Books

Learn more about Rhodes Perry’s award-winning Belonging at Work™ book series. It will help you imagine and then build spaces of belonging. Want to invite Rhodes to your next event for a book signing and an opportunity to hear his signature Imagine the Power of Belonging keynote? Let’s connect!

IMAGINE BELONGING

About The Book

Imagine Belonging helps you recognize the relative power and privilege you hold to transform yourself, your team, and your workplace. Both a vision for a belonging society, a structural analysis of oppression, and a practical guide to help you succeed in building spaces of belonging.

Whether your organization is just beginning its culture-building journey or is further along in the process, Imagine Belonging will inspire you to activate your vision of belonging at work into a reality …and reap the rewards that result from enhanced business outcomes and employee well-being.

What Makes Imagine Belonging Different?

New Frameworks &
Tools To Take
Action

Inclusive Case Studies from Celebrated Thought Leaders

Reflection Activities To Practice New Inclusion Skills

People Are Talking

  • At a time of such intense separation, a healthy workplace is one of the best chances we have for connection. In Imagining Belonging, Rhodes Perry has provided us an excellent resource for creating cultures in which people feel a deep sense of connection. Most people are inclined to focus on individual behavior, and certainly we all have a responsibility to manage our personal behavior. And yet, as Perry so clearly shows us, the power of culture often transcends our individual inclination and can call us to serve something larger than ourselves or drive us to behavior that violates our own values. Perry draws from his own personal story and his significant professional experience to give us a handbook for how to consciously create cultures of belonging. He helps us understand our need for inclusion and the pain of exclusion in a powerful way. This book is a treasure trove of valuable insights, tools, and practices. It should be read, but even more importantly, it should be used to inspire transformation!

    Howard Ross

    Founder and CEO, Udarta Consulting

  • So many advocates are experts at identifying broken systems in the workplace but struggle to break free from our institutional limitations. Our workplace cultures and our own experiences of banging our head against a wall can dampen our expectations and our dreaming. Imagine Belonging re-energizes us to dream bigger and bolder beyond the limits of today. And in true Rhodes Perry style, it also offers us practical strategies to help us get where we truly want to go. In clear language and down to earth style, Rhodes walks us through the steps to rebuilding our own confidence in building that just world, breaking through our old workplace cultures, and growing vibrant teams to share the work and the joys of what we do! Thank you Rhodes Perry for taking us on this journey with you!

    Raahi Reddy

    Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program, Metro Regional Government

  • As a big fan of Rhodes Perry’s first book, Belonging at Work, I was excited to see his second, Imagine Belonging: Your Leadership Guide to Building an Equitable Workplace. Wow! Rhodes has done it again. From examining your own power to change things, to unpacking systems, to common roles in culture change, building team culture, and reimagining belonging to create organizational environments that support it, Rhodes has gone deep into belonging and equity. And I enjoy the way he summarizes the takeaways, and then provides reflection questions to go deeper. Kudos!

    Laurie D Battaglia

    CEO, Aligned at Work ®

  • Rhodes Perry perfectly weds the technical and transformational in Imagine Belonging. Whether you’re a career-long advocate for Inclusion & Equity, or completely new to the work of culture change, Rhodes provides an abundance of wisdom and encouragement for anyone willing to receive it. This is a must-read for anyone poised for leadership in 2021 and beyond.

    Kad Smith

    Founder + CEO, Twelve26Solutions

  • We cannot build what we cannot envision, and Imagine Belonging is a critical tool for leaders who are invested in moving beyond the status quo, but are unsure of how to get there. This book is a thoughtful, intentional and much needed guide to growing workplaces and companies that are truly anti-oppressive.

    Dr. Eli R. Green

    CEO, The Transgender Training Institute

  • In these unprecedented times, we need direction and bold persons that are willing to give us guidance on how to create inclusive environments for people at work. Rhodes Perry’s Imagine Belonging is one of those guides that can be the foundation in transforming workplace culture to ensure that all persons work in inclusive environments able to bring their full creative selves to the workplace, allowing individuals to self-actualize and ultimately self-transcend giving their talents back to the greater community.

    Joshua V. Barr

    Esq., Chief Strategist/Founder, Raising the Bar, LLC

  • If you want to advance your organization’s DEI goals and transform your culture, Imagine Belonging is a must-read. It will empower you to make change and get others on board by helping them see the leadership benefits to fully embracing building a more equitable organization today.

