Check out the Buzz – DE&I Checklist Updates
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Check out the Buzz – DE&I Checklist Updates
by Anjali Sanghvi, MPH
Pronunciation | Pronouns/Title: She/Her/Ms.
Project Manager, Precon Events and MPI Potomac Chapter, DEI Committee Co-chair
Early this year, the DE&I committee met in person for the first time in many years, it seems, to workshop the initiatives we have been championing all year. A large chunk of the time was spent on updating the DE&I Checklist for events.
Meeting in person was fantastic. It allowed us to really dig into the topic to discuss, debate, learn and grow — both our own selves and our vision for this checklist.
As always, we state up front that this checklist is neither fully comprehensive nor a list that, once checked off, can be held up as evidence of inclusivity or equity. Whether your outcome would be judged performative or sincere would truly depend on both the intent and the full scope under which it is enacted.
Having said that, here is the updated checklist.
Meeting in person was fantastic. It allowed us to really dig into the topic to discuss, debate, learn and grow — both our own selves and our vision for this checklist.
As always, we state up front that this checklist is neither fully comprehensive nor a list that, once checked off, can be held up as evidence of inclusivity or equity. Whether your outcome would be judged performative or sincere would truly depend on both the intent and the full scope under which it is enacted.
Having said that, here is the updated checklist.
The checklist speaks mostly for itself, but here are a few things we would like you to know about the updated list:
Removing EQUIVOCATIONS
When the DE&I team first created the DE&I Checklist for events, it was something that meeting planners still had to convince their stakeholders to buy into. Mostly because it cost money, expanded timelines and generally created more work for those implementing the strategies so that the initiatives would be neither seen as, nor actually be, performative. And so the checklist had a lot of equivocation — consider adding this, or budget for that, etc.
PRONOUNS
The committee went back and forth on this one: should they be mandatory, opt in or opt out, and what about folks who are in transition or unsure — does this unnecessarily out them? The point that most had not considered is one of culture. If we truly are an international organization, stating pronouns upfront can help all of us identify each other in the way that we want to be identified as. It doesn’t bother me, but the number of times I have been addressed as Mr. Sanghvi, or (worse) Mrs. Sanghvi, is high. I do not take offense, but often it would be embarrassing to those who made the mistake. This discussion dovetailed into a number of other points, including cultural competency and name pronunciation*. But, ultimately, as a committee, we decided not to recommend making it mandatory but rather opt-out instead.
Update your POLICIES, and make them visible
We urge all planners to develop and widely share codes of conduct and anti-human trafficking policies. These should not be hidden away in the obscure section in a program book or hidden away in the small print of an event app or webpage. Consider making folks sign their acknowledgement of these documents as a condition for registration. Send them out as a pre-event email blast. Have them visible at your event!
When the DE&I team first created the DE&I Checklist for events, it was something that meeting planners still had to convince their stakeholders to buy into. Mostly because it cost money, expanded timelines and generally created more work for those implementing the strategies so that the initiatives would be neither seen as, nor actually be, performative. And so the checklist had a lot of equivocation — consider adding this, or budget for that, etc.
PRONOUNS
The committee went back and forth on this one: should they be mandatory, opt in or opt out, and what about folks who are in transition or unsure — does this unnecessarily out them? The point that most had not considered is one of culture. If we truly are an international organization, stating pronouns upfront can help all of us identify each other in the way that we want to be identified as. It doesn’t bother me, but the number of times I have been addressed as Mr. Sanghvi, or (worse) Mrs. Sanghvi, is high. I do not take offense, but often it would be embarrassing to those who made the mistake. This discussion dovetailed into a number of other points, including cultural competency and name pronunciation*. But, ultimately, as a committee, we decided not to recommend making it mandatory but rather opt-out instead.
Update your POLICIES, and make them visible
We urge all planners to develop and widely share codes of conduct and anti-human trafficking policies. These should not be hidden away in the obscure section in a program book or hidden away in the small print of an event app or webpage. Consider making folks sign their acknowledgement of these documents as a condition for registration. Send them out as a pre-event email blast. Have them visible at your event!
Don’t forget your DIGITAL MATERIALS
Accessibility extends into the digital realm. Make sure you audit all digital materials to ensure accessibility.
These are just some of the highlights — go check out the full checklist for yourself! And reach out to the DE&I committee anytime with comments, concerns or questions.
Accessibility extends into the digital realm. Make sure you audit all digital materials to ensure accessibility.
These are just some of the highlights — go check out the full checklist for yourself! And reach out to the DE&I committee anytime with comments, concerns or questions.
*Check out www.namedrop.io, which allows you to share pronunciation of your name easily.
