What Story Can You Tell?: DEI's Role in Organizational Effectiveness

Our workplaces are reflecting the dramatic changes that we are seeing and experiencing in society.  Though diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work is challenging, it is necessary to attend to the range of experiences, needs, and functions that exist within our organizations. DEI efforts should not be perceived as company roadblocks but should be considered avenues to continuous improvement and organizational effectiveness. Using the concept of storytelling, participants will explore the advantages that DEI present to organizational success and to the overall employee experience. Are you a hero in this story?

SHRM/HRCI LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Organizational Effectiveness & Development: Examine the alignment of DEI principles with organizational mission, vision, and values

2. Employee Engagement & Retention: Investigate strategies to maximize engagement of diverse employees

3. Diversity & Inclusion: Identify current and potential leaders and stakeholders of organizational DEI efforts

SPEAKER: VIDAL DICKERSON

Vidal Dickerson's career spans 22 years with diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education, medical education, and nonprofit organizations where he has coordinated leadership development, education & training, and community relations programs. His experience has involved direct responsibilities for support, programming, and education around race/ethnicity, religion & spirituality, gender & sexuality, disabilities, among other areas of identity and diversity. Additionally, he has directed career/college access programs for low income students and families like the Aim Higher St. Louis program for St. Louis Public Schools and the Governor’s Village Program for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools.

Vidal is a resident of Hampton, VA and currently serves as the Special Assistant for Diversity & Inclusion at Christopher Newport University. He serves on the Peninsula board for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities as well as People 2 People, a grassroots organization based in Newport News committed to race relations, diversity, and quality of life. Vidal is a member of the National Association for Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chair for the Peninsula Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Vidal received a BS in Mathematics from Austin Peay State University and an MS in Higher Education Administration from Indiana State University. He is currently a pre-candidate doctoral student in Human and Organizational Learning at The George Washington University.  Additionally, he has received a Certificate in Corporate Diversity & Inclusion from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida Muma.

Vidal is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), an assessment of intercultural competence that is used by individuals and organizations to achieve DEI goals and outcomes.

Sorry, No Refunds

Chapter Meeting Agenda:

Registration opens at 11:30am
Announcements - 11:40am
Sponsor Highlight - 11:50am
Presentation - 12:00pm to 1:00pm