Earn employee and public trust with DEI consulting for federal employees.
Building trust with employees as well as the public is a unique challenge that federal agencies face. At Construct the Present, we offer comprehensive DEI consulting for federal employees, providing a framework for developing crucial DEI initiatives. This helps agencies create engaging environments for employees centered on inclusivity and respect, while also enhancing public confidence. Partner with us today to commit your agency to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
DEI Consulting for Federal Employees: Our Team

Alexis Braly James
Founder/CEO
A longtime educator and innovator, Alexis has collaborated with organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, the City of Portland, the Metro Regional Government, and the Multnomah County Library. Born and raised primarily in Oregon, she earned her master’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and is pursuing her MBA from Cornell University. Outside of work, you’re likely to find her dancing to Beyoncé.

Tashawna Gordon
Senior Facilitator
With lengthy experience working with young people in nonprofit organizations, Tashawna brings a human-centric approach to equity-centered training that’s rooted in curiosity, empathy, relationship-building, and fostering environments where authentic dialogue and growth thrive. Outside of work, you can find them reading, watching women’s basketball, and spending time with their partner CJ and pups Pippen and Lloyd.

Tia Nettles
Organizational Development Specialist
Working closely with Alexis to help organizations thrive, Tia is known for her fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to complex challenges. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit and Community Studies from the University of Miami in Ohio. When she’s not working, you can find her writing short stories, diving into fantasy novels, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and playing cozy video games.
What Clients Say About Us
Elevate Oregon
Multnomah County
ARQ
Is Your Agency Encountering These Challenges?
Bureaucratic Constraints
Investing in DEI initiatives can be difficult when handling rigid budgets and procurement rules, even when leadership is aware of the value of DEI programs. You need targeted strategies, but don’t know where to start.
Cultural Resistance
Systemic inequalities can persist unchallenged in the background through a lack of knowledge, unconscious bias, and longstanding hierarchies. Explaining the benefits of DEI initiatives to departments or agencies can feel like an uphill battle.
Public Accountability
Federal employees and agencies are held to a higher standard by the public, making any gaps in DEI training or principles more apparent. Pushback from the public can cause low morale and even reputational risk.
Want to learn more about the trainings and workshops we offer?
Enter your email below for our full course catalog.
DEI Consulting for Federal Employees: Our Comprehensive Solutions
Data-Driven Workplace Equity Audits
Our trademarked audits consist of one-on-one interviews, small-group listening sessions, staff, leadership, and service user surveys, as well as document reviews. After the data is audited and compiled, we generate reports that you can share with leadership, staff, and the community. Revisited every two years, these audits are integral to showcasing the tangible value of DEI initiatives.
Customized DEI Workshops
At Construct the Present, we’re learning specialists. We offer custom experiences – tell us about the issues you’re struggling with or your goals, and we can design learning objectives tailored to your needs. DEI consulting for federal employees can be customized for agencies seeking to introduce the subject of DEI to employees, communicate with the public about new program initiatives, and more.
Strategic Action Plans
DEI is a long-term commitment – but it doesn’t have to be difficult. We help you create measurable, strategic plans that align with your priorities. As we implement our audits and training programs, we’ll provide recommendations and HR guidance along the way that lead to inclusive hiring, equitable advancement, and DEI improvements throughout your agency.
Want to learn more about the trainings and workshops we offer?
Enter your email below for our full course catalog.
Choose From a Variety of Our Services for DEI Training for Federal Employees:
Social Impact Programs
Built with smaller departments and teams in mind, these sessions offer a focused approach to advancing inclusion while supporting your agency’s broader public service goals. Each 90-minute session includes 40 “Constructing Perspective” Journals, with additional journals available following a discovery call. We’ll collaborate with you to identify the most effective internal facilitators and equip them with practical tools grounded in federal DEIA priorities. Participants gain ongoing access to Facilitator Guides and structured reflection materials designed to foster agency-wide dialogue, accountability, and sustainable culture shifts.
DEI Workshops
Our workshops are interactive, agency-specific sessions designed to move beyond passive compliance. Conducted over three 90-minute modules, either in one day or spread across multiple sessions, we help federal employees examine how personal identity and public duty intersect within federal spaces. Teams will learn a shared language around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), explore how workplace culture influences decision-making, and strengthen interdepartmental collaboration.
Custom Experiences
No two federal agencies face the same internal dynamics or public-facing challenges. Our programs can be tailored to reflect the nuances of your agency’s mission, workforce, and community engagement goals. Whether you’re navigating a multi-generational workforce, implementing Executive Order 14035, or addressing internal disparities, we work closely with you to shape training objectives that speak directly to your environment. From inclusive leadership development to equitable policy implementation, our programs equip your team with applicable strategies that align with both internal goals and government-wide mandates.

We Also Specialize in DEI Training For:
Frequently Asked Questions About Our DEI Consulting for Federal Employees:
How does DEI consulting for federal employees benefit agencies?
Our DEI training for federal employees provides guidance from expert training facilitators with a combined 30 years of experience in the DEI and education space. You’ll find that DEI initiatives customized for your agency through data-driven methods can create a more welcoming environment, improve employee engagement, enhance decision-making by encouraging diverse voices to share their perspectives, and restore public trust. Through long-term strategies, you can create a culture and workforce that aligns with your mission and values.
Are DEI initiatives compliant with federal regulations?
Yes, we’ll ensure that your DEI consulting for federal employees aligns with all current federal regulations. We’re well-informed about requirements and policy changes, and we’ll ensure your customized initiatives align with them.
How do we measure the success of DEI initiatives in our agency?
As DEI consultants for federal employees, we also offer a comprehensive audit that gathers data through surveys and thorough documentation. We then audit and compile that data, creating comprehensive reports that you can share with all leadership and stakeholders. Repeated every two years, you’ll be provided with a macro view of the ongoing progress and success of your DEI initiatives through clear benchmarks and tools.
What DEI training topics are covered?
We explore a wide range of meaningful topics designed to create lasting impact across your team, including:
- Cultivating inclusive environments where every employee feels valued
- Establishing a shared vocabulary to engage in thoughtful DEI conversations
- Examining concepts like privilege, allyship, and power dynamics
- Reflecting on how individual identity influences workplace behavior and decision-making
- Encouraging open dialogue about personal experiences in a judgment-free space
- And more, based on your agency’s needs and goals
We also offer fully customized sessions, developed in collaboration with leadership to address the DEI challenges most relevant to your federal workplace. Our workshops are designed to foster genuine connections, promote thoughtful reflection, and facilitate sustainable cultural growth.
How do we initiate DEI training?
Getting started is easy! We encourage you to fill out our contact form so we can get to know you and the services you’re interested in. If you’re unsure which service suits you best, schedule a discovery call with Alexis, and she’ll guide you through all the services we offer, as well as our ability to customize workshops tailored to your organization.
Ready to get started?
Looking for more information or unsure which program is right for your organization? Our team is available to answer questions and help identify the best path forward.
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