I’m speaking at the IECA Fall Conference this week, as a part of the IECA committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), in a session on November 10, discussing how we can advance efforts to make education more inclusive for people of all backgrounds.
Why is that important?
- It fosters tolerance, acceptance and freer exchange of ideas.
- When students are respected and honored, they are more motivated to learn.
- Organizations (educational, governmental, corporate) which embrace and practice inclusion experience better retention, less turnover, and enhanced organizational performance.
A big takeaway from my discussions about DEI is that you can find diversity beyond the usual race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, age. For example, in education, we have discussions about learning differences, or life experiences (non-traditional students returning to further their education), or first generation college students (who can be of any race or ethnicity). I have been tremendously enlightened with input and discussions from fellow consultants who are of a different age generation.
So it’s a good idea to stop and think about how we can incorporate and collaborate effectively and earnestly with people who don’t look like yourself or shared life experiences. We all benefit and are enriched when we find common goals from different points of view.
