Black History Month, Sober Inclusion & ADHD Awareness

Welcome to this week's newsletter, where we celebrate Black History Month with an array of content just for you! We're highlighting must-watch videos exploring Black experiences in the workplace, showcasing initiatives that elevate Black talent in events and hospitality, and announcing exciting Black History Month events.

We'll also dive into ADHD Awareness Week, discuss the growing trend of sober inclusion in workplace events, and share updates from recent industry collaborations. 

Plus, we'll explore how social value is shaping business practices in our sector.

In This Week's Newsletter:

🙌🏾 Curated playlist of videos for Black History Month, exploring Black experiences in the workplace

🙌🏾 Spotlight on initiatives empowering Black talent in events and hospitality

🙌🏾 Announcement of upcoming Black History Month events, including a celebration event at the Barbican Centre - whoop!

🙌🏾 Insights on ADHD Awareness Week and combating misconceptions

🙌🏾 Sober inclusion in workplace events

🙌🏾 PLUS Updates from Diversity Alliance HQ, including collaborations on sustainability and social value and LAST CHANCE to grab our exclusive discount for the UK Black Business Show

IMPORTANT NOTE:

To anyone reading this Newsletter.. Please remember that supporting the Black community is an ongoing commitment, not limited by time or occasion. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference. The absence of support can be profoundly felt, and the Black community deserves to see sustained, genuine efforts from both businesses and individuals to create positive change. Your voice and actions matter - let's work together to build a more equitable society. Thank you

Happy Black History Month!

To celebrate Black History Month, we have compiled a playlist of must-watch videos exploring the experiences of Black individuals in the workplace. ENJOY!

Black Women in Leadership: Black Women in Leadership | Dr Leyla Hussein | TEDxUniversityofStAndrews 

With Dr Leyla Hussein, Duration: 13 minutes  

Black Men In The Workplace Black Men In The Workplace - A LIVE Panel Discussion #blackmentalhealth #toxicworkplace 

With Lamar Martin, Calvin Michaels, Professor Odi, F.D. Signifier, Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Trigger warning: References of racist violence and the use of language some viewers may find offensive.

In this video, four men discuss what a toxic work environment looks.

***Note: This video features individuals from the US. but many of the anecdotes could be transferable to UK work environments.  

Barriers to Black Representation in the Charity Sector Barriers to Black Representation in the Charity Sector 

With Hanan Kasmi and Foluke Mogaji, Duration: 56 minutes

This video explores the impact of systemic bias in the charity sector and how that presents itself through both verbal and non-verbal cues. The interview also explores how insecurities can arise through code switching.

Resource Credit: Thanks Clore Social Leadership for sharing these educational videos 

Empowering Initiatives You Can be Involved in - Elevating Black Talent in Events and Hospitality

These initiatives are paving the way for greater diversity and inclusion in the industry. Do connect with them to learn more and see how you can be involved.

• REACH- Funded by leading events organisations,  The REACH Events Scholarship has been established to increase diversity in the Events, MICE & Hospitality sectors
• Events 101- Connecting  businesses and corporations to young, diverse talent within the events, hospitality and travel industries, across the UK and Europe through their global talent pool 
• Black In Events - Globally inclusive network for Black professionals working in the events industry, with a mission to bring opportunities and awareness to an underrepresented group
• Be Inclusive Hospitality - A not-for-profit organisation with a mission to accelerate racial equality in the Hospitality sector.

Do you know of other organisations or programs supporting Black professionals in events and hospitality? 

Share them in the comments to help build this valuable resource!

A Celebration of Black History Month at the Barbican Centre

I am thrilled (is it even news on Linkedin if you're not thrilled?!) and honoured to share that I've been invited to host a Black History Month event on Thursday, 17th October 2024, at the iconic Barbican Centre in London. 

