Workshop Titles & Descriptions

We are excited to announce the nine workshop offerings of the 9th annual DEI Summit!

A Storyteller’s Guide to Changing the World

tai simpson, Storyteller. Organizer. Activist. Advocate. Indigenous Idaho Alliance

In this workshop we explore how leadership is defined in Indigenous communities and we’ll discover how storytelling plays a role in nurturing those leaders. The same principles can be applied across industries and organizations to empower ourselves, our communities, and our collective society. In these uncertain and rapidly changing times we have ot revolutionize the way we lead and build community. During this session participants will be able to: 1. Connect with their own stories for success and empowerment 2. Understand how best to create space for the stories of others 3. Have tools for service leadership through storytelling 4. Engage with and support Indigenous leadership and partnerships

Aspiring Allyship: Does Anyone Know What We’re Supposed to be Doing?

Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln, Principal Consultant, MG Strategies

The popularity of anti racism, equity and inclusivity work continues to be at the top of the list for conversations in every sector across the country and globe. Diversifying boards and employee pools, takes more than quarterly visits from inspiring speakers and a DEI committee; intentional conversations and the deliberate integration of frameworks must be prioritized. Time is of the essence, let us begin.

The Cultural Compass: Uncovering the Heart of Belonging in DEI

Salome Mwangi, Cultural Broker, Mwangi’z Inc

The Cultural Compass: Uncovering the Heart of Belonging in DEI is a cross-cultural training that Salome developed and facilitates that taps into the secret sauce that ties the elements of DEI into a pragmatic way of identifying one’s individual lens of viewing culture and learning more about the different lenses that others may use to navigate their lives.

Centering Dignity to Build a Culture of Belonging

Christina Bruce-Bennion & Alyssa Bell & Jess Westhoff, Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are grounded in dignity. The foundational belief that every person is important leads people to embrace diversity, advocate for equitable policies, and intentionally create inclusive communities where innovation thrives. And while we are all born with dignity, we can only develop an understanding of how to extend it to ourselves and others through conversation, analysis, and regular reflection. In this workshop participants will engage in hands-on activities and discussions to explore resources from the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights as well as current scholarship to develop the knowledge and skills to center dignity in their DEI work.

Decision Making For Equity: Applying A Framework Towards More Equitable Outcomes

Jeremy Harper, Interim Managing Director of BUILD Program, Boise State University

Have you ever made a professional decision and later realized it had negative unintended consequences? Have you ever observed a decision being made that excluded voices that should have been involved? Have you ever been unsure of how to effectively raise concerns about a decision being made? In this workshop, participants will learn the difference between inclusive decision making and decision making for equity, and how to apply a framework for more equitable decision making in their work. Participants will reflect upon professional decisions made in the past and consider how better decision making processes can be utilized in the future. Finally, participants will explore how to exercise leadership and move institutional decisions towards equity, even when they do not have the authority to make the final decisions.

Equity Toolkit for DEI-Minded Leaders

Adán De La Paz, Principal Consultant and Founder, De La Paz Education Services

The need for organizations to foster spaces of greater trust, safety, and belonging continues to increase. Leaders must commit to closing equity and inclusion gaps to fulfill their mission, live out their core values, and care for those they serve. This starts with three Cs—Conditions. Culture, and Community. This session will guide participants through the learning of these three fundamental components and offer valuable exercises to designing an equity toolkit.

Inter-Generational Synergy: Harnessing Diverse Perspectives for Success

Ann Smith, Founder, CEO, Guide & Grow Consulting

Have you ever wondered why your dad prefers long phone calls, your colleague relies on emails, and your daughter texts her friend while sitting right next to them? In today’s workplaces, five different generations coexist, presenting a unique opportunity for either stress and conflict or unprecedented collaboration and innovation. This engaging workshop delves into the dynamics of the multi-generational workforce, shedding light on the distinctive characteristics, strengths, and challenges of each generation, from Traditionalists and Baby Boomers to Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Our goal is to move beyond generational bias and stereotypes, fostering an environment that not only avoids conflict but actively promotes intergenerational collaboration. Workshop Objectives:

Diversity Awareness: Recognize the strengths and challenges of each generation – Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.

Bias Reduction: Overcome generational stereotypes for a more inclusive workplace.

Conflict Resolution: Enhance collaboration by leveraging the strengths of each generation.

Synergistic Innovation: Combine generations’ best qualities to drive creativity. Effective Communication: Tailor communication

It’s Okay to Say Disability

Angela Baylis, Director, Culture, Engagement & Inclusion, J. R. Simplot Company

This workshop is an engaging, interactive session that addresses disability and they ways we interact with people with disabilities. Is it okay to say ‘I see your point’ to a blind person? Should you reach out to help someone navigating a grocery store aisle with a wheelchair? Have you ever said ‘Ugh, I’m so OCD’ when talking about keeping your room clean? From this session, you can expect concrete tools and recommendations to navigate the etiquette around disability.

Let’s Not Talk About Privilege: A Role-Playing Experience

Leta Harris Neustaedter, Owner (Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Educator, Performer), Metamorphosis Performing Arts Studio

“Let’s Not Talk About Privilege” is an interactive, experiential role-playing activity designed to build empathy and awareness through felt experience. Participants will be guided through several common scenarios where authority and privilege have harmful impacts, and participants will have the opportunity to embody different scripted roles within those scenarios. Two primary goals of this activity are to increase awareness of how insidious privilege is so participants will be better able to recognize it, and to foster an empathetic understanding of how harmful unchecked privilege can be so participants will be more motivated to interrupt it.