The Uphill DEI Battle Fatigue: Taking Care when There Is Misalignment

Description

Many organizations renewed or advanced their DEI missions in 2020. More than two years later, many organizations are also struggling to realize these commitments. In the middle of all of this are the frontline DEI strategists who were pulled to center stage, often with great demands and high expectations but without the sustainable resources needed. This struggle between words and action and competing priorities, particularly in a time of pandemic, adds an extra layer of fatigue on DEI workers.

Using a lens of critical wellness and co-facilitated by leaders who reside in Minneapolis and work at a large healthcare organization in the Twin Cities with similar struggles, this session seeks to hold space for healing and community-building around what has been a sometimes draining and exhausting field—especially during these past couple of years. The session will invite and encourage participants to convey experiences through facilitated dialogue to share support, promising practices and connection.

Learning Outcomes

• Practice holding space to validate and support one another’s challenges and exhaustion in DEI work
• Explore innovative strategies to work toward healing justice for employees working in DEI
• Identify resiliency networks to help sustain organizational DEI work