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'24 Diversity Education Institute Sessions

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Morning Social

Breakfast

Summary
Check in early to start the DEI conversation with your colleagues before the opening keynote.

Embracing Diversity - A Real Life Perspective on Inclusion and Allyship

Keynote

Speakers
  • Samyuktha Neeraja
    Biography: Samyuktha lives in the Chicago area and has been working in the association management industry for a little over 8 years. Her current position is the State Association Relations Manager II at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. In this role, Samyuktha provides consulting services to state associations and assists them with their governance, leadership, and infrastructure-related needs. She is also the project manager of the organizational-wide leadership development program, AANA Ascend. Samyuktha is a disability advocate and steward of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She has given various presentations sharing her experiences as a South Asian woman with dwarfism and how organizations can better support people with disabilities. In addition, Samyuktha co-hosts the “A Little Perspective” podcast, which is a platform for lifting up voices from marginalized groups, provides travel guidance for people with dwarfism on her blog, “Just a Little Traveling”, and co-authored the best-selling anthology, “A Little Perspective: Real Stories of Little Ladies. Samyuktha also currently serves as Immediate Past President of Benedictine University's Alumni Association Board of Directors and is a senior advisory member for L.E.A.D.S, the University’s leadership program for undergraduate women. Outside of her leadership and advocacy efforts, Samyuktha is a recipient of the 2023 Rising Star Alumni Award from Benedictine University, the Association Forum Forty Under 40 Award in 2021, and is an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar for the Class of 2023-2025.
Summary
Samyuktha Neeraja is an association leader and a disability advocate. She also has achondroplasia, which is the most common type of dwarfism. Living in a world not built for her has its daily challenges, which others may not realize they take for granted. Samyuktha will share her personal and professional story as an Indian American woman with a disability and how organizations can be an ally for and better support people with disabilities. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn about dwarfism and how intersectionality plays a part in Samyuktha's life. 2. Be empowered to ensure inclusion for people with disabilities in various settings. 3. Understand definition of allyship and walk away with tips on how to become an ally for people from marginalized communities.

Overcoming Generational Stereotypes

Concurrent #1

Speakers
  • Kristina Nemetz
Summary
There are new generations arriving at our workplace (Generation Zand Y), another generation seems to be getting a bad rap (Millennial) and a new micro-generation is announcing themselves (Xennial). This session is aimed to enhance inclusion, understanding, and acceptance in the workplace. Whether you are fighting against the stereotypes of your own generation or trying to stop using the 'millennial' label in the workplace, this session is a good step to increase collaboration and eliminate ageism. Understand yourself and other generations as we discuss how to overcome the struggles of labeling. Come with an open mind, there are some hard lessons to learn. Learning Objectives: 1. Arm yourself with the newest generation information and better understand yourself and your co­ workers. The more you know the better chance you have of breaking down labels and creating a collaborative workplace. 2. Learn how to balance your work force (from top down or bottom up), draw on strengths and weaknesses of employees, and create an environment that welcomes and fosters the next generation. 3. Create a plan of action on how you as a leader can aid in the inclusion and acceptance of all generations to create a highly effective team.

Promoting Vendor Diversity

Concurrent #1

Speakers
  • Jaemie Neely
Summary
This presentation aims to provide comprehensive insights into establishing and expanding a supplier diversity program within an agency. This presentation will delve into relevant legislation, effective strategies, and valuable resources to support the development of a robust and inclusive supplier network. By embracing diversity in vendor selection, agencies can foster economic growth, create opportunities for underrepresented communities, and drive innovation. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand supplier diversity, and supporting laws and regulations. 2. Understand how to implement or grow a supplier diversity program. 3. Understand how to leverage advocacy and affinity groups to expand networks.

Lunch

Lunch

Summary
Lunch is included with registration.

Diversity Marketing

Concurrent #2

Speakers
  • Andre Cobbs
  • Juan Carlos Acevedo
Summary
According to the latest United States census, more than one-third of the population is classified as racial or ethnic minorities (U.S. Census, 2020) and the nation’s diversity is likely to increase in the future. Park administrators and managers across the country are facing different challenges in providing programs and recreational activities to diverse groups. Not only do ethnic and racial minorities have unique recreation and program preferences, but often some are unaware that programs exist in their communities. This session will talk about the different strategies a park district or agency can implement in the short and long term to build a two-way relationship with a diverse constituency. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn the meaning of Diversity, and how it is applied in your agency. 2. Learn how to listen to your ethnically and culturally diverse community through the implementation of community surveys, focus groups, community participation. 3. Learn how to serve ethnically and racially diverse constituents

Three Different DEI Journeys by Oak Park, Skokie and Oak Brook

Concurrent #2

Speakers
  • Jan Arnold
  • Laure Kosey
  • Michelle Tuft
Summary
These three districts have been awarded the Champions for Change Award. This session will assist you to authentically enhance DEI at your agency. Follow the journey each agency traveled in the DEI world, so there is understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion opportunities at your agency and in your community. Learning Objectives: 1. Understanding where your agency is at with DEI. Is your toolkit empty? 2. Offer 10+ DEI tools to authentically drive change at your agency. 3. Acquire resources to successfully navigate the world of DEI.

Crafting Your DEI Statement

Concurrent #3

Speakers
  • Oralethea Davenport
  • Tracey Crawford
Summary
Is your agency ready to develop a Diversity Statement? This program will provide some guidelines or a useful template on how to get started. We will also share some examples from other businesses and organizations, so you can learn from one another on how to take this important step. Learning objectives: 1. Participants will identify the necessary components of a diversity statement. 2. Participants will review examples of diversity statements from other entities. 3. Participants will create a draft of a diversity statement for their agency.

Reparative Environmental Justice: Lessons Learned from the Forest Preserves of Cook County

Concurrent #3

Speakers
  • Amanda Grant
  • Raquel Garcia-Alvarez
Summary
Racial healing must be included as we work to standardize diversity, equity, and inclusion and center race (REDI) as a part of the work to make the outdoors more welcoming. Reparative Environmental Justice is about telling hard truths about past wrongs and present consequences, repairing the harm of racism, and building authentic relationships across real and perceived differences. Without racial healing and building trust, changes in policies or practices are short-lived. Join the leadership of the Forest Preserves of Cook County in Illinois, as they share their experience acknowledging, working thru, and learning from a racialized event involving their staff and a community member and how they continue to work on making the Forest Preserves welcoming to all. Learning Objectives: 1. How to pivot from intention to acknowledgment to action; 2. How to incorporate the REDI lens at the institutional level 3. Learn about practical examples of how to operationalize equity
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