Quarterly Roundup

January - March 2023

Helping you increase your understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), address gaps in representation on your teams, and explore the unintended consequences that result from policy and advocacy that lack diverse representation, voice, and perspective.

DGR Coalition activities Below is a brief Coalition update.

Full Survey Report Still Coming Soon Thank you for your patience as we work diligently on the report of the full results. We are a team of volunteers and encountered unforeseen circumstances beyond our control during the development of the full report. Rest assured we remain committed to ensuring the information we provide is valuable and are working hard to produce a full report as promised.     We are incredibly thankful for your ongoing support. We look forward to sharing the full report with you and receiving your feedback for future improvements to the survey.

ICYMI - We released the Diversity in Government Relations Survey Snapshot report last year, which was featured in Politico Influence.

Events to attend Attending events can enhance understanding and provide exposure to new tools and ways of thinking. Below are upcoming events that offer an opportunity to recognize the barriers to increased diverse representation and sharpen various skill sets that increase inclusive behaviors.

Public Affairs Council’s (PAC) Webinar: Social Impact Survey – DEI, ESG & Social Issues is taking place January 24, 2023. The webinar is centered around the Council’s Social Impact Report which, among other things, “looks at the changing demographics and behaviors of public affairs teams and how they’re setting DEI policies and priorities.” The in-person and virtual Forum on Workplace Inclusion 35th Annual Conference is scheduled for March 27-29, 2023 and themed, “Combining Forces: Fueling our Collective Capacity for Change.” Learn more about the conference and registration information here. Public Affairs Council’s (PAC) Virtual Workshop: Advancing DEI at Associations is taking place April 26, 2023. Register now to “join a conversation with seasoned association leaders on diversity, equity and inclusion in the association space.” Click here to see other PAC events taking place this year related to better understanding how to incorporate ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and DEI into business and advocacy practices.

Resources to leverage The impact on communities should always be considered when approaching advocacy and policymaking. Workplaces are microcosms of our broader communities, and workplace culture plays a large role in how we experience society. For meaningful policymaking, we must consider the impact of lived experiences personally and professionally. Below you’ll find articles and reports to add to your resource pile illustrating the importance of accounting for differing experiences and providing a framework for incorporating equity and inclusive thinking into your role as government relations professionals. GUIDEBOOK: W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Expanding Equity Inclusion & Belonging Guidebook offers support for creating a” culture that embodies a feeling of inclusion and a sense of belonging for all employees.” TEMPLATE: Race Forward-Center for Social Inclusion’s model ordinance and model legislation templates for cities, counties, and states - providing a blueprint for establishing a foundation for racial equity. TOOLKIT: StriveTogether and PolicyLink’s Policy Toolkit - a resource aiming to support policy change that transforms systems and brings positive outcomes to youth and communities of color experiencing poverty.  ARTICLE: Harvard Business Review’s To Avoid DEI Backlash, Focus on Changing Systems — Not People provides real-life examples and offers suggestions for developing new expectations and protocols that focus on specific systems, policies, processes, and practices rather than the people engaging in them. VIDEO: TedTalk’s Why corporate diversity programs fail -- and how small tweaks can have big impact highlights “five common patterns of bias that cause these programs to fail -- and offers a data-driven approach to pinpoint where things go wrong and how to make progress instead.”

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Applications are open for the Hogans Fellowship! “The Hogans Fellowship is the Foundation for Public Affairs’ signature program centered around retention and advancement for emerging leaders in the public affairs profession” - learn more and apply here.

Thank you for your continued support of the Coalition!  Please share this newsletter and continue to spread the word about DGR.   Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn.  Haven’t officially demonstrated your support for DEI in government relations yet? You can do so by signing our pledge here.

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