Why does the federal government, a supposedly national symbol for diversity, continue to celebrate Columbus Day? This holiday does little to promote diversity and inclusion for American Indians/Alaska Natives. It celebrates the legacy of a man, Christopher Columbus, who committed egregious atrocities against Indigenous people. Could this be a contributing factor to American Indian/Alaska NativeRead… Read more »
As I negotiate inclusion trainings with busy supervisors and managers in the federal government, I am often asked, “Boil inclusion down to a couple of talking points for me.” Know Yourself This is often the most difficult first step. Most of us go through life without fully know ourselves by identifying our personal beliefs, biasesRead… Read more »
All federal employees should be mindful of the importance of workforce diversity, especially federal managers. Executive Order 13583 was signed by President Obama in August 2011: Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce. According to E.O. 13583: “Our Nation derives strength from the diversity of its population andRead… Read more »
“I” is a very powerful pronoun, but it has two distinct personalities – no doubt you have observed both. “I” can be used to convey power and significance to the subject at hand – the speaker is going all in as the poker players would say – infusing their knowledge, experience, and reputation into theRead… Read more »
Creating Innovation & Competitive Advantage with Cultural Competence & Diversity An organization with diversified talent is an organization with amazing potential for collaboration, innovation and heightened productivity. However, only organizations that practice inclusion can tap into the full potential of a diverse workforce. Defining inclusion is one thing but having a culture that embodies itRead… Read more »
In case you were unaware, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, as designated by the Federal Government and recognized by state and local governments. Yet most savvy employers should already know by now that fostering workplace diversity and inclusion for all simply makes good business sense, especially in the 21st century. The business communityRead… Read more »
Background: Some recent commentary and conjecture have taken aim at the federal sector equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint process. Following are facts to aid in demystifying the “myths”: MYTH: Discrimination is found in less than 2 percent of EEO complaints. FACT: Discrimination may occur in up to 33 percent of EEO cases. The 2-3 percentRead… Read more »
When it comes to really fostering diversity at an organization, the old frameworks just don’t cut it anymore. New approaches are needed. That according to author Mark Williams, who used humor and wit to get his message about the 10 lenses of cultural diversity across at today’s Federal Conference on Diversity. Demographics – age, gender,Read… Read more »
http://www.fedinsider.com State Department veterans remember when the best way to describe their colleagues was “pale, male and Yale.” It wasn’t just State. At most federal departments, at the professional and managerial ranks, you found white men with similar backgrounds. Diversifying – employment, business ownership, contracting, college enrollment – as a movement followed the civil rightsRead… Read more »
The focus of the Thought Leadership Executive Level Think Tank Training session is compliance with Executive Order 13583 and Executive Order 13548 on diversity and inclusion in the federal sector and strategies and best practices for diversity and inclusion within industry and other fields. Supervisors/Executives (thought leaders, influencers & visionaries) from government, private sector, nonRead… Read more »