ashes to go 2018

Ashes to Go, Churchill Station, Edmonton

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ideas for structuring employee resource groups

Employee resource groups are a key component of many diversity and inclusion programs. They provide a safe place for specific groups of employees, such as women, LGBTQ2S+, veterans, indigenous peoples, etc., to meet for support, networking, and personal and career development.

The following options present some ideas on structuring employee resource groups (ERGs) for large province-wide organizations. They allow for an evolution of the ERG structure in a scalable way as interest grows. In all cases, employees at other locations can still videoconference into the meeting individually or in small groups.

Click the image to enlarge it.

Check out the full document to learn more about these options...

sowing seeds for the flourishing of LGBTQ2S+ employees

From my paper, "Sowing Seeds for the Flourishing of LGBTQ2S+ Employees"

Introduction

In the corporate world, diversity and inclusion are often promoted as a way of increasing profit, competitiveness and innovation, attracting and keeping diverse employees, and gaining a better understanding of one’s customer base. People are invited to become part of the corporate culture because the company benefits from the diversity they bring … but the corporate culture is not changing for diverse peoples nor is it being changed by their inclusion. While employees do benefit, the primary focus is on the benefit to the company.

In governments, non-profit organizations and socially-conscious companies, we have the opportunity to make diversity and inclusion decisions with a primary focus on the benefits to employees, understanding that of course there will also be a benefit to the organization as a whole and to the clients.

It may seem like a small difference, but I believe that diversity and inclusion must first and foremost be for the people if it is to be authentic and avoid the risk of being assimilatory.

So how about an organization taking initiative to be a place where all employees flourish?

And specifically,

How might we develop our organization into an environment 
in which LGBTQ2S+ employees, in all their diversity, can flourish?

Read the whole paper here.

[images of faith, hope and beauty]

Of special interest to friends in Edmonton:

The Kule Folklore Centre at the University of Alberta in partnership with the Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta is very pleased to launch a new exhibit Images of Faith, Hope & Beauty, featuring Ukrainian Canadian icons and iconostases from national and international collections.

The exhibit takes place December 6, 2017 through January 28, 2018 in downtown Edmonton in the gallery space at Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton.

This free exhibit has over 100 pieces. I especially like the area which has icons painted on ammo boards, by Contemporary Ukrainian artist, Oleksandr Klymenko. The screening room also has a video by him about his icons (runs around 12:30 p.m. and periodically throughout the day at other times). Very interesting to hear him speak about the contrast between death and life, war and peace, etc.

For more information on the exhibit and the five unique collections of artifacts:
http://www.ukrfolk.ualberta.ca/ProjectsandResearch/Exhibits/icon-exhibit.aspx


Read the Edmonton Journal article including a video about the show:
http://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/ukrainian-artists-converts-ammo-boxes-to-icons-shifting-death-to-life

[one sacred community]

I saw this painting by Mary Southard in a small chapel at the Providence Retreat Centre in Edmonton. It's called "One Sacred Community". Here is a detail from it:

The full picture is found here.

life and love

[akkai padmashali's question and obama's answer...]

Direct link to video

Here's part of the conversation:

“How can I speak up in front of a society when I am a criminal under Section 377?” she [Akkai Padmashali, a transgender activist] asked.

“I think the answer is, it begins with what you just did, which is to find your voice and be able to articulate your views and your experiences, and tell your story,” Obama answered.

“And that’s true of any group that is marginalized, stigmatized,” he continued. “Finding that voice, and being able to tell a story so that the perceptions somehow that you are different are broken down, because they start seeing their experiences in you. They see your humanity.”

“Once that voice is there, hopefully others join you. So now you have networks, and organizations, and allies,” he said.

“And then, once that happens, it’s a matter of applying political pressure and being able to mobilize public opinion,” he instructed.

(source)

Read the whole article at:
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/12/barack-obamas-inspirational-answer-question-trans-woman-will-give-hope/