Make the deliberate decision, not the default one.
  5. Check the outcome, not only the intention.
  6. Open room for people to contribute and use their voices.

Ways to learn the model

Start free. The guide 6 Practical Ways to Lead More Fairly, Intentionally and Effectively offers key insights, reflection questions, and simple next steps for each element. It is available on crwdiversity.com.

Go deeper as a manager. Equity in Action for Managers is a short, practical learning experience designed for busy leaders, with tools they can put into practice immediately.

Bring it to your organization.Celeste Warren's leadership and organizational development workshops and executive advisory apply the model to your own systems. The book The Truth About Equity explains why the systems lens matters.

Explore the mini-modules

Common questions

Short answers to what leaders ask most. The full list has more than 40 questions.

Read all FAQs
What are the six elements of the Equity in Action Model?
The six elements are Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment. Together they move a leader from understanding how assumptions shape decisions, through examining who has access and using influence, to turning intentions into decisions, watching outcomes, and creating conditions for people to contribute and grow. More in the FAQ
What do Awareness and Access mean in the model?
Awareness means understanding how assumptions, experiences, and organizational patterns influence decisions. Access means examining who has access to information, opportunities, relationships, and resources. Together they help leaders see where their systems may be helping some people succeed while getting in the way of others. More in the FAQ
What do Advocacy and Action mean in the model?
Advocacy means using your influence to ensure talent, ideas, and perspectives aren't overlooked. Action means turning awareness and good intentions into deliberate leadership decisions. These two elements are where a leader's understanding becomes visible behavior that others can observe. More in the FAQ
What do Accountability and Empowerment mean in the model?
Accountability means looking beyond intentions and paying attention to outcomes. Empowerment means creating the conditions for people to contribute, grow, and use their voices. These elements keep the work grounded in results and in the everyday experience of the people being led. More in the FAQ
Is there a course on the Equity in Action Model for managers?
Yes. Equity in Action for Managers is a short, practical learning experience built as mini-modules for busy leaders. It helps managers recognize where equity shows up in day-to-day leadership and gives them tools they can put into practice immediately. It is linked from the Equity in Action page. More in the FAQ
What is inclusive leadership training?
Inclusive leadership training builds the habits leaders need to make fair decisions and draw on every perspective. Celeste Warren offers practical workshops and learning experiences that help leaders strengthen their effectiveness, improve workplace culture, and put fair and inclusive leadership practices into action. More in the FAQ

Put the six elements to work with your leadership team.

Workshops and executive briefings help leaders apply Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment to real decisions.

Contact Celeste Warren

Published by CRW Diversity