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When TMI Happens at a Training on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
It happens sometimes. Your organization is committed to inclusion. Training sessions offer participants the opportunity to reflect, discuss and comment on exclusion and discrimination within the organization. And the dialogue is meaningful. Equity & Inclusion Trainings Can Be Intense But shortly after an intense sharing discussion, a participant expresses concern that they’ve shared a little too much. As a result, they may feel awkward, uncomfortable, nervous or even scared. Thinking that’s a problem? It doesn’t have to be. That negative feeling can serve as the basis for positive sharing. Openly admitting to feeling vulnerable oftentimes encourages others to admit to the same feeling – and authentic dialogue emerges. Establishing Authentic…
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5 Strategies to Effectively Infuse Diversity and Inclusion into Your Next Training
From my experience, I find that most facilitators of courses and training sessions can infuse issues of diversity and inclusion to a far greater extent than they currently do. If you’ve followed my blogs, you may be familiar with a metaphor that I often use when speaking of how to infuse diversity and inclusion. I liken it to creating a layer cake – it all starts with a solid foundation. Acknowledge the Organization’s Commitment to Creating Inclusion As a very quick refresher, Layer 1 (the foundation layer) involves acknowledgment of the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members. In this layer, participants also begin to explore their…
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Is there a Disconnect Between Your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Goals – and What’s Actually Happening?
Across the nation, most leaders would agree that there is a renewed energy, commitment, and in many cases, even a sense of urgency, to live up to the promises as set forth in their mission statements and strategic plans. Most often, I see diversity, equity and inclusion goals like the following: Deepen the capacity and competence of all members of the organization to create a more inclusive, socially just environment. Support and accelerate the professional/academic and personal success of the full range of individuals the organization serves. Create inclusive work environments that support the success of the full range of employees across group membership. All of this looks great on…
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Are You Doing All You Can to Infuse Equity and Inclusion?
Judge not by appearances. How many times have you heard that statement? As adults, many of us pat ourselves on the back because we truly believe we don’t judge. But come on, you know better. We’ve been groomed by our society, parents, teachers, and friends to do exactly that. It happens so quickly – and sometimes, so subtly – we don’t even realize we’re guilty of judging by appearances. Then we try and justify in our minds. Well, I didn’t really judge…it’s just that they’re so different from me. I didn’t mean anything by it. They just took it the wrong way. Can you relate? The Building Blocks of Equity…
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Creating Inclusion: How Ready is YOUR Organization for Change?
A critical exclusionary incident occurs in your organization. You react, try to smooth the situation over with an open forum or a training session on inclusion and diversity and resume your business-as-usual routine. Case closed. You breathe a sigh of relief. But not for those affected. Like waters that ripple endlessly when a stone skips through, waves of stinging emotions brew among those involved in the exclusionary episode. Can you relate? Diversity and Inclusion Cannot Be Accomplished Piecemeal Ignoring the situation solves nothing. Pretending it’s settled is absurd. The ingredients are in place and ready to ignite again when sparked. Learning to infuse equity and inclusion into everything we do…
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Navigating Triggers
Click to read / download the article: Navigating Triggering Events
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Part 4: Infusing Diversity Into Everything We Do
“If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb Earlier in my career as a college administrator and an organizational consultant I used to teach a wide variety of courses on various interpersonal skills (leadership development, team building, communication skills, conflict management, customer service, stress management, time management, etc.) with little or no direct reference to the issues of inclusion and diversity. As I look back I am rather appalled since today I cannot imagine teaching these topics in corporations, human service agencies, or at colleges and universities without some attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. To be fair, the…
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Part 3: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion Into Everything We Do
Most facilitators of courses and training sessions can infuse issues of diversity and inclusion to a far greater extent than they currently do. In my first two posts (below this post starting from the bottom) I explore ways to infuse diversity using the metaphor of creating a layer cake ~ starting with a solid foundation: Layer 1 Acknowledge the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members. “Do no harm.” Encourage participants to recognize the full breadth of differences in the organization and those they serve. Begin to explore their role and responsibility in creating an inclusive organization for all members. Layer 2 Use examples and images that…
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Part 2: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion into Everything We Do
“If you see with your heart, all masks disappear.” Sufi saying Most training and educational sessions that address topics related to interpersonal skills, team dynamics, and leadership can readily apply the 2nd layer for infusing diversity and inclusion. There are two key elements in this layer: Use examples and images that shift the traditional ways of depicting people based on their Insider and Outsider group memberships. (Note: The particular terms ~ Insider/Outsider ~ may be more understandable to most participants. I also use the terms “dominant and subordinated groups,” “one-up/one-down groups” and “marginalized” or “under-represented groups” depending on the context of the session. I believe any of these terms can…
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Part 1: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion into Everything We Do
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”- Goethe As I begin this adventure into the world of blogging, my intent is to share what I know and believe about effective design and facilitation of sessions that address issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. As I consult with colleagues at colleges and universities across the country, more and more people are asking for the tools to not only facilitate foundational social justice 101 sessions, but also the skills to infuse inclusion throughout all of their training and development programs. Most organizations seem to only address issues of diversity and inclusion in “stand alone”…
