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How to Take the Headache Out of Conferences (and still enjoy all the benefits)
Conferences. You know the value of them – yet you get overwhelmed just thinking about juggling your work responsibilities and your personal schedule to attend them. Then there’s planning travel time and accommodations. It doesn’t have to be that way! Sign up for my all-new Envision 2020: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Conference – and forget about travel, traffic and scheduling hassles. This flexible conference package is based entirely online – so it fits seamlessly into your busy schedule. A win-win! Learn more here. Here’s what I know: when it comes to professional development opportunities, there is no “one size fits all” approach. I created my virtual conference…
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Come Experience Envision 2020: The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Conference
Want to take the headache out of attending professional conferences? Who doesn’t! All those course titles and descriptions that flood our email inboxes around this time of year sound compelling. But let’s get real. Skip the Hassles this Conference Season You just don’t have the time. Travel time. Waiting at the airport, waiting in traffic. And conferences…sitting for long hours in a crowded room in an uncomfortable chair, trying to pay attention, but distracted by continual coughing and sneezing…and those ‘what-if’ thoughts start…what if it’s the flu? Or a virus? Then there’s those non-learning hours after the conference is over for the day…you know, when you’re thinking about all…
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How to Use White/Whiteness Accountability Spaces to Begin Healing Your Racial Biases
My First Experience in a White Accountability Space Years ago, the first time I sat in a group of all white people, I wasted the experience. Really. My ego got in the way, taunting me, saying I couldn’t learn anything meaningful about racism without having people of color included in the group. In my own huff, I sat silently, hoping that no one would call me out as a racist. Then I had an epiphany. White people, including me, need this authentic space with only other whites so that they can freely share about our white fragility, our defensiveness, fears, and shame as well as our resistance to recognizing the…
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Making the Case for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
As change agents, sometimes we become so focused on implementing DEI practices in organizations, that we may neglect to highlight the positive benefits inclusion offers. And there are many! Before and during diversity, equity and inclusion training, making note of the positive benefits linking diversity and positive organizational performance can be a decisive incentive for folks to keep on going when the going gets tough! We all know our jobs as change agents aren’t easy. But when presented with research linking diversity with profitability and other proven benefits, it can be the impetus an organization needs to make a firm commitment to infuse DEI at every level. “Inclusion is…
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Emotional Intelligence: Your Key to Navigating Difficult Situations
We all know what IQ is: a rating of your intelligence based on test results. But how about Emotional Intelligence? Do you know how you rate? Do you know what it is? Simply put, emotional intelligence is: Your ability to not only be aware of, understand and manage your emotions, but to effectively recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others around you. How strong your emotional intelligence is can be an extremely influential factor in your career success. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou Do…
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Is Workplace Conflict Pushing Your Buttons? Try This.
Are you tired of workplace drama – the same old employees pushing your buttons, because they just seem to know your triggers? Transform Workplace Conflict? YES, It IS Possible! Do you feel like you’re in a battlefield, where a productive, inclusive and rewarding atmosphere has been crushed by continual arguing, insults and toxic behaviors? And worst of all, are you frustrated because you want to change the way you respond, but can’t seem to see your way out? Good news! You don’t have to tolerate it or hope that someday things will get better – I can show you how to respond effectively to toxic workplace situations – with…
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Bad-Ass Change Agents: Self Care Isn’t Selfish
We can be our own worst enemies. We take on tasks we don’t have time for, that aren’t even our responsibility. We work too many hours, cut back on sleep and stuff ourselves with junk food because it’s quick and easy. And if that’s not enough, we feel guilty for saying ‘no’ when anyone asks something of us. Can you relate? I know you can! We need to consciously make self-care and community care a priority in our lives – as it should be. “I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” -Audre…
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Speaking Out About Mental Health – No More Shame
Up until now, mental health was a topic most everyone agreed NOT to talk about due to pervasive societal stigma and debilitating bias. But with the huge impact of the internet, social media and its 24/7 influence on our lives, and the persistent work of social change agents, the topic is finally being discussed more openly and honestly. People are talking about their mental health, admitting to anxiety, depression, panic disorders and a wide range of other struggles as well as the social and organizational barriers to equity and social justice for issues of mental health. Can you relate? I talk so much now about the importance of self-care &…
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SPEAK UP For Inclusion: How To Be An Effective Ally and Change Agent
At times, the ugliness of discrimination can overshadow the rich benefits of inclusion. Successful growth in any business, organization, and society as a whole rests upon recognizing and including everyone. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” -Jesse Jackson So how can you be a more effective ally for diversity, equity and inclusion in your organization? Persistence, dedication and awareness can help you achieve your goal. The road to inclusion can feel daunting – but the benefits far surpass the challenges. Research has shown that companies with executive teams at the top 25% of ethnic and racial diversity were 33%…
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5 Easy Tips & Tools for Facilitators
As a facilitator training on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, you’ve got a lot on your plate. I know! Your goal is to effectively design and facilitate workshops to deepen the capacity of participants to: Recognize the full breadth of differences at the organization. Identify the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in all their areas of responsibility. Understand how the dynamics of privilege and marginalization impact folks in their daily lives. Address exclusionary behaviors and microaggressions effectively. Use an Inclusion Lens to design and revise programs, policies, systems and procedures that aim to serve all. That’s a big responsibility! To help you make your next DEI workshop…
