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HER Stories: All inclusive
DEI entrepreneurs Barb Hanson and Selenthia Jeffersshare stories for those without a voice.
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This story first appeared HER Stories - Fall 2024, a biannual special section that features Eastern Iowa women who have experienced powerful paths of achievement for themselves, their families and their communities.
In 2022, Barb Hanson left a stable career in education to co-launch the Cedar Rapids-based start-up Shared Existence LLC. Along with partner Selenthia Jeffers, they built their organization from the ground up to become vocal leaders championing intercultural development within The Corridor.
Hanson felt restricted in her efforts to improve systematic deficiencies in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in her previous position as a culture and climate transformation specialist (“doing anything DEI-related”). Yet, before resigning to become in effect an agent of change with Shared Existence, Hanson was hesitant, because of all things — health insurance.
“I come from generations of farmers,” said the Emmetsburg, Iowa, native. “It was very outside the norm. Anytime I talked about possibly going out on my own, my mom would say, ‘What about health insurance?’ So much so that I said my first book will be called, ‘What About Health Insurance?’”
Joining Hanson in the Shared Existence venture is Milwaukee, Wisconsin-native Jeffers, who left a position as a top sales manager for a national telecommunications company where, among other initiatives, she led efforts to ensure marginalized groups were represented in leadership positions.
Jeffers said she tendered her resignation on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at 2:22 p.m.
“It was percolating,” Jeffers said.
For Shared Existence LLC, Hanson and Jeffers became certified administrators of Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), conducting assessments for cultural competency and providing tailored plans for DEI implementation. Without advertising or promotion, their client list blossomed. They now subcontract on federal projects while also conducting DEI presentations and one-on-one consultations.
“Just by us having those conversations with people, we saw this emergence of ‘aha’ moments,” Jeffers said. “As we were diving deeper into that, unfortunately we were still seeing some challenges.”
Hanson said that DEI has been “attacked at both the state and federal level” and companies in Iowa are stepping back from performative DEI initiatives.
In July, John Deere announced on X (formerly Twitter) they will “no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness events.” Last spring, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation prohibiting DEI functions from public institutions that are not mandated by federal law, an action Hanson calls “a step back in time.”
Chad Johnston, secretary of the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, said the state initiatives are counter-productive given that reports show nearly 30 percent of Generation Z (ages 12-27) identify as something other than cisgender, or the sex they were assigned at birth.
Johnston said Shared Existence LLC, which is the first woman-owned organization in Iowa to be recognized by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, should be commended for maintaining visibility in a space where other organizations are trying to hide.
“It seems like the whole world is abandoning the boat, and I don’t think that’s the case,” Johnston said. “What (Hanson and Jeffers) are doing is fantastic. They do bridge gaps between communities. It’s not just LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) or BIPOC (Black Indigenous people of color) — they are pulling everyone together.”
Hanson said the Shared Existence podcast is an important tool for sharing the benefits of DEI. They also record unique stories from fellow members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church who have been supportive of their efforts.
Most recently, this August Hanson and Jeffers launched Project Isaiah, a nonprofit dedicated to collecting data and personal stories to create healing-centered practices and safe spaces for students who have experienced school-based trauma.
Faye Dant (left), founder of Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center in Hannibal, Missouri, gives a tour of the museum to Barb Hanson’s son Isaiah (center) and Selenthia Jeffers (right). (Submitted photo)
Barbara Hanson (left) and Selenthia Jeffers (right) share information about their nonprofit organization, Project Isaiah, with members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. (Submitted photo)
Barb Hanson (Submitted photo)
Selenthia Jeffers (Submitted photo)
According to the Ballard Center for Social Impact, Black students experience “harsher disciplinary measures than their peers in public schools in the United States.” Hanson said she experienced this firsthand when her 8-year-old son Isaiah, who is Black, received punitive discipline for his behavior at school, which Hanson said culminated in him having “suicidal ideations.”
“Our whole work is around helping folks understand students do the best they can with what they have,” Hanson said. “If they are acting a way that isn’t being well-received, there is either an underlying issue that needs to be addressed, or there is a gap in skill that needs to be developed…. These kids just need outlets to be seen who they are for their strengths instead of their behaviors.”
Hanson and Jeffers embarked on a six-week tour for Project Isaiah, visiting schools in Atlanta and New Orleans where positive outcomes for Black students have been documented. They met with students and administrators who shared stories similar to Isaiah’s, explaining how they overcame these issues through art, music and movement, among other endeavors.
“We’ve already had such powerful conversations,” Hanson said.
The goal for Project Isaiah is to build an advocacy toolkit to provide resources and coaching support to families and schools to supply students with restorative behavior strategies. Hanson and Jeffers plan to travel to Fort Myers, Florida for another fact-finding, and storytelling, mission.
“We have to do something,” Jeffers said. “As we were sharing our story amongst people, we realized we weren’t alone. But the biggest thing is that we felt that, okay, well if we’re not alone in this community, then who’s helping?”
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