DEI News, & Insights

DEI’s Creative Comeback

During the past few years, a slew of companies have scaled back or eliminated their DEI initiatives altogether following Donald Trump’s opposition to these programs. However, in a surprising turn, latest figures show that DEI is supported across the political spectrum...

Are implicit and explicit bias the same?

We’ve all heard the terms implicit, unconscious, and explicit bias before, but many of us wonder what the differences are. These terms are often interchangeable when people discuss them, so understanding what they mean is important. In this post, I will be a friendly...

Freedom, Not Finished

Every year on June 19, communities across the country come together to observe Juneteenth through parades, live music festivals, block parties, and other joyful events. However, many people may not fully understand its significance or why it is recognized as a federal...

Happy Holidays! (And here’s why I say that.)

Happy Holiday! Why do I use the Happy Holidays greeting? First and foremost, because it’s a wonderful time of year to send good cheer. And I don’t know what you celebrate. Out of respect for you and not wanting to make assumptions (which we know is a wonderful tenet...

This Week! Lecturing about DEI, Social Inequality, at JAMK in Finland

Elmer Dixon returns to JAMK and Jyväskylä this week for his annual visiting lecture program. Elmer is president of Executive Diversity Services in Seattle, Washington. Elmer and his team of diversity specialists work with a wide range of international clients,...

Hispanic-Latino-LatinX Heritage Month

Exploring Identity: From Culture to Race to Geography to Politics For Mercedes Martin, cultural identity is complex. And relative. She was born in Cuba and came to the US as a refugee when she was eight years old, arriving in the US in the middle of the 1960’s Civil...

Is Your Diversity Training Making Things Worse?

2020 was a year rife with crisis. A global pandemic, ongoing police shootings of black and brown people and subsequent nationwide protests brought racial inequities in the US to the forefront. Conversations outside of work moved inside as employees expected employers...

Celebrate Pride Month this June

“During LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who are fighting to live freely and authentically,” President Joseph R. Biden said in a proclamation released from the White House on June 1, announcing June Pride...

Who’s Celebrating Juneteenth this Year?

Americans love freedom. It’s part of the USAmerican psyche. So a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the US should be a day for all to rejoice. And it is moving in that direction. Black Lives Matter protests brought a renewed focus over the past...

Bringing US Based DEI Training to Global Offices: Three Things to Consider

The Centre for Global Inclusion recently released the 2021 Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB): Standards for Organizations Around the World. The nearly 100-page document features 275 benchmarks across 15 categories and 5 levels. Written by...

Remembering EDS Co-Founder Andy Reynolds

"I need to see you in my office,” Elmer Dixon, President of Executive Diversity Services recalled telling Andy Reynolds, when they worked together at the Seattle Park District. Andy was in the media relations department. Elmer was the EEOC officer. “We've had a...

Back on Track: The Harriett Tubman $20 Bill

Freed slave and freedom fighter Harriett Tubman once earned $20 a month as a civil war veteran. Now things are moving forward again for her to be the face on the $20 bill. The movement started in 2014, when former President Barack Obama received a letter from 4th...