DEI training for nonprofits spiked in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. But how many organizations have actually kept up with internal DEI work? A one-time seminar to check a box and give a pat on the back isn’t going to cut it. DEI training that actually makes an impact and creates a lasting change requires planning, dedication to the principles, and – shocking, we know – more than a single meeting.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about why ongoing DEI training is crucial in nonprofit organizations. DEI work needs to be incorporated into every level of your organization, and we’re sharing information about where most organizations are in the race equity cycle, and how to facilitate different spaces to encourage people to open up in a setting where they feel comfortable.
This work absolutely intersects personal and professional viewpoints. Approaching this work with care, awareness, and consistency will allow your organization to create and enact plans and serve as a space where everyone feels included in the mission and vision.
What’s in this episode:
- [01:55] Why joint board/staff DEI training is not ideal, and how DEI work presents itself in different types of organizations (white led vs. BIPOC led, for example)
- [09:21] Understanding the stages (awake, woke, and work) of the race equity cycle in organizations
- [13:25] Why DEI training is not just about perception and outward-facing communications—it needs to transform internal operations (you’re not done with the work when the training is over)
- [16:51] Ways to facilitate spaces where people feel comfortable sharing at different levels, and understanding when it’s time to let someone go who isn’t moving forward with the organization
- [20:25] How organizations can ensure accountability internally, expanding on the range of implicit biases that fall within DEI, and being intentional with regular trainings
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Resources Mentioned
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
A big thanks to our sponsors for this episode on DEI training: Brittny Wilson Consulting and Mission Launch, and to Jake Walker Music for our theme song!