January’s DEI Speaker Series will be hosted by Monica Stone, Deputy Director for the Iowa Department of Human Rights. Monica’s session will cover the different ways that incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion can be a positive move for your business.
 
Iowa is in a period of concentrated change. Over the next few decades, our state, and the people who live here, will experience a significant shift. For example, as our population ages, we will experience increased physical challenges, from hearing loss to mobility concerns. Our youth are more ethnically and racially diverse than at any time in history. There are 180 languages spoken in Iowa today, representing 180 distinct cultures and ways of life. By 2050, analysis shows that at least 53% of our population will be comprised of people of color.
 
Every business wants for their employees and customers to feel welcome and included – to ensure they feel like they belong.  The challenge for businesses is to understand the nuances of making that happen within the context of the people in their community, the laws and rules they follow and changing demographics.
In our session, we will talk about the education and tools that integrate best-in-class practices to meet requirements of the law and create belonging, all the while growing your business and enhancing positive economic impact.
Whether your business is looking to improve operational performance, enhance employee retention and recruitment, mitigate risk, connect with the people you serve, find new sources of innovation, or make a positive impact, taking an approach toward belonging offers a path to achieving your goals.
 
This session will review the following:
What are the laws and rules that come into play and how can we best understand them in the context of our business?
a.       Americans with Disabilities Act
b.       Civil Rights Act
What are some best practices to put in place to bring about belonging?
c.       For employees
d.       For company leaders
e.       For customers of our business
How can our company lead in the area of belonging in our community?