Building Unity in CommUNITY, United Way of Kenosha County’s equity, diversity, and inclusion educational series, held its first workshop in February with 40 community members.
Presented by United Way of Kenosha County (UWKC) in partnership with The Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund, Herzing University, and Snap-on Incorporated, Building Unity in CommUNITY provides participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to cultivate a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and productive work environment. The series is open to all community members with an emphasis on employers and employees of small businesses and non-profit organizations.
“We know that individuals are looking for training resources that increase their awareness and understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion, and unconscious bias, and ultimately, lead to more equitable places in our community,” said Carolynn Friesch, UWKC CEO.
At the end of the workshop, participants made commitments to building on their newfound education, understanding, and awareness. These commitments included the following:
- I will commit to taking my education a step further by trying to find opportunities to use that education to make the world a better place for everybody.
- I will help make my workplace become a more equitable, diverse, accessible, and inclusive place to be by learning more, listening, and engaging as fully as I can.
- I commit to share my story and learn about others' stories so that we can continue to learn from one another and understand one another.
- I commit to telling my truth – showing up authentic, as I am, and sharing as much as I can with my community about why “U” and “I: are the only way we will build a better “Community”!!
The next Building Unity in CommUNITY workshop will take place in September 2022, and will focus on understanding and mitigating unconscious bias, dealing with microaggressions in society and the workplace, assessing the cost of systemic racism, and developing inclusive leadership competencies and strategies.
The workshop facilitator, Marvin Bembry, has more than 25 years of experience as a coach, trainer, and speaker. He communicates difficult subjects with empathy, compassion, and clarity, helping organizations focus on inclusivity and diversity in positive and necessary ways.
The cost to attend the two-day workshop is $50.00 and includes boxed lunch and beverages. Space is limited to 50 people. A formal registration announcement will be coming soon.
If you are interested in learning more about Building Unity in CommUNITY, please contact Carolynn Friesch at cfriesch@kenoshaunitedway.org.