Kelsey (Ward) Whitehead’s Post

Macduff thinks all black people are his friends. He is cute and small and uses this as leverage to get away with behaviour that larger dogs can’t. (He had a fun summer of running and stealing picnic food from parks last year) Whilst Macduff has been socialised with a lot of black people, his working assumption that all black people are his friends… it’s flawed. He isn’t always welcome. Who doesn’t he meet much, people who use electric wheelchairs. He has decided that the chair mechanism is suspicious and is on high alert when they pass him. After dragging Macduff away from another interaction with a stranger last week, it got me to thinking about my responsibility as his owner. They call it dog socialisation. You are encouraged to expose dogs to a variety of people, places and experiences at a young age. But there are parallels to how we navigate workplaces, teams and life experiences. Why don’t we intensionally decide to diversify who and how we socialise? Work with a variety of people, look for diversity in our friends and engagements… consciously look for variety and difference, so that we as people are better prepared for the world of work. So that we aren’t suspicious and barking when difference arrives in the room. #dogs #dogowners #edi #diverseteams #diversityintech #inclusiveteams #equality #diversity #inclusion #womenwholead #blackintech #livedexperience Beetroot Consulting Ltd

It was a great meeting today at this month's Northern Kentucky Society of Human Resources Management! Amber Hyman gave a fantastic presentation on Inclusion & Belonging In The Workforce. My key takeaway? It's called the 7-11 rule or in the first 7 seconds of contact, people make 11 decisions about us 🤔: 1. Education Level 2. Economic Level 3. Perceived Credibility, Believability, Competence + Honesty 4. Trustworthiness 5. Level of Sophistication 6. Gender Role Identification 7. Level of Success 8. Political Background 9. Religious Background 10. Ethnic Background 11. Social/Professional/Sexual Desirability At Newfront, we've adopted many inclusion initiatives in what we call "Expanding the Circle of Inclusion: A Path to Better Retention". Link in the comments below 👇

Today, we honor #Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It's a powerful reminder of the fight for freedom and equality, a fight that continues in talent development. ❤️ Here at ATD Austin, we believe: • Equity in access to learning opportunities is crucial for building a diverse and thriving workforce. • Unconscious bias can hinder career advancement. We actively work to identify and dismantle these biases in our industry. • Inclusive learning environments empower all individuals to reach their full potential. 💛 What can YOU do to champion talent development for all? • Share your experiences or resources related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in talent development. • Learn about the history of Juneteenth and its ongoing significance. • Support organizations dedicated to closing the opportunity gap in the workplace. 💚 Let's use Juneteenth as a springboard to create a more just and equitable future in talent development! #Juneteenth19th #DEI #ATDAustin

😵 Struggling with #EmployeeEngagement? Here are few stats to consider... 💰 Companies with highly engaged employees are 21% more profitable and have 17% higher productivity compared to those with low engagement levels. In addition to that, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company that invests in their professional development 🧠. 🌈 With #PRIDEMonth hours away from kicking off! If you're looking for FUN ways to increase engagement from your LGBTQIA+ team members and Allies by giving them an opportunity for some professional development, might I recommend a fun contest/raffle aligned with your org's goals and objectives granting your teams the opportunity to win a chance to attend a first of its kind conference that is Black & queer founded and operated, Rainbow DisruptCon 24 here in #LosAngeles! 🎟 If you're interested in discussing SPECIAL ticket rates to support your PRIDE Month contest/raffles, don't hesitate to reach out! https://lnkd.in/gYpsxWu2

How are you celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth? Start off this month by honoring the legacies of Black leaders, caretakers, and advocates and checking out the resources on the following page to help your agency advance #RacialEquity in #ChildWelfare:

Allyship is a year-round effort, so let's use this Pride month as an opportunity to check in. Here are some steps to becoming a better ally in your community: 🤍 Support and Amplify: Support and highlight the achievements of underrepresented individuals. Share their work and advocate for their ideas. 🎧 Listen and Learn: Listen without judgment and be curious about other people's stories. 📢 Speak Up: Use your platform to address injustices and call out discrimination. Silence can be complicit—let your voice be a tool for change. Allyship is a continuous journey. Some actions are easier than others, but each step brings us closer to a more inclusive workplace.  #Allyship #Support #Community

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus! Happy St David’s Day! The first of March is Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, or St David’s Day, the day when Wales celebrates its patron saint. A renowned preacher, his final words to his followers before his death on 1 March 589 were “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.” St David believed that we should “do the little things”, the small, considerate things that often make a big difference. What's one small thing you could do today that might make a big difference somewhere or to someone? - Check in with a friend or colleague you’ve not spoken to for a while? - Smile at someone as you pass them in the office or in the street? - Make someone a cuppa? - Let someone know you think they’re doing a great job? You never know how the small thing that you do might impact someone else’s day 😊 Let us know the little things that you do to make a difference. #Kindness #Wellbeing #WellbeingAtWork #Support #HR #HRCommunity #Inclusion #Recognition

Allyship is a year-round effort, so let's use this Pride month as an opportunity to check in. Here are some steps to becoming a better ally in your community: 🤍 Support and Amplify: Support and highlight the achievements of underrepresented individuals. Share their work and advocate for their ideas. 🎧 Listen and Learn: Listen without judgment and be curious about other people's stories. 📢 Speak Up: Use your platform to address injustices and call out discrimination. Silence can be complicit—let your voice be a tool for change. Allyship is a continuous journey. Some actions are easier than others, but each step brings us closer to a more inclusive workplace.  #Allyship #Support #Community

Where are you in your allyship journey? Asking questions ➡️ Actively listening ➡️ Showing up ➡️ Speaking up The Allyship Committee (part of Gilbane’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group) hosted an Introduction to Allyship presentation about how to be an ally in the construction industry. Along with the formal definition of allyship below, we talked about how allyship is a form of inclusion that evolves into advocacy. Being an ally includes listening actively, challenging bias, using inclusive language, and continuing to educate yourself. At Gilbane offices and jobsites, we strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their authentic selves. Consider wearing an allyship sticker on your hard hat or hanging an allyship poster so people know it’s safe to approach you if they need support. And a special thank you to Denise Viola, Senior Support Assistant in Los Angeles, who shared a personal story about being an ally for colleagues in a dangerous situation. Thank you for setting a great example of what it looks like to be an ally! 🏳️🌈 Ally: “The status or role of a person who advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society, not necessarily as a member of that group, but in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.” #BuildingMoreThanBuildings #GilbaneCares #Allyship

Inclusion is important!!