OVERVIEW

This research-informed “Fundamentals of DEI” session equips individuals and teams with a shared language, the business, mission, and moral cases for DEI, and practical skills to spot and interrupt bias at the interpersonal and systems levels. Participants learn what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging actually mean in day-to-day decisions (hiring, promotion, service delivery, client care), how unconscious processes shape behavior under time/attention pressure, and how small behavioral changes lead to better and more fair outcomes for employees and the customers, clients, and citizens they serve. The workshop combines brief lectures with interactive polls, case scenarios, and action planning so every attendee leaves with three concrete commitments and a measurement plan to track progress over the next 90 days.

 

LEARNING GOALS​​

1. The definitions, origins, and evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion

2. Understand the psychology of bias (automaticity, heuristics, stereotypes) and common workplace triggers (time pressure, ambiguity, cognitive load).

3. How to measure and clearly articulate the value of DEI activities: decision quality, innovation, risk management, talent attraction/retention, and customer impact.

4. Addressing the myths and misperceptions of DEI (e.g., it is not unqualified people receiving opportunities)

5. ​How to do DEI work in an anti-DEI climate

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TRAINING INCLUDES:

• Innovative, engaging, humorous, and motivational delivery of content

• Highly interactive and introspective exercises

• Small group dialogue of sensitive/challenging topics 

• The use of compelling videos, images, and other media

• An overview of national, industry-specific data disaggregated by relevant demographics

• Discussions of DEI from the racial/ethnic minority and majority perspective

• Anonymous audience polling and display of results in real-time. Responses are used as a basis for discussing sensitive topics and to allow participants to see how their attitudes or experiences compare to others. These results are saved as graphs and provided to the organizers.

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FORMAT

• In-person 1 - 2 hours

• Live Webinar: 1 - 2 hours

• Online Learning Management System (coming soon)

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RECOMMENDED AUDIENCES:

DEI Fundamentals is strongly recommended for law enforcement, education, judiciary, corporate, non-profits, philanthropy, community, city/county government, and healthcare organizations as well as other entities in which implicit bias has been shown to significant impact important life outcomes for large groups of citizens or customers.

 

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