From 12:30 PM onwards, we'll gather at the Barbican for an afternoon of inspiration, learning, and connection. The event promises to be a tribute to Black excellence and a platform for those still very much crucial conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I'm also in awe of this illustrious lineup of speakers joining the event

The Keynote Speakers will be: 

• Phyll Opoku-Gyimah , the visionary CEO & Co Founder of UK Black Pride
• Lorraine Copes , the innovative Social Entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality

We'll also hear from an impressive array of leaders across various sectors:

NataliaNicholson (Women in Digital Business), Sting Khumalo (The Biltmore Mayfair Hotel), Yvette Hopkins (GlobalScot), Denise Allen (Benugo, Portico & Searcys), Alicia Richardson (Black Create Connect), Dominique Activille (KERB), Andrea Smith (Beavertown Brewery), Afiya Howe (Biffa)

Join Us For Engaging Discussions

We will be exploring some thought-provoking topics, including::

• Sustaining momentum in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Investing in hope for our collective future
• Empowering voices in the workforce
• Bridging the gap between theory and practice in DEI
• Understanding and addressing intersectionality

I would be delighted to see you at this event. It's a brilliant opportunity for us to come together, honour Black history, educate ourselves and celebrate the ongoing contributions of Black individuals and communities to our society.

Please note that this is a guest list only event. For more information or to enquire about attending, please contact the Events Coordinator, Elouise O'Connell, at elouise@corecruitment.com.

Or hit me up, I might have some cheeky spots on the guest list for valued contacts in my community :)

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Sober Inclusion, Reshaping Workplace Events

Last year I co-edited the Conference News edition of "On Top of The World" -

and shared my thoughts on sober inclusion in the events industry based on an event industry survey conducted by CN. It revealed a shifting landscape in workplace event planning, with a growing emphasis on sober inclusion. Some of the key findings included:

• 61% of respondents offer a broad selection of non-alcoholic drinks at events
• 67% believe catering for non-drinkers should be part of DEI strategies
• 41% cite "need for education" as the main roadblock to wider adoption of non-alcoholic options

Interestingly, 57% of respondents still believe providing alcohol improves delegates' experiences.  The survey did however, highlight a growing recognition of diverse preferences and the importance of creating inclusive environments for all attendees.

I love that we are having these conversations more and more and taking sober inclusion especially, in the professional setting, seriously now.

Read the full article to explore more insights on this evolving trend in event planning and workplace inclusion.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a fantastic alcohol-free showcase event at @Club Soda, and I'm excited to share my experience.

So, the event featured two standout activities:

1. Spirit Tasting: Where we were guided through a tasting of alcohol-free spirits. What caught my attention was the way some of the specialist drinks were designed and curated as mood enhancers. This is exactly the kind of innovative offering I'd love to see more of at events – providing a true "like for like" alternative to alcoholic beverages.
2. Wine and Cheese Pairing: Expertly led by @JoshKelly, this session was both fun and informative. It demonstrated how alcohol free wines can be just as sophisticated and complementary to foods or an overall experience as their alcoholic counterparts.

What also really impressed me, was the event's appeal to a wide audience. Whether you're practicing mindful drinking or embracing an alcohol free lifestyle, this type of showcase was enjoyable experience.  Book In!

Some Updates from DA HQ

It was great to record some content for the upcoming The Event Academy Sustainability Course with Christianne (Chrissie) Beck of Worlds Better

We explored the growing importance of social sustainability and its impact on the industry. Not to give too much awayyy, but some key takeaways were the need to balance economic considerations with long-term social benefits, the importance of stakeholder education, and a discussion on the practical ways to measure impact. 

Stay tuned for the release of the course for more..

Jennie Mossman @Lee Cooper

Talking all things Social Value With British Land 

Last week I was lucky enough to invited to moderate a panel on social value - titled - Social Value: Are You Ready? 🤝

British Land hosted the thought leadership event which focussed on the importance of social value within business. Their customers, partners, and local community groups gathered to listen to the expert panel discussion.  ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Read some of the insights and takeaways from the panel HERE

 USE IT OR LOSE IT

LAST CHANCE TO SECURE YOUR FREE TICKET!

Diversity Alliance ® is a media partner for the UK Black Business Show for a second year and we’re offering an exclusive discount code for our community which is “UKBBMP24” - you just enter it at checkout.

Take Action - Next Steps the DEIBA Report https://wix.to/mji5g5v

🔍 Dive into our DEIBA report for a roadmap to building a more inclusive workplace.

Download The Report 

🌈 What steps will you implement first? 

Let us know!

#Strategy #InclusiveWorkplace #Change