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BNP's D&I Academy

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An instructor-led, peer-supported, virtual Academy for individuals wanting to successfully implement a diversity and inclusion strategy for their organization.

About the Academy  |  What you need to know  |  Session Descriptions  |  Meet the Instructors  |  Benefits  |  Sponsors
For Academy Participants: 
Winter 2022 Academy Document Portal
About the Academy

The BNP’s D&I Academy takes your D&I work from ideas to implementation.

Participants from a variety of businesses, industries and professional services will be welcomed to engage with one another on the critical topics of diversity and inclusion.

Through four instructor-led, peer-supported sessions, participants will discover fundamental knowledge and best practice information to create actionable strategies for their workplace. 

What you need to know

Requirements: 

  • Registrants should be a champion for implementing or influencing D&I initiatives at their organizations.
Session Descriptions:
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Foundational Skills which will enable attendees to confidently adopt a functional vocabulary for communicating about diversity and inclusion, with the following course objectives: 
  • Develop the ability to build inclusion through the power of language 
  • Provide insights into the business case for diversity, and what it means to organizations 
  • Create a baseline for understanding common terms in the D&I realm 
    • Demystify critical conversations.  Understand how to hear and how to learn from the discussions 
    • Provide insights into what lessons can be gleaned from critical conversations with active listening 
    • Create same language understanding that moves conversations and discussions forward 
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Understanding the impact of Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions will enable attendees to identify the harmful effects and eliminate them to become a more effective D&I change-agent, with the following course objectives: 
    • Examine unconscious bias, and microaggressions and their roles in creating exclusion 
    • Maneuver through instances of unconscious bias and microaggression to create cultural understanding 
    • Utilize the lessons learned from critical conversation in prior session to improve dialogue, relationships, and environments that promote inclusivity 
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

  D&I Best Practices, which will enable attendees to commit to a methodical process to create an inclusive environment for future and existing associates, with the following course objectives: 
  • Equip attendees with best practices on how to begin diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and avoid common pitfalls 
    • Provide best practices on finding diverse candidates, and insuring welcoming and inclusive environments await, support existing associates to improve and continue inclusive environments 
    • Analyze the opportunities for creating a diverse and inclusive environment in their organization 
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

  A Strategy for Success takes attendees through a process to develop a desired D&I future state that aligns with organizational goals and incorporates the following objectives: 
  • Solicit Buy-In and Commitment from Key Stakeholders 
  • Assessment of Current Challenges within their company 
  • Identify what the company is doing is right 
    • Set diversity and inclusion goals that align with organization mission, vision, and values 
    • Set clear and realistic objectives, strong internal structure, accountability, timeline supporting tasks, and action steps to achieve goals 
    • Establish D&I budget: training, hiring and initiatives 
    • Note: Attendees will continue to refine the process upon return to their organization 

Academy graduates will:

  • Receive a Certificate of completion
  • Be able to develop and explore your top priorities for your diversity & inclusion strategy
  • Be eligible for additional professional credit

For SHRM HR professionals, this program is valid for a total of 1.5 PDC for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. 

Buffalo Niagara Partnership is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org. 

  • Receive a copy of an instructor-recommended book: The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle MiJung Kim

Academy Format

  • The Academy consists of 4 content sessions of 2 hours each
  • Virtual Sessions will be held bi-weekly  in February/March 2022 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
    • February 1
    • February 15
    • March 1
    • March 15
  • Multiple attendees from the same company/organization can participate

Reserve your seat today! 

Members: $699/seat 

Non-Members: $1400/seat 

Meet the Instructors: Ragan & Amos

Yvonne Minor Ragan, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned, award-winning Educational Leader, Consultant, and co-founder of Ragan & Amos Consulting.

Learn more…

Antoinette M. Amos, M.A., is a Trainer, Consultant, International Speaker, Author, co-founder of Ragan & Amos Consulting, and DEI Director for Therapists in Tech.

Learn more…

Benefits of Attending

Each session in the D&I Academy is designed to empower you to get started and to help accelerate your D&I initiatives.

Working in a confidential setting, with a facilitator and peer support, we can help you improve your results. 

  • Dig deeper to accurately diagnose and eliminate sources of institutional bias
  • Create accountability and measure and use data to set clear goals for making an impact
  • Establish company-wide objectives to maximize participation and generate support and buy-in throughout the entire organization
  • Examine the cultural practices and norms that need to change to foster better inclusion
  • Look closely at your role as a leader in creating diversity and inclusion – and pinpoint opportunities for greater impact and change
D&I Academy Testimonial - Michelle Plesh Sq.
D&I Academy Testimonial - Darnell Sq.
D&I Academy Testimonial - Candace Unger Sq.
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Thanks to our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Bank of America logo
M&T Bank

Silver Sponsors

Verizon
Yahoo!

Supporting Sponsors

From The Blog

2022 D&I Symposium: Meet Ekua Mends-Aidoo , Featured Speaker

Cheryl Ciccarelli May 11, 2022

The BNP is pleased to welcome Ekua Mends-Aidoo, Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer for Evergreen Health as a featured speaker at our 2022 D&I Symposium: DEI at Work. We will be helping you get to know each presenter, panelist, and moderator in the weeks ahead, leading up to the 5th Annual

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2022 D&I Symposium: Meet Trina Burruss, Featured Speaker

Cheryl Ciccarelli May 6, 2022

The BNP is pleased to welcome Trina Burruss, COO, United Way as a featured speaker at our 2022 D&I Symposium: DEI at Work. We will be helping you get to know each presenter, panelist, and moderator in the weeks ahead, leading up to the 5th Annual D&I Symposium on June 16th

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2022 D&I Symposium: Meet Rene Petties Jones, Featured Presenter

Cheryl Ciccarelli May 6, 2022

The BNP is pleased to welcome Rene Petties Jones, President, National Federation for Just Communities of Western NY as a featured speaker at our 2022 D&I Symposium: DEI at Work. We will be helping you get to know each presenter, panelist, and moderator in the weeks ahead, leading up to the

Read More »