What we do
The Art of Adaption is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and strategic culture training and consulting firm, focusing on purpose through core values as the foundation of successful DEI efforts. The Art of Adaption started in 2014 with a mission to help individuals and organizations impact their culture and environment through an applied diversity model.
Burnea Lester M.A. ED.M.
Co-founder and lead facilitator for the Art of Adaption, Burnea has over 9 years of data driven planning and decision-making, leadership, inclusion, diversity and equity training. Additionally, in her role as the Mountain Alliance Director of Admissions at Chamberlain University, she incorporates data into their strategic planning eff orts,
through an inclusion and equity lens, for student recruitment. Her focus is to alleviate barriers for underrepresented minority groups to have access to education in
healthcare.
Burnea designed a DEI series model for Thread STL members, a professional association of partnership leaders in the St. Louis Region, and co-facilitated a cohort focused specifically on diversity, equity and inclusion in coalitions and partnerships. She is currently a consulting facilitator for the Turn the Page STL collective impact
effort focused on literacy in the Promise Zone areas, where systemic racial inequity are the highest in the St. Louis Region as well as leading the development of their strategic plan. She has experience as a neutral facilitator of listening sessions and key informant interviews, having conducted numerous sessions for both Turn the Page STL as well as for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri for the city of St. Louis – Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative.
Burnea continues to lead several data efforts at University of Missouri-St. Louis Community Innovation & Action Center. She is the co-trainer for UMSL’s Chancellor’s
Certificate for Partnership and Coalition Leadership. She contributed to the Stronger Together Missouri 2019 Early Childhood Needs Assessment, outlining the racial equity
approach to the data collection and analysis, summarizing strengths and weaknesses. She is also the evaluation manager for the Coalition Kaizen, a process evaluation
assessment that compares individual coalition process data to national benchmark data. With her Master in Communications and Media Literacy, she brings her expertise
to data visualization and design. She also holds a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis on Higher Education Administration emphasizing on DEI and cultural competency in education.
Dan Lester MCA
As Clayco’s Director of Field Diversity, Inclusion & Culture, Dan focuses primarily on endeavors that affect the community as a whole, addressing the culture of jobsites
and making them more inclusive. Dan has the ability to help people navigate and successfully find solutions to the diversity and inclusion issues they see at their
companies. He believes people are our best and most important assets and he knows having a successful and diverse team is what makes a business thrive.
Dan inspires, motivates and encourages many to take advantage of the opportunities when they come. Success and failure aren’t always seen in big things, it’s in the small
things. Dan is driven by his passion to find ways to encourage and push adults and youth to thrive and adapt in all environments. Dan is active across many organizations and speaks frequently on a regional and national scale using personal experiences, relevant case studies and laughter to reach a wide range of audiences.
Dan’s impact has been recognized in the St. Louis community and nationally as a diverse business leader, inclusion champion and top one hundred HR Influencer of 2020.
Dan is the co-founder and keynote speaker of The Art of Adaption. The Art of Adaption is a framework/methodology for approaching diversity, equity, and inclusion. We use
our methodology to train all types of organizations on practical techniques through an inclusive and equitable culture.
How we do
Inclusion – Design – Build
The Inclusion-Design-Build (IDB) process uses adapted principles of collaboration from the efficient design build construction method. Using the IDB process, we work with clients from the beginning, as a team, providing unified recommendations, training and
strategic plan implementation tailored to the specific needs, schedule and budget.
Engage – Implement – Deliver
Our approach is simple; we start all of our workshops by establishing a psychologically safe and inclusive environment for ALL. We do this by displaying our own vulnerability, incorporating fun, laughter, and setting the stage for participants to be honest, authentic, and without fear of judgement. We also facilitate peer-to-peer conversations within the workshops so that participants can foster relationships and commonality amongst each other. Our dual presentation style creates an atmosphere where people can relate and engage in the conversation. We also incorporate anonymous surveying throughout
our presentation, so that participants can see their own data and responses in real time – deepening the level of participation.