Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

DEI is designed for businesses, organizations, faith-based institutions, in order to improve organizational effectiveness and become an inclusive organization. DEI is more than your traditional professional development program. 
There are four levels of the DEI process: 

Level 1- PERSONAL- Are your people aware of their personal culture bias? This level is the foundation for diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DE&I). One must know the history of race and class oppression and resistance in the U.S. Individuals should understand their own identity, power, privilege, and how they affect their work, and relationships. Lastly, they should believe in the potential of other individuals to grow and develop in DE&I.

Level 2- Interpersonal- Are our personal relationships equitable? Once an individual has the foundational knowledge and history of DE&I, then it is time to work on how.

Level 3- Institutional- Are institutional policies and norms within your organization equitable? The third level recognized that cultural bias and oppressive assumptions become embedded in the policies and procedures of an organization.

 Level 4- Does your organizational structure promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice? Acting for Inclusiveness. Distinguishing cultural differences and differing work styles from true performance challenges will help leaders seek out and leverage skills, traits and characteristics that may be unrecognized or undervalued in the dominant culture. This is where cultural competence comes into play. Seek out articles on culture or resources to help you understand different cultures and experiences.