    Dorie Clark

    Executive Education Faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business; Author, Reinventing You

  • Imagine Belonging is a must-read for anyone who wants to advance their organization’s DEI goals and steer their organizations towards a better culture that can be named and fully experienced through all of our senses. It will also inspire even the most recalcitrant leaders to imagine what kind of leadership legacy they want to be known for by helping them see the leadership benefits to fully embracing building a more equitable organization today.

    Jennifer Brown

    Founder and CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting; Author, Inclusion (2017), How to Be an Inclusive Leader (2019); Co-author, Beyond Diversity (2021)

  • It's very simple: What kind of leader do you want to be? Rhodes Perry artfully breaks down complicated layers of workplace dynamics and expectations to help you understand core DEI concepts and uncover old patterns. Here's your mirror to see where you are, and guide to lead with your values to where you want to be.

    Genesis Fisher

    Esq., Fisher Law Practice, P.C., Adjunct Clinical Law Professor, President, Association for Conflict Resolution, Greater New York

  • Rhodes Perry adeptly translates frustrating workplace scenes into actionable changed behaviors that have the power to transform the experience of workers at all levels. Just as his first book, Belonging at Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization, gave tools to the reader to make immediate change in their workplace that benefits all, Imagine Belonging gives power to readers to ensure they and others belong. Through a workshop-ready format that shares a narrative, new knowledge, action steps, and insightful quotations, readers will understand and unlearn workplace behaviors that hinder organizational progress. A perfect book for employee professional development.

    Lisa Ruscigno

    Director, Continuing Education, University of Central Florida

  • As leaders how do we begin to see and recognize the inequities our folks experience; how can we begin to feel the disconnect and isolation that so many people feel in the workplace? Non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment laws are legal strategies, but they do not create a sense of belonging. Rhodes takes belonging out of the closet and gives us a road map to dismantle the status quo and begin to create environments where employees truly feel they belong. There is no equity if you do not feel you belong.

    Jill Jacobs

    Executive Director, Family Builders

  • Imagine Belonging provides employers with the language, strategies and motivation to initiate and honestly engage in dialogue that will ensure that all members of the workplace are valued. DEI goals are meaningless without a clear vision of where you want your organization’s culture to be in the future. With an elucidated vision, leaders, teams, and systems can work towards this destination, leading to the kind of workplace transformation many employees deserve and desire today. This book succinctly offers a clear path of how to do just that.

    Linda Diaz

    Esq., LGBTQ Project Director, Lawyers for Children

  • To imagine belonging is to take the spark of discontent with your organization’s current culture and fan these flames into powerful personal and social transformation in the workplace. Rhodes Perry offers a unique framework to imagine what a belonging workplace culture could be, and he offers practical case studies and strategies to begin steering your organization toward more equitable and inclusive practices.

    Lillian A. Tsai

    DEI consultant, coach, facilitator; Creator, 3AsTM: Acknowledge, Accept and Adapt (to difference)

  • Imagine Belonging should come with a highlighter... It doesn't matter what your role is within an organization, this book provides resources to be better self-aware and do your part to create a culture of belonging. In Imagine Belonging, readers will quickly realize that they're learning important lessons not only for the workplace, but for life!

    Bernadette Smith

    CEO, Equality Institute; Author, Inclusive 360

  • We can no longer endure the legacy of this country founded on white male supremacy, prioritizing the accumulation of wealth achieved through slavery. The legacy of our origins continues with low wages, oppression, and poverty. In Imagining Belonging, Rhodes Perry provides a tool to improve organizational cultures that serve to perpetuate this legacy. It comes at a time in our nation when young people can no longer tolerate nor survive in these systems. Belonging is a neutral term perhaps useful for the work needed to end the trauma of oppression. We can no longer wait!

    Bill Bettencourt

    Senior Advisor, upEND Movement

BELONGING AT WORK

Belonging at Work is a must-read for anyone who wants to transform a moment of exclusion into a moment of belonging. Rhodes Perry's seminal work on belonging provides a clear and actionable framework to build it at work - from learning the science behind it, to taking everyday actions...no matter your role.

