Inclusion
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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…
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Faculty & Teachers, Start Your Inclusive Year With a High Five!
During the first days of class – even the first moments – what you do can make all the difference to students – and to the success of everyone’s experience in your class. You feel their energy, they perceive their first impressions of their new teacher, and those responses – favorable or not – can set the tone for the new academic year. So, start your academic year off enthusiastically inclusive! “Through my education, I didn’t just develop skills, I didn’t just develop the ability to learn, but I developed confidence.” -Michelle Obama Put Out The Welcome Mat For Every Student For an effective learning environment, people have…
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Renew the Spark: Ignite Change at Your Organization
“But It’s Always Been Done This Way…” Mandates outline policies for diversity, equity and inclusion in many organizations, but too many leaders are less than enthusiastic about implementing any meaningful plans. There’s a general feeling of: “Y’all go over there and just do it, but don’t get us involved.” Can you relate? You develop a plan to implement inclusion for all employees and you’re excited about the opportunity. Then you hit the brick wall. The brick wall with the sign posted: “We’ve Always Done It This Way.” I bet you’ve run smack into that wall many times, right? But there are detours around that wall, and with some committed…
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Focus On Changing People’s Behaviors, Not Their Values
Some people may think that when I train for inclusion and equity in an organization, I’m there to put my personal values on people. No way. I’m not in the business to change people’s values. It’s their behaviors that I’m trying to work with them on. “To change any behavior, we have to slow down and act intentionally rather than from habit and impulse.” -Henna Inam Getting Real About People’s Values Over three decades ago when I started in homophobia work, I was naïve enough to think that I could change people’s values, to let them know how wrong they were because they were so homophobic. Then reality…
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Summer Slowdown? Not at Your Organization!
No summer slowdown here! No matter what time of year it is, your organization can take steps to move towards a more equitable workplace, driving change that is both lasting and meaningful. Today, I’m sharing 5 simple tips to help you keep the momentum going this summer and beyond: 1. You Embrace Diversity. Your Organization Needs To Understand WHY. While your organization may have a mission statement that highlights a commitment to inclusion, employees need to know the ‘why’ and how it affects them. As a change agent, you know the value of an inclusive organization. Many of your employees may think it’s simply about “including everyone.” In training…
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Our Top 5 Posts on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion … and more!
Here are 5 of our most popular posts that you may find helpful – all in one quick go-to reference. Want to gain access to our brand new and ever-growing comprehensive Knowledge Base packed with info on all the topics that matter most to you? Click here to join free! Without further ado, here’s a fast summary of the 5 top posts. To read more, just click the links… 1) 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.…
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Answers to 3 of Your Most Popular Questions on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Training
Discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion can be lively, emotional – and sometimes challenging. Sessions can give rise to a multitude of varying questions and difficult situations. In our Q&A sessions, I am often asked the same questions regarding situations that generate a feeling of unease and hesitancy during workshops. By being prepared, we can better assist our workshop participants. During these challenging situations, stand strong. Don’t judge. Be empathetic. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” When a…
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As a White Person, How Do You Reconcile Teaching About Racial Justice?
What We Think We Are, We Oftentimes Are Not… Yeah, I get it. Years ago, I believed that the worst thing that could happen to me was to be labeled a racist by a person of color. But guess what? It happened. Me! The person who I thought was committed to making a difference in my life and others by teaching about diversity. My illusion was shattered by an early experience where I had been asked to try out my capacity as a leader for a new position. Two people of color confronted me regarding some of my behaviors they felt were racist. Me? No way! I disagreed – but…
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Are Your Diversity Efforts Falling Short? It May Be Because…
Even with the best of intentions, diversity efforts might have fallen short of expectations at your organization. Don’t worry. It’s not your fault. When this happens, there are a couple culprits often to blame. One of the most common? One person (or a small group of people) is expected to create a more inclusive workplace for the entire organization. It can’t be done that way. If only one or a few people are working towards an organization’s goals of equity and inclusion, think for a minute about all the others who may actually be reversing those efforts! How can just one person be expected to undo centuries of racism and…
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I Want to Speak Up at Work…But I Fear Retaliation
How many times I have heard that comment! Lots of Things Can Happen When Inclusion Training Starts I’ve worked for decades as an organizational change consultant, helping organizations to establish socially just environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Some days, my work feels almost like the dog-chasing-its-tail drama: Working to resolve one exclusionary situation can bring to life the ugly head of another issue. Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence. -Coretta Scott King Once an organization steps up and begins inclusion training, many things can happen. While some earnestly attempt to overcome their exclusionary practices, others seem hell-bent on continuing their…
