Watch Recordings of Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Series for small businesses
As part of the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in 2021, we partnered with sr4 to host a virtual four-part training series for small business owners looking to incorporate DEI into their business model and workplace. While the series has concluded, you can watch recordings of each session. Read on for a list of topics we covered and links to recordings.
About sr4:
sr4 is a Chicago-based leadership development company that helps businesses and organizations thrive by working with them to create an exceptional place to work. sr4 works to remove the barriers that are preventing people from contributing at their best. They help improve performance by developing holistic leaders, cultivating cohesive teams, fostering a thriving culture, and facilitating an inclusive approach to change.
Facilitator Biography:
Our facilitator for this training series is Kesia King. Kesia King is an accomplished business professional who spent most of her early career in product management and marketing at Grainger. In 2018 her side hustle CHOP CHOP Mobile, became her main focus and Kesia dedicated her efforts to helping organizations attract and retain top talent and increase productivity through onsite and mobile, salons and barbershops. In 2020, Kesia joined sr4 Partners as an Organizational Health Consultant, providing facilitation, design, and strategy work for clients ranging from high-growth start-ups and healthcare companies to nonprofits and legacy educational institutions. She champions and leads much of the diversity, equity, and inclusion work for sr4, a core practice area for the organization. Kesia has always taken an interest in empowering people to work through their mental roadblocks and fears, and as a result published her first book in March, entitled F.E.A.R. Face Everything & Recover: The 30-Day Reset to Unlocking Your Full Potential which is available on Amazon.
Series Information and Registration Links:
PART I: STARTING WITH WHY - THE VALUE OF DEI FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS
Tuesday, October 5th from 8:30-10 AM.
Laying the foundation for effective diversity and inclusion work requires a thoughtful approach. Team members can tell when their company is simply checking boxes to say they’ve put forth an effort to be more inclusive. In this training, we’ll explain the importance of reflecting on your lived experience and identifying your personal “why”. We’ll share research on how diversity and belonging impact innovation, productivity, and profit. As well as, how it impacts your leadership and team participation. Finally, we’ll explore how your company’s values align with a commitment to DEI and create a personal action plan for becoming an inclusive leader.
Learning Outcomes & What to Expect:
Explore and discuss how your personal experiences have impacted your views and commitment to DEI
Understand the business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it impacts your leadership
Identify behaviors and practices that align with your business values and commitment to DEI
Discuss and connect with business owners in small groups and create a personal action plan
PART II: RECOGNIZING BIAS AND REIMAGINING SYSTEMS
Tuesday, October 12th from 8:30-10 AM.
In part 2 of this training series, we will explore barriers to advancing DEI and how to address them. Everyone has implicit biases that influence how we see the world, approach our work, and make decisions. Learning to recognize your biases and implement practices for inclusion will help you create a healthy and thriving business. In this training, we’ll uncover the most common types of biases and how they affect you and your business. We’ll explore how to mitigate these biases and address business systems and processes that are preventing greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Learning Outcomes & What to Expect:
Learn to recognize the most common workplace biases and identify biases of your own
Explore how to limit implicit bias and promote diversity and inclusion within your business
Understand how to reimagine systems and processes when managing your day-to-day
Discuss and connect with business owners in small groups
PART III: INCREASING TRUST & BELONGING
Tuesday, October 19th from 8:30-10 AM.
In part 3 of this training series, we will talk about how trust and psychological safety are important for inclusive leaders and to create a culture of belonging. In Google’s Project Aristotle, the company examined what makes a capable team, and found that who is on a team is less important than how the team members interact. It turns out that the presence of trust, openness and psychological safety are not just elements of a culture of belonging – but also for productivity and impact. In this training, we will provide key insights on the connection between trust, belonging, and business outcomes. We will explore how to cultivate psychological safety and celebrate the many aspects of diversity within your business. Finally, we’ll identify key behaviors of inclusive leaders that will promote belonging and enhance your company’s DEI efforts.
Learning Outcomes & What to Expect:
Learn about the key insights from Google’s Project Aristotle that apply to belonging and impact
Explore trust builders and trust breakers in cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion
Identify the behaviors and practices that will increase trust and belonging
Discuss and connect with business owners in small groups
PART IV: EXPLORING PRIVILEGE & ALLYSHIP
Tuesday, October 26th from 8:30-10 AM.
In part 4 of this training series, we explore how the growing racial justice movement is not only shining a spotlight on systemic racism but also raising awareness on workplace discrimination and inequity. As a business owner, you can evolve your business for the betterment of the team and the communities you serve. In this training, we will explore the concept of privilege and how systems and processes at your company may benefit some individuals while oppressing others. We’ll define allyship and the responses you can choose from when you see or experience discrimination or other behavior that isn’t aligned with a culture of inclusion. And we’ll identify how you can use your influence to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
Learning Outcomes & What to Expect:
Explain the concept of privilege and apply it to your own life and leadership
Learn what allyship looks like at work
Identify practical steps to leverage your privilege and put allyship into action
Discuss and connect with business owners in small groups