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Rethinking Thanksgiving 2020
A couple of years ago we shared resources on why it may be worth re-thinking the way we celebrate Thanksgiving. This time of the year is often thought to be a moment when Indigenous people and European colonizers came together to eat a feast and share what they’re thankful for. However, this isn’t the full story (or true story)! This year we especially remember parts of the narrative that have been changed and eliminated altogether.
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Get to Know the Inclusion Geeks Facilitators: Felicia Jadczak
We’re excited to introduce you to some of the incredible DEI training facilitators that are part of the Inclusion Geeks team. We asked them to share what sparked their passion for this work, what DEI means to them, and why they do what they do. Meet Felicia Jadczak, Co-CEO, Co-Founder, and Head of Training! What does DEI mean to you?I view these concepts as puzzle pieces. Each of them can operate independently, but together they address our hopes for a better world.
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How to select the right diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitator for your company
You’ve received buy-in from your leadership to start the great search for an expert to come in and facilitate conversations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at work, or perhaps you are the leader who has just empowered yourself to bring someone in. While this can be an exciting time, filled with hope for real change, it can also be incredibly daunting. What if the facilitator isn’t effective? Or worse, what if they do more harm than good?
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This Work is a Marathon: A Note from Co-CEO Felicia Jadczak
How are you? I’m angry. I’m tired. I’m sad. The news of the verdicts coming out of Breonna Taylor’s case (or lack thereof) yesterday was frustrating to say the least, yet somehow not a surprise. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, “It’s just weighing really heavy on my heart, and because we know that her death is not just the result of one person but the system, structure, and department that failed their entire community.” How can we expect an oppressive system that has been built over generations with deep-seated roots of racism to suddenly correct itself? It won’t.
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What’s Your Voting Plan?
Every election, it’s important to prepare a voting plan. Throw in a global pandemic, protests, voter suppression attempts, postal insanity, and an election where our survival literally hangs in the balance, and whew, friends, we’ve got a hot, steamy 2020 mess. As we count down to November 3, 2020, here are some questions you need to be asking yourself to get a plan together. Then ask your friends, family, drive-through barista, that person who walks past your house each afternoon, and literally every human you come across.
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Why We’re Making She+ Votes Out A Thing
If you’re sleeping better now than you were four years ago, this post is probably not for you. But can you please email us to tell us how and why, if you don’t mind? Hey hey, 2020, we see you. We’ve heard plenty of people say, ooh, can’t wait until 2020 is over. But let’s take a pause and remember our feelings about 2019, when we were excited for 2020 because it was to be the year of change.
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It’s Election Season! Let’s Get Real Representation in Government with Run En Masse
It’s not November yet, but believe it or not, we’re officially in election season. There are some incredible organizations that have cropped up over the last four years, determined to change the face of politics to be more inclusive and truly representative. Inclusion Geeks is thrilled to be teaming up with one of these organizations- Run En Masse. Run En Masse PAC is a coalition of technology professionals and progressive activists. They are focused on helping to elect more women and other marginalized genders and BiPOC in office to bring strong leadership and bold policy into government.
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How to run inclusive virtual meetings: Prework
No matter where or how a meeting might take place, here at Inclusion Geeks we’re always focusing on inclusive meetings. As we settle into virtual everything being our normal for the foreseeable future, it’s important to ensure we’re conducting inclusive virtual meetings as well. COVID was a major impetus for many formerly resistant businesses to get on board with virtual versus in-person meetings. However, one silver lining to companies shifting work to the virtual space is that by nature, virtual meetings can be more accessible in general, and allow for greater inclusivity.
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25 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experts to Follow on Twitter
When thinking about issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion, one area I am very mindful of is who I am following (whose voices do I hear first?) and who I am learning from (who do I trust? What information am I processing, and where does it originate?). Social media is a channel for learning and sharing that I return to time and time again. While I am active on several different platforms, I find that Twitter has been a wonderful space in which to connect with others and further my own learning journey on a daily basis.
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Revisiting the DEI Acronym
Over the past decade, the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DEI’) have gained significant attention by many institutions across varying fields. Many of these institutions have created initiatives, task forces, and steering committees as a way of acknowledging the importance of DEI work and creating institutional change. But what exactly is DEI and how should we approach these terms? As a practitioner in the field, I’ve heard these terms used in different ways, which has sometimes resulted in surface-level work. This type of work doesn’t typically lead to deeper sustainable change, or allow us to truly embody what DEI means.
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Honoring and Celebrating Juneteenth
June 19, 2020, marks 155 years since enslaved people in Texas learned from the arrival of Union soldiers that slavery was abolished two years earlier, but due to the current protests of police violence against Black people and systematic racism, this feels like the first year that the holiday has caught national attention in white media (FINALLY). Companies throughout the country have now declared that their offices will be closed in acknowledgment of the day, and others have provided learning opportunities for their employees. But many people don’t even know what this date means.
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Intent vs. Impact: 5 examples of how your support for Black lives (or lack thereof) may be causing harm
In light of recent events, I’ve seen how the intention of companies to support Black lives, understand racism, and ultimately work towards dismantling racism have led to increased awareness and hopefully what will be sustainable change in the workplace and beyond. I’ve also seen how similar intentions have had the opposite effect, and unfortunately caused more harm than good. Some of us may have felt inclined to support the Black Lives Matter movement and take a stand against police brutality.