Building DEI in Leadership: Module 1 homework

Rationale:

Given the limited face-to-face ‘classroom’ instruction available for each module, and the length of time between modules, there is rich opportunity to maintain and build engagement among participant organizational leaders and create a nascent community of DEI champions.

Ideally, the participants should be organized into groups of 4 or 5 in which they would discuss the 5 questions below. These questions are to be answered while they apply the DEI organizational self-assessment tool (SAT) at their respective workplaces. As such, they are meant to provoke discussion, engagement, knowledge/experience sharing and support over the course of the SAT implementation and stay engaged between modules.

The questions are designed to correspond with the various domain indicators in the SAT. While the questions may be answered in the discussion ‘boxes’ textually (i.e., by writing), participants could be encouraged to use other media, including: brief (1 or 2 minutes) audio recordings, video recordings, and digital photographs.

Online Discussion Topics/Questions

 Question 1:

As you review your organization’s DEI planning and policy:

•      Identify your strongest domain indicator. 

•      Identify your weakest domain indicator

•      Share a brief explanation with your group online whether you are surprised by these results

 Question 2:

In your groups, discuss a recent initiative to make your organizational culture more diverse, equitable and/or inclusive. How and why did it come to be?

 Question 3:

Given the specific workplace culture of your organization, name 1 initiative that would build greater support for diversity, equity and inclusion among your organization’s people (new and existing)?

 Question 4:

Discuss one meaningful and successful partnership between your organization and the community in which you operate. What made it successful?

Question 5:

How has your organization used the specifics of your clients’ histories and characteristics to refine the services you offer? How has this endeavour made your service more DEI-responsive?