Perry argues belonging is not a byproduct, but rather a prerequisite for business success and even industry breakthroughs. When people feel the key ingredients of belonging - feeling recognized, trusted, supported, and proud - they are more likely to stay engaged with their organization and contribute to its enduring success.

But what does it take to build spaces belonging at work? Perry offers a well-researched and practical guide filled with unexpected real-world examples and exercises designed to help you answer this big question. At a time with so much exclusion in our world, Perry has provided a powerful and practical guide to overcome it.

People Are Talking

  • It’s virtually impossible to be successful in one’s work in any kind of group – be it a corporation, a deep-sea fishing crew, or a rock and roll band – without feeling a sense of belonging. Most of us have had the experience of working where we didn’t really fit in, and sure, we can pull in that paycheck for a while, make do, hang in there, but how long do those jobs ever last, especially if we want to be honest with ourselves or have a healthy work-life balance? It’s easy to say, 'No job is ever perfect. You’re not supposed to like it; that’s why they call it work!' But why settle for barely adequate productivity, creativity, or new hire return on investment when you can harness the synergy of belonging? Leaders and aspiring leaders who want to succeed should look to Rhodes Perry for inspiration and guidance. Belonging at Work really does matter.

    Jamison Green

    Ph.D., Author, Educator, Community Leader, and Corporate Executive

  • Belonging at Work is long overdue. Rhodes Perry’s work is a testament to the power of living with authenticity at all hours of the day, at home and at work. Wherever you are in your journey of living an authentic, purposeful life, this book is a powerful tool that should be required reading in all workplaces that value diversity and full inclusion.

    James R. Nowlin

    CEO of EGP Ventures, Keynote Speaker, and Best-Selling Author of The Purposeful Millionaire

  • Our work environments are changing in dynamic ways. Rhodes Perry’s new book Belonging at Work, is a keen guide to engaging in that change through positivity and action. Both powerful, and easy to navigate, Rhodes’ guide to transforming company culture through inclusion, communication, and empowerment is a worthwhile and timely read. No matter where you are in your personal career journey, from employee to entrepreneur to leader, Belonging at Work is a valuable tool that will, undoubtedly, help move the needle in the direction of authenticity.

    Hunter Sunrise

    Founder & CEO, Hot Diggity!

  • Rhodes Perry is an invaluable and important voice on our emerging understanding of what makes truly great workplace cultures: the ability for all of us to bring our full selves to work. He clearly lays out what gets in the way of this, particularly for those who are underrepresented, and historically undervalued, both from a personal lens of his LGBTQ experience, and on behalf of so many other lost and marginalized voices. Make no mistake, organizations and their bottom lines suffer from unexplored exclusionary practices. The book is full of practical examples of how we all have a role to play in redirecting the dynamics of exclusion, so that all in the workplace can thrive. A must read!

    Jennifer Brown

    President & CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting, and Best-Selling Author, Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace & the Will to Change

Bulk Orders

We can customize orders for both “Imagine Belonging” and/or “Belonging at Work” for small teams, entire departments, or your organization!

Please fill out the form below and let us know how many books, and we will get back to you!

About Rhodes Perry, the Author

Rhodes Perry (he/him) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international keynote speaker, and nationally recognized belonging culture consultant.

In 2015, he founded Rhodes Perry Consulting with a mission to upend what U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, M.D. has labeled a global “epidemic of loneliness.” He wanted to help visionary leaders imagine and build spaces of belonging on a global scale, starting with the workplace. After all, the average U.S. adult spends 80% of their life (90,000 hours!) at work.

Rhodes isn’t just an advocate for belonging at work; he’s a maverick in the truest sense. With two bestselling books, Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging, he has become a guiding light for organizational & people leaders committed to building spaces of belonging where safety and trust are paramount.

  • Beyond his consulting and coaching practice, he’s at the forefront of workplace culture building and particularly belonging discourse as an international keynote speaker and host of two popular podcasts, Imagine Belonging and The Out Entrepreneur.

    His journey is as diverse as it is impressive, spanning roles at the White House, the Department of Justice, NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services, and PFLAG National. His insights have graced the pages of Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and other notable publications. His company partners with industry giants, government agencies, and large nonprofits to foster workplace cultures that prioritize psychological safety & trust.

    He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Public Administration from New York University.