Dr. Ella Speaks

Hello and Happy Holiday Season!

     As the year comes to a close, I am grateful for another year of strong partnerships, wonderful clients and a continued commitment to making the workplace a better environment for all. As I look back at 2022, I am excited by all the subjects we have been able to cover in this newsletter. From topics like navigating imposter syndrome and cultivating an inclusive workplace dress code, to exploring the issues of DEI in the Metaverse and leadership’s support of employees through national incidents- we have covered a wide range of topics! Check out our past issues to explore these and many other subjects within the realm of DEI.  

     As we close out another successful year, I hope that this newsletter continues to be a valuable resource for you and your company as you continue further into your DEI journey. It is really important to me that we are providing the content that you’re seeking to read. If there is anything new that you would like to see in next year’s newsletter or content that you want us to continue to share, please let us know your feedback by completing this quick survey: (Survey Link). 

     I hope that all of you have a Wonderful Holiday Season & I look forward to reconnecting with you in 2023! 

With DEI in Mind,

Dr. Ella

The Necessary Journey

 With the holidays right around the corner, consider gifting your favorite leader or human resources professional a gift that will keep on giving! As a book filled with lessons learned, best practices and the DEI journey of a number of high performing global organizations,  "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion" is a tool for organizations and leaders who care about their employees and the quality of their experiences in the workplace!

Ellavated Learning

Ellavated Learning: DEI Workplace Trends of 2023 

By: Hildana Haileyesus

     While we reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023, we have the opportunity to identify some workplace trends- especially where DEI is considered. We have seen a rise in organizations looking at DEI over the last few years as a combination of social pressure, employee feedback and stakeholder directives have pushed companies to do something. Now that some organizations are engaging with DEI, what’s next in the journey?

     According to a 2022 report that surveyed 367 HR professionals, one of the greatest areas of growth for organizations is developing and maturing DEI initiatives from the beginning stages. Although 40% of companies reported offering DEI related learning opportunities, only 22% of organizations indicated that they felt they were in the advanced stages of a fully developed DEI strategy. Additionally, we are seeing that organizations are looking to move their DEI goals to go beyond programming and to take a closer look at how equity and belonging are really showing up. Many organizations who may have spent the last year or two executing culture surveys are looking to ensure that belongingness and inclusion are truly present. We are also seeing that as organizations think about their long term DEI approaches, they are being pushed to consider what diversity looks like at the top. We know that Gen-Z and Millenials care about an  organization’s values and commitments when considering an employment opportunity and this too has influenced how organizations are choosing to highlight or support DEI work. Finally, we know that remote and hybrid work are here to stay. 75% of surveyed Gen-Z and Millennials reported hybrid and remote work as their preferred work option. Beyond the push from the workforce, we have seen the benefits of remote and hybrid work in increasing productivity as well as creating better working experiences for those of marginalized identities. 

     As you reflect on your own organizational direction for DEI in 2023, consider how these evolving expectations from employees and stakeholders can contribute to elevating your own DEI execution. Check out our January 2022 issue of Elevated Learning to read more on how you can use goal setting and tracking to take your DEI journey to the next level in the coming year.     

Best Practices: 8 BIPOC Owned Businesses to Support

     This holiday season, consider supporting minority and BIPOC owned businesses as you do your shopping. Research by OnDeck found that although Black and Indigenous people of color make up 42% of the U.S population, only 27% of businesses are BIPOC owned. Be part of changing this landscape and support a BIPOC owned business by making a purchase, sharing their business with your network or asking friends and family to consider a BIPOC owned business when looking to buy you a gift. Below are some BIPOC owned businesses you might consider supporting.

8 BIPOC Owned Businesses to Support:

• Indigo Arrows - For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples in Manitoba created beautiful patterns to adorn their pottery collections and host of bone tools. Most of the surviving pieces are held by museums now, but founder Destiny Seymour believes the world needs more than exhibition - we need these patterns in our Homes.

