Serena Brown’s Post

This week's 'Start Where You Are' Challenge: Objectively evaluate your environment. Many organizations talk about the importance of recruiting to increase diverse representation and to add more diverse perspectives to create more innovative solutions. However, they don’t always consider the environment they’re inviting people of historically excluded backgrounds into. - Would you want to be a member of a marginalized background in your organization? - Do you have any idea what that experience is like? - Would people of diverse backgrounds see people like themselves thriving in your organization? - Have you created a space for the perspectives of the individuals of diverse backgrounds who are already there to be honored, valued, and incorporated? I often share that when I explore getting involved with a group or joining an organization, I ask 2 questions: 1. What’s it like to work there? 2. What’s it like for people like me to work there? You should be prepared to answer both questions if you are inviting people who are significantly underrepresented to take a chance with you. Consider surveying your organization to find out what the culture is like around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The insights will give you a sense of the ways people are experiencing the environment and whether or how identity is a factor in that experience. That will help you determine what, if anything, to improve to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to thrive there. REMINDER: Follow the ‘Start Where You Are’ blog on MEDIUM: https://lnkd.in/g6kXV7C #startwhereyouare #diversityequityinclusion #diversityequityinclusionbelonging #inclusion

🌈✨ What if the spirit of Pride Month could energize our workplaces all year round? 🌟🌈 As we near the end of Pride Month, it's crucial not to view this as the closing chapter of a yearly event, but rather as a springboard into a continuous journey of growth and understanding. This month has been filled with insights and learnings, and as a straight ally, I've been reminded of the importance of continuously educating myself and advocating for a workplace where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels truly valued and included. At the core of sustaining an inclusive workplace is ongoing education. From unconscious bias training to cultural competency workshops, each program plays a vital role in dismantling prejudices and building a foundation of respect and empathy. Allyship doesn't stop when the parades wind down; it needs to be nurtured through regular, intentional learning initiatives that keep us aware and engaged. Here's something to try: Initiate a quarterly diversity day in your organization, where team members can share experiences and learn from each other. It’s about turning passive support into active involvement. 📣 Call to action: Let's commit to making education a regular part of our development. Encourage your HR team to include diversity and inclusion metrics in their quarterly reviews. What steps will you take to ensure your workplace doesn't just support diversity during Pride Month but thrives on it all year round? #PrideMonth2024 #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #ContinuousLearning #NeverStopLearning

As Pride Month unfolds, it's an opportune moment to reflect on fostering inclusivity in our workplaces. Drawing from my experience as an I-O Psychologist, here are some actionable tips: 🔹 Incorporate inclusivity into your organization's strategy: Make inclusivity a cornerstone, aligning it with your overarching mission, values, and goals. 🔹 Adopt explicit DEI&B and non-discrimination policies: Set clear standards that affirm your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 🔹 Establish non-discriminatory hiring practices: Prioritize job relevancy and fair assessment methods to help ensure a diverse talent pool. 🔹 Promote ongoing inclusivity through diversity training: Cultivate a culture of understanding and respect through continuous education and dialogue. 🔹 Build equitable career support systems: Implement mentorship and sponsorship programs, enhance accessibility practices, and utilize data to track progress.   Integrating these strategies year-round can lead to a more inclusive environment, the benefits of which include fostering innovation, brand equity, and profitability. Let's continue championing inclusivity not just during Pride Month but every day.   📖Sources in the comments for further exploration!

While I was rereading some of my favorite work that inspires me, I came across this quote and felt its impact and the call for diversity all over again! Diversity brings different perspectives, experiences, and ideas to communities, which can spark innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. Diversity also helps us understand and serve others, as well as ourselves, better. But we need to take a step further than acknowledging diversity. We need to take active steps toward inclusion, which means creating a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, respected, and heard. Inclusion necessitates listening to different opinions, even if those opinions will challenge our own assumptions or personal beliefs. Inclusion means fostering a sense of belonging, where everyone can contribute and thrive to their fullest ability and as their fullest selves. That’s why I’m committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our organization. I want to learn from the diverse voices of my learners and their families, from my team and my peers, and from my administration. I want to create a space where we can have honest and respectful conversations about the issues that matter to us. I want to celebrate the diversity that makes us both strong and successful. Diversity and inclusion are journeys in themselves, ones that we need to prioritize for ourselves and encourage in others. Let's take this time as we head into a new year, a new quarter, or even a new career, and embrace these ideas of diversity and inclusion as a source for both strength and opportunity. Let's listen to each other. Let's learn from each other. Let's make wherever we go a place where everyone can be authentic to themselves and capable of achieving their fullest potential! #diversityinclusion #inclusionmatters #diversityequityinclusion #creativity #innovation #seenheardvalued

