With the dust still settling from the social unrest that marked the summer of 2020, it's more important than ever for local governments to pursue organizational policies that center social justice. To that end, ICMA has developed a series of workshops that will provide an comprehensive approach to implementing the principles of equity and inclusion within your organization. Covering everything from basic terminology to the application of racial equity tools, this three-part series will be an invaluable resource for anyone looking to begin (or continue) their journey towards equity and inclusion. This package includes the following three workshops:

Establishing Inclusion as a Value 
This interactive workshop is designed to offer participants a jumping off point for conversations and reflections vis-à-vis diversity, equity, and inclusion. To do so, it provides participants an overview of key terms and definitions such as: diversity, inclusion, equity, bias, privilege, disparate impact, and disparate treatment. A second part serves as an introduction to moving towards diversity, equity and inclusion as a central organizational value with particular attention paid to capitalizing on the diversity dividend.  

Kickstarting Inclusion
In the second of this three-part series on equity and inclusion, you'll learn how to actually implement the inclusive principles your organization has established.
This interactive workshop is built around the article Managing Diversity and Inclusion as well as identifying strategies that leaders may utilize to make their organizations more diverse and/or inclusive. Specific leadership strategies are identified and discussed include: building trust, getting data, and changing internal organizational policies. Participants will also map their home organizations relative to diversity and inclusion as well as establish diversity and inclusion goals. Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices may include revisions relevant to employee recruitment, staffing and engagement, training, implementation, and budgeting strategies, etc.

Keep Moving Forward 
This interactive workshop introduces participants to the growing use of racial equity tools (RET) as well as the process of conducting a diversity and/or cultural audit. Such tools are designed to integrate equity in organizational policies, practices, operations, management functions, programs, and budgets and can lead to more equitable outputs and outcomes, and success for your organization. Examples are presented and discussed.

• Take a deep dive into Racial Equity Tools and Cultural Audits;
• Reflect on current practices and how Racial Equity Tools and Cultural Audits are tools in your diversity, equity, and inclusion toolbox;
• Generate and exchange ideas on how to utilize Racial Equity Tools and Cultural Audits in your community