Join Today!
BNP's D&I Academy

Getting Started

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
Apply Now!
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.

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.
  • 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:
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: 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 

Apply Now!
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.
Previous
Next
Thanks to our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Bank of America logo
M&T Bank

Silver Sponsors

Verizon
Yahoo!

Supporting Sponsors

From The Blog

Making Sure No One Is Left Behind As Our Community Rebounds From COVID-19

The Partnership May 25, 2021

As consumers emerge and spend within their communities, there are new opportunities to support minority-owned businesses. According to the New York Small Business Development Center, roughly 30 percent of small businesses in our state are minority-owned. When you consider that roughly half (48%) of small business revenues are recirculated back

Read More »

2021 D&I Symposium: Meet Jerome Singletary, Featured Speaker

The Partnership May 24, 2021

The BNP is pleased to welcome Jerome Singletary, Community Outreach and Advocacy Manager, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County as a featured speaker 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

Read More »

2021 D&I Symposium: Meet Michael Weiner, Featured Speaker

The Partnership May 24, 2021

The BNP is pleased to welcome Michael Weiner, President & CEO, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County as a featured speaker 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

Read More »