Diversity & Inclusion Academy

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

Register today! Limited seating

About the Academy | What you need to know | Session Descriptions | Meet the Instructors | Benefits | Sponsors

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.

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

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

SHRM 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.

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

Requirements:

Registrants should be a champion for implementing or influencing D&I initiatives at their organizations.
Racial Equity Impact Analysis: Training The purpose of this highly interactive training is to introduce you to a user-friendly tool called the Racial Equity Impact Analysis, which has the potential to increase your organization’s mission performance by furthering success across all racial/ethnic groups. The tool makes the concept of racial equity actionable and measurable. Cost: $167/ person additionally. Dates and times will be provided.

Session Descriptions:

Session One: Foundational Skills

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

Session Two: Understanding Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions to become a D&I Change Agent

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

Session Three: D&I Best Practices

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

Session Four: A Strategy for Success

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

Reserve your seat today!

Members: Early Bird Price: $599/seat. After January 12, 2022: $699/seat

Non-Members: Early Bird Price: $1,200/seat. After January 12, 2022: $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

From The Blog

Felicia Beard

2021 D&I Symposium: Meet Felicia Beard, Featured Presenter

The Partnership June 8, 2021

The BNP is pleased to welcome Felicia Beard, Senior Director of Racial Equity Initiatives at the Community Foundation as a featured presenter at our 2021 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 4th

2021 D&I Symposium: Meet Collin Gehl, Featured Panelist

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2021 D&I Symposium: Meet Cicely Strickland-Ruiz, Featured Speaker

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