Building Actionable Skills to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Conversations in Clinical, Community, and Organi

Course overview

In today's increasingly stressful and divisive world, conversations about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can feel nearly impossible. Escalating polarization, widespread misinformation, mounting bans and restrictions on DEI programming, and ongoing experiences of microaggressions have left many leaders and practitioners feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, and uncertain about how to move forward. Yet the research is undeniable: organizations that cultivate belonging, equity, and psychological safety consistently outperform those that don't, not only on innovation, productivity, and retention, but as well on mission-driven impact. At a time when conversations about race, class, gender, immigration, climate justice, and political divides often spark defensiveness or fear of "saying the wrong thing," most of us lack the skills needed to navigate these dialogues constructively. This workshop focuses on the practical skills required to engage in meaningful DEI conversations that drive positive change in our clients, teams, workplaces, and communities. Through a combination of lectures, small-group discussions, and experiential exercises, participants will learn why attempts at DEI conversations frequently break down, common missteps we all make, and concrete strategies that support effective dialogue and repair. Skills will be taught using a comprehensive framework (Kim & del Prado, 2019) based on theoretical influences from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment Theory, Family Systems, and Buddhist Psychology. Participants will leave the workshop with an individualized plan they can immediately implement to improve their personal efficacy in their workplaces and communities. This workshop is intended for a broad audience, including clinicians of all levels, educators, managers, supervisors, and organizational leaders.