On Thursday, November 15, 2018, members gathered to learn about how companies and individuals to create action around our diversity and inclusion.  Several great points that were shared includes:

• Bias, thoughts, and stereotypes are personal.  When we address them, then we can make changes.
• Additional reading to consider:
  • The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
  • Erasing Institutional Bias by Tiffany Jana and Ashley Diaz Mejias
• Best practices suggested:
  • Normalize – the conversation around race
  • Organize – develop partnerships in and outside of government and consider what infrastructure needs to be present to create spaces for opportunity
  • Operationalize – racial equity tools and data to develop strategies and drive results
  • Have a vision – consider what racial equity can look like for everyone?
• Equal is “everything is the same.”  Equality is “addressing the experience.”
• Diversity is quantity.  Inclusion is access to power.  Equity is outcomes.
• Must do more than programs and services.  We must address policies.
• Consider your language – how does it come across when you use simple words like “you guys?”

A special thanks to our speakers:

• Shawna Davies, GARE/Race Forward, and Carol Lily, Lil Associates.  Moderated by Debra Campbell.  To view the Race Forward PowerPoint, click here.

During lunch, four companies shared their initiatives around Diversity and Inclusion.  Check out the cases studies to see how you may be able to implement programs and practices in your organization:

JLL – Internal – Team Building/Professional Development

City of Charlotte, Planning External – Stakeholder & Community Forums

Crescent Communities – External – Community Outreach

Wells Fargo – Internal – Hiring & Retention Practices

Additional information and resources from the City of Charlotte:

• Charlotte 2040 – Equity Poster 
• Charlotte’s Inequality Mapping Tool