🤔 Curious about how generational diversity shapes the people experience process? Anyone who knows or has worked with me knows this one is a passionate one. Let's gooooo! 🤸♀️ 🤸♀️ 🤸♀️ 🎙 Join me next week to gain insights alongside esteemed People Experience panelists. Don't forget to grab your recertification credits afterwards. 🔗 Registration link & recertification information in the comments #PeopleExperience #Diversity #Inclusion #Generationaldiversity #PanelDiscussion #Hackinghr #Thoughtleaders #Recertification #HRCommunity #EmployeeExperience #Culture #Intentionality

🌐 Inclusion: Breaking Barriers for a Brighter Future 🌐 ✨ Happy Friday, LinkedIn fam! ✨ Today, I want to talk about a topic very close to my heart: inclusion. In an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, it is essential that we embrace and celebrate our differences, promoting an all-inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. 🗝️ Inclusion unlocks a treasure trove of perspectives, talents, and experiences that can propel organizations to new heights. It fosters innovation, sparks creativity, and increases productivity by ensuring that every voice is heard and considered. 🌍 Beyond the workplace, inclusion has a positive ripple effect on society as a whole. It leads to greater social cohesion, mutual understanding, and harmony in our communities. When we break down barriers and actively embrace diversity, we stand not only united but also stronger. 📚 Let's dive into a few actionable steps we can take to foster inclusion: 1️⃣ Education is the key: Knowledge is power, and by educating ourselves about different cultures, backgrounds, and identities, we can develop a greater appreciation for diversity. 2️⃣ Active listening: By listening actively and empathetically, we can create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives and ideas. 3️⃣ Promoting diversity hiring: Actively seeking diverse candidates and ensuring equitable opportunities in the hiring process is crucial to building an inclusive workforce. 4️⃣ Embrace and celebrate differences: Encourage a culture that values uniqueness and create opportunities to celebrate diverse traditions, holidays, and achievements. 5️⃣ Cultural competence: Develop cultural competence by providing training and resources that promote understanding and respect for different cultural norms and practices. ✊ Remember, creating an inclusive environment is not just a checkbox to tick off—it's an ongoing commitment that requires continuous effort, learning, and open-mindedness. Let's stand up for inclusion and make it an integral part of our personal and professional lives. 🤝 Together, we can create a future where every voice is valued, respect is cherished, and differences are celebrated. Join me in championing inclusion and let's create a world where everyone can thrive! #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #CelebrateDifferences #CreatingUnity

Celebrate Diversity Month is a time to recognize and appreciate the beautiful tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives that make up our society. By embracing diversity, we foster a more inclusive, empathetic, and innovative world. This month let's take a moment to learn about and celebrate the unique experiences and contributions of those around us. By valuing diversity, we not only enrich our own lives but also create a stronger, more resilient community. Together, we can build a future where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to the table. How will you celebrate diversity this month? At Pyramid Consulting, you Belong:IN! #IntentionallyInclusive #diversityequityandinclusion #CelebrateDiversityMonth