• Lesley Hampton - LESLEY HAMPTON is an Indigenous-owned, women-led, size-inclusive, Canadian clothing and accessory brand based in Toronto, Ontario.

• Brooklyn Tea - Founded by husband and wife team Jamila Wright and official Tea Sommelier Alfonso Wright, Brooklyn Tea has become the hot spot for tea enthusiasts everywhere! If you love tea as much as we do, Brooklyn Tea is definitely for you. All of our teas are loose leaf, all natural, iced, hot and in more than 50 varieties. Stop by one of our tea rooms or purchase online today!

• Clean Design Home - CLEAN DESIGN HOME® is Black owned and the leading brand for allergen-aware lifestyles. 

• Sanzo - Founder Sandro Roco, a Queens-born Filipino American, had a simple goal: celebrate high quality Asian flavors in sparkling water that for decades have been masked by added sugars.

• Nguyen Coffee Supply - Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean. They import through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roast in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, they’re on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.

• Loisa - Loisa has organic versions of the most famous Latin seasoning pair - Sazón y Adobo.

• Muchacha Women in Coffee - Their mission is to support female leadership by organizing and promoting women owned companies, through the entire coffee supply chain; from cultivation, exporting, importing, roasting to brand. With every cup of Muchacha Coffee that you enjoy you are changing the lives of many women around the world.

DEI in Action: Reflecting Before the Next Chapter

     The new year brings new ideas and a fresh start, but it is very important to take the time to look back and reflect on the period before in order to walk away with strong lessons learned and accomplishments appropriately celebrated. As you and your team close out your list of to-do’s this year, consider building in time for reflecting together. You may not have had time to do an analysis of every program or event you hosted this year but you can capture what highlights and challenges stand out across your team’s memories and benefit from that feedback. Reflection is key to progress because it allows us to take a look at our ideas and outcomes for what they are: part of the journey forward. Apply these four simple practices to capture valuable feedback from your team on your DEI efforts.

1. Set a time for the reflection and assign pre-work. Having pre-work for a reflection will give space to those who need time to consider and summarize their perspectives and it will reduce groupthink by allowing everyone to form their independent opinions before hearing the thoughts of others.

2. Designate time for discussing program outcomes. Explicitly ask the team to identify what they considered to be successes, challenges and growth areas for the team over the last year. Having the pre-work reflection comes in handy here where team members will have likely taken time to think on the prompts beforehand.

3. Create space for affirmation. Encourage team members to shoutout each other for qualities or actions they have appreciated about a colleague whether it is related to a project or just how they show up. As a follow-up, encourage team members to note an affirmation for themselves on something they are proud of or like about themselves. 

4. Facilitate forward thinking.  As a final activity, facilitate a brainstorming session of all 2 things they would like to see start, stop or continue at their organization. This could be a dream project they would like to take on or a team practice they would like to change. These can be written down and shared anonymously. This allows you to hear from your employees freely without concern of being judged for their feedback. 

Cultural Competence

Check out the following episode from Cultural Competence:

The Holiday Season: 'An Opportunity for Enlightenment' 

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it also presents an opportunity to be thoughtful and considerate of others. Many cultural holidays take place during this time of the year -- and people celebrate them in different ways. How can employers and coworkers alike celebrate and respect one another's differences? Are there things we should consider as companies host holiday parties?

Service Spotlight: A Look at 2022

Ellavate offers a wide range of services and customized partnership opportunities. From strategy consulting to keynotes and focused workshops and trainings, we have all the tools to support you in your DEI Journey. Looking back on 2022, Ellavate Solutions has: 

• Conducted over 83 workshops and keynotes 

• Hosted a successful in-person Juneteenth Benefit Celebration with donations to  G.O.O.D Projects, a local charity in Washington, D.C. and to the "Elevating Excellence in DEI Endowed Scholarship" at Spelman College.

• Launched our CEO’s first book, "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion"

We look forward to continuing to support your DEI efforts by providing timely and relevant resources and skills for your organizational needs.