About us
WE ARE INCLUSION COUNTS
Inclusion Counts is a human-kind organization dedicated to making diversity count.
We provide a robust range of trainings and technical assistance for a wide range of sectors including – corporations, non-profits, community organizations and educational institutions doing business in a multicultural world.
Our Core Values
We envision a society in which every organization is strengthened by diversity, every group is treated with dignity and –
every individual feels a sense of belonging.
Diversity
Dignity
Belonging
Amber Checky, CEO & Founder
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Expertise:
- Executive & HR Coaching
- Change-Management
- Diversity Hiring
- Employee Engagement
As the CEO & Founder of Inclusion Counts, Amber believes that every interaction counts and that organizations have a duty to actively engage in anti-racist practice. Amber has dedicated over 18 years working with affiliates of the National Federation for Just Communities including – serving as the Executive Director of Anytown Leadership Program and a contracted diversity trainer for the National Conference for Community & Justice.
“I grew up in a really small town in Iowa where I was the only person of color in my school system. I knew very early on that I was different and – that my experience walking through this world would be different. As I grew older, I faced my fair share of micro- and macro-aggressions in the workplace. While I can’t say that will ever disappear completely, we now understand the damages done by letting things go and it is nothing short of our obligation to learn to navigate these conversations and disrupt the cycle.
Heather Checky, CFO & Founder
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Expertise:
- Inclusive Educator Practice
- Committee Engagement
- Youth Development
- Curriculum Design
As the CFO & Founder of Inclusion Counts, Heather is an experienced inclusion trainer. Heather has worked with over 80 schools and organizations across the U.S. She has spent the last last 8 years working with Playworks to provide training to principals and teachers on safe & inclusive educator practices.
I grew up in a family where we didn’t talk about race. It wasn’t until I was in my 20’s before I started to pay attention to the world around me – recognizing and acknowledging that my experience in this world was much different than a person of color. At that point, I had 20+ years of reconditioning and thoughts that needed challenging. I’m passionate about helping others start their journey.
Bella Caruso, Marketing Director
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Expertise:
- Marketing & Communications
- Practitioner Research
- Social Media & Analytics
Bella joins Inclusion Counts with a background in marketing, communications & social media analytics. Bella is a refined creative professional and supports Inclusion Counts with spreading diversity, dignity and belonging to all through our virtual channels.
I have just started my journey in becoming aware to social justice issues and am taking time to listen, learn & re-learn. Now – I understand that the decisions and actions I make do affect other people and am discovering a world that I never knew existed.