"Diversity and Inclusion": the words currently buzzing around many organizations and workplaces as an initiative to hire, engage, and train folks of various demographic backgrounds. While D&I initiatives inspire hope for change and increased visibility of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and other marginalized groups of people, there are two lingering questions that may impact social work dynamics in the coming years: (1) what are they diverse from, and (2) what are they being included in?
The easy answer would be the professional workforce. Yes, quite true, and it’s important to note that white collar jobs have been just that: White spaces filled with White culture. As the movement toward diversity and inclusion continues, leaders of organizations will also need to think critically about the intersections of culture and identity. It’s not enough to hire folks from diverse backgrounds and include them into the culture that currently exists. To do so is a recipe for cultivating discontent, conflict, and feelings of shame. How, then, could we think about D&I?
Diversity and Inclusion: the words currently buzzing around many organizations and workplaces as an initiative to hire, engage, and train folks of various demographic backgrounds. While D&I initiatives inspire hope for change and increased visibility of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and other marginalized groups of people, there are two lingering questions that may impact social work dynamics in the coming years: (1) what are they diverse from, and (2) what are they being included in? iscuss their differences, work through conflict, and feel a sense of belonging. To do this, D&I leaders need more than D&I training. They need to go beyond D&I and gain skills to address implicit biases, microaggressions, and covert discrimination.
At Amplify RJ, we believe that the first place to address these issues is within yourself. To be in good relationship with those around us, we need an awareness of ourselves and the people around us. We need skills to build, sustain, and repair relationships when harm occurs, especially in the workplace. Amplify RJ is here to give you the experiences that will cultivate a life that goes beyond diversity and inclusion. Learn more at tiny.cc/DItoRJ