How To Approach Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a Beginner
Beginner here - taking a leap of faith to write about a timely, yet a somewhat unapproachable topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).
The goal of this article is to meet you where you are at. It is to be vulnerable, open, and action-oriented when it comes to DE&I -- both in the workplace and beyond.
My name is Jenna Rogers and I am a product of a bi-racial, bi-political (and some days bi-functional) family. I am by no means a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant nor do I claim to be an expert in DE&I. My work surrounds Civil Communication in the workplace and I facilitate Communication Trainings and Civil Dialogues. The goal of my work? To bring humanity back to the workplace because business isn’t just business. At Career Civility, people matter. And this type of work requires honoring individuals where they are at — whether someone is just starting out on their inclusion journey or whether organizations are ready to put their money where their mouth is — I am here to help facilitate tough conversations and to explore and honor different perspectives.
Throughout my education and my own lived experience, I have learned how to communicate across opposing viewpoints’ ‘party lines’. I have learned how to straddle both the liberal and conservative conversations. I have learned my white privilege and I have struggled with my blackness. I have learned how to listen and when to speak.
And now as a member of ‘Corporate America’, I am learning to use my lived experience and my voice to lift others up and to have civil conversations across all boundaries.
In the last 18 months, through my newsletter, my network, and my consulting practice, I have been asked to contribute to the DE&I conversation through the lens of Civil Communication. As a result of this work, I have compiled a list of resources for my friends and colleagues to utilize -- and I want to share that with you as well.
Career Civility’s Library of DE&I Resources for Beginners
TO READ -
TO WATCH -
Holiday Headaches: Dealing with Relatives Who Just Don’t Get It
Why Communication is Essential to the Workplace with Jenna Wilson, Founder & CEO, Career Civility
Diversity & Inclusion In The Work Place, Key Challenges and Awareness
TO FOLLOW -
The Diversity Movement is a huge partner of Career Civility. They provide a ton of free, approachable content not only for individuals but for corporations.
Outside of the (continuously growing) library of resources, I have also rounded up 3 takeaways to better help you communicate Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity. This is for everyone who is ‘doing the work’ by reading, watching, and listening but who may be stuck on what to do next.
Below are 3 steps you can take to start implementing better DE&I practices in your own workplace.
Step #1 - Equity -
Gather, collect, and analyze data (make sure it is voluntary and self-identified), have explicit policies (ex: transgender/gender-neutral bathrooms), and start to identify discrepancies in the data/policies (ex: promotion periods).
Step #2 - Inclusion -
Are Under-Represented Groups (URGs) represented in leadership and in different roles across the org? Is leadership openly speaking about inclusion?
Step #3 - Diversity -
Source URG's for a week before the req opens externally (ex: GEM, Seekout), DEI embedded into orientation, internal diverse celebrations, ERGs, community partnerships, etc
As a communications professional, I am inviting you into the conversation. We can continue to grow this library of resources and to add more steps for DE&I ‘beginners’ to take. If you have any other additional resources you would like me to showcase and add to this list, please email me jenna@careercivility.com. I am always open to civil conversation and productive, respectful feedback.
I hope this helps and thank you for letting me share my story and my journey to embrace my biracial ethnicity and to become a better, and more productive advocate for underrepresented voices in the workplace.
-Jenna Rogers