🌟 YOU'VE GOT THIS! 🌟 Let's have a little chat about inclusion, shall we? It's not some mysterious, daunting concept that's out of reach. In fact, you're probably practicing it in your daily life without even realizing it! 💪 🫱🏻♀️🫱🏿♂️ Here are 5 simple ways you're already embracing inclusion: 1️⃣ Friendship Circles: You naturally form diverse friendships that include people of various backgrounds and abilities. Keep nurturing these connections; they're a beautiful example of inclusion! 2️⃣ Teamwork: Whether at work, school, or in your community, teamwork thrives on diverse perspectives and talents. You appreciate the value each person brings to the table. 3️⃣ Celebrating Differences: You understand that everyone is unique, and those differences make our world richer. You embrace and celebrate diversity in all its forms. 4️⃣ Supporting Each Other: In times of need, you offer a helping hand or a listening ear. Inclusion means looking out for one another and creating a support system that's there for all. 5️⃣ Open Conversations: You're not afraid to have open, honest discussions about inclusion and accessibility. By engaging in these conversations, you're taking the first step toward positive change. 🧐 See? Inclusion isn't a daunting challenge; it's a mindset and a way of life that you're already living. Now, let's take this mindset and apply it to our trampoline community. Together, we'll make inclusion an integral part of our journey. 🌈💫 #YouveGotThis #InclusionMatters #EmbraceDiversity #InclusiveCommunity #TogetherWeCan #reboundtherapy #inclusivetrampoline #adaptivetrampoline

🌟 YOU'VE GOT THIS! 🌟 Let's have a little chat about inclusion, shall we? It's not some mysterious, daunting concept that's out of reach. In fact, you're probably practicing it in your daily life without even realizing it! 💪 🫱🏻♀️🫱🏿♂️ Here are 5 simple ways you're already embracing inclusion: 1️⃣ Friendship Circles: You naturally form diverse friendships that include people of various backgrounds and abilities. Keep nurturing these connections; they're a beautiful example of inclusion! 2️⃣ Teamwork: Whether at work, school, or in your community, teamwork thrives on diverse perspectives and talents. You appreciate the value each person brings to the table. 3️⃣ Celebrating Differences: You understand that everyone is unique, and those differences make our world richer. You embrace and celebrate diversity in all its forms. 4️⃣ Supporting Each Other: In times of need, you offer a helping hand or a listening ear. Inclusion means looking out for one another and creating a support system that's there for all. 5️⃣ Open Conversations: You're not afraid to have open, honest discussions about inclusion and accessibility. By engaging in these conversations, you're taking the first step toward positive change. 🧐 See? Inclusion isn't a daunting challenge; it's a mindset and a way of life that you're already living. Now, let's take this mindset and apply it to our trampoline community. Together, we'll make inclusion an integral part of our journey. 🌈💫 #YouveGotThis #InclusionMatters #EmbraceDiversity #InclusiveCommunity #TogetherWeCan #reboundtherapy #inclusivetrampoline #adaptivetrampoline

💪🏾 INCLUSION.... DIVERSITY... EQUITY💪🏾 Last week, I had the privilege of moderating an inspiring panel featuring Shinese Collins, Eric Wagner, and Cateena Powers. Their wisdom, empathy, and insightful answers left me in awe. As an employee of a company that fosters ERGs and empowers voices, I’m grateful. Derrick Williams, MBA, MSBA, BSBA and Rosie Fernandez did an awesome job with production. And I just wanted to share this call to action from the event educational Event I moderated today ''A Conversation Around Juneteenth’ 🙌🏽 #Juneteenth #Empowerment #Inclusion #lifeatCox ‘CALL TO ACTION’, in a simple yet powerful acronym: RISE. ✅Reflect: Take a moment to look inward. Reflect on your biases, assumptions, and privileges. We all have them—it’s part of being human. But acknowledging them is the first step toward change. How do your biases influence your decisions? What privileges do you carry? Write down one commitment to challenge these biases and actively promote equity. ✅Interact: Now, let’s step outside our comfort zones. Seek out someone different from you. It could be a colleague, a neighbor, or a fellow community member. Engage in a conversation. Listen to their experiences and perspectives. Share what you’ve learned with someone else. These interactions build bridges and break down barriers. ✅Seek Micro-Inclusions: Inclusion isn’t just about big gestures; it’s about the small actions we take every day. Look for opportunities to create micro-inclusions. Acknowledge a colleague’s contribution. Use inclusive language. Amplify underrepresented voices. These seemingly small acts add up and create a more welcoming environment. ✅Educate and Advocate: Knowledge is power. Educate yourself continuously. Read books, follow thought leaders, attend webinars. But don’t stop there—share what you’ve learned. Host a lunch-and-learn session. Ask questions in company meetings. Advocate for change. Use your voice to push for policies that promote equity. Let’s RISE together. Let’s create a ripple effect of inclusion—one conversation, one action at a time