DiversityFIRST™ Training Offerings

Allyship Certificate

Thoughtful and committed allyship can positively impact organizations, creating an environment that invites greater diversity and inclusion across a range of dimensions. However, fostering allyship requires the ability to identify and assess allyship needs not only in terms of individual and interpersonal practice, but also in terms of organizational culture, composition, and policy. This workshop presents an overview of allyship that touches on these different levels and dimensions of allyship with the goal of fostering more impactful allyship initiatives within your organization.

Anti-Racism Certificate

Antiracism research and practice has existed for several decades; however, it has only recently garnered national attention as demands for antiracism and racial justice have gained national momentum. The term antiracism often evokes negative reactions because it suggests a binary of either being a racist or antiracist. Antiracism is the active process of identifying, addressing, or eliminating policies, practices, procedures, systems, structures, traditions, and norms that advance or maintain oppressive barriers for historically minoritized and marginalized individuals and communities. Often confused with racial justice, antiracism is the process that results in racial justice outcomes. Understanding the process of, inputs, outputs, and outcomes or antiracism is critical to advancing and maintaining equity for all. The certificate program will engage participants in:

• Understanding the complex concept of antiracism and various forms of antiracism.
• Aligning, while differentiating, antiracism work with traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Communicating antiracism initiatives to secure buy-in and maintain momentum.
• Recognizing initiatives that place the burden on the individual rather than the institution (unconscious bias versus systemic bias).
• The business case for antiracism.
• Understanding how antiracism benefits all members of the workforce and society.

DEI Certificate

The entire world continues to become more diverse, and that includes employees, customers and clients across the profit, non-profit and government sectors. In today’s climate, all professionals need to understand the basics of diversity, equity and inclusion. DEI is about much more than simple compliance; to succeed in today’s world in any aspect of business or services, enterprises must leverage diversity for strategic advantage and have DEI integrated into all aspects of their operations.

• The basic definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion; including the evolution of the diversity field and theories of diversity.
• A deep dive into the many dimensions of diversity.
• The compelling business case of diversity, equity and inclusion, including how to calculate a financial business case.
• Why and how DEI must be part of any organization’s core strategy.
• An introduction on the various organizational processes that DEI can impact.
• An introduction on how to build DEI into your organizational culture.

ERG Academy Certificate

The mission of the DiversityFIRST™ ERG Academy is to be a resource to both individuals and organizations seeking to start, grow or fully utilize their employee resource groups. The academy blends theory and practice over a full one day interactive curriculum, with the development of an action plan to effectively lead ERGs for the greatest business impact and sustainability. After completion of the sessions, participants will:

• Articulate the compelling business case for ERGs
• Gain the most current knowledge and trends related to ERGs
• Identify the mechanics for successful formation and nurturing of ERGs based upon a wide range of best practices
• Understand how to work effectively with diversity councils, HR leadership, and various ERGs within the organization and across industries
• Apply the competencies needed for successful ERG leadership within various roles including ERG leaders, ERG executive sponsors, and HR practitioners charged with ERG efforts
• Develop an action plan with strategies and tactics for ERGs, including metrics to measure effectiveness

For more information and agenda on the DiversityFIRST™ ERG Academy, please see the DiversityFIRST™ ERG Academy website at theergacademy.com.

Inclusive Leadership Certificate

The demographics of the USA continue to rapidly change, and in two decades we will be a “Majority Minority” country. In addition, the internet economy enables organizations to have employees, suppliers and customers anywhere in the world. As the employee base, management teams and even executive leadership becomes more diverse, the most successful leaders will need to practice inclusive leadership. Today more than ever, we need business leaders who assert their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community. This session will include:

• The business case for inclusive leadership – why is it critical in today’s rapidly changing world.
• The growing areas of diversity that leaders need to understand – gender and gender identity, race, generational, cultural, sexual orientation, people with disabilities, cognitive and more
• A deep look at the characteristics of an inclusive leader.
• How inclusive leaders be allies and mentors to diverse communities.
• How to personally become a more inclusive leader and how to promote inclusive leadership across your organization.

Racial Justice Certificate

The year 2020 has been deemed the year of racial reckoning. As the year comes to a close, individuals and institutions are still struggling to advance racial justice initiatives. Many of these challenges stem from the lack of understanding of what racial justice is. Often used interchangeably with antiracism, racial justice is the outcome of antiracism work. Institutions are also engaging in traditional diversity and inclusion initiatives that are limited because they operate within systems and institutions that continue to support and maintain institutional systemic and institutional racism. To maintain the racial justice movement and advance and maintain racial equity, it is imperative individuals and institutions understand that racial justice is an outcome of multiple racial equity initiatives. The certificate program will investigate and interrogate:

• Racial justice as an outcome, not a process.
• Strategies, resources, and initiatives designed to advance racial justice.
• Historic, systemic, social, and institutional racial inequities and injustices.
• Capacity building plans coupled with strategic communication plans; and
• Strategic racial justice versus bureaucratic racial justice.

Unconscious Bias Certificate

Unconscious Bias is a pervasive phenomenon that greatly impacts our personal lives and the workings of all organizations. Unconscious bias refers to the attitudes of stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. And even though it is often hard to admit or see that everyone has unconscious bias, it can easily impact and even derail the best intentions of fostering inclusion within an organization. This session includes:

• Understanding the concepts of unconscious bias and its relationship to stereotyping, micro-inequities and “the isms.”
• Understanding the impact that unconscious bias and its relatives can have in personal as well as organizational dynamics.
• Having the tools and processes to address and mitigate unconscious bias in your personal life as well as in your organization
• Leaving with helpful ideas and next steps to take and commit to action.