A Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

A Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Mar 21, 2022
John Donner and Guests
A Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Rotary Club of Edmonton West
Mar 21, 2022 12:00 PM Edmonton

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81186703403

Jennifer Jones, in-coming RI President for 2022-23, has made Imagine DEI (https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/imagine-dei-brochure-2022-2023-presidential-initiative) a 2022-23 Presidential Initiative as part of her theme Imagine Rotary.  DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) can be seen both as part of Rotary’s DNA and as something to be explored to reinvigorate our values, enhance our flexibility, grow our numbers, and expand our impact.  Although we see DEI as critical for our global impact, the numbers show we have a way to go.  RI’s demographics show 69% male and an average age of 61.  (The numbers are higher for RCEW).

During the 2022-23 year, Jones encourages each of us to do our part to ensure Rotary is a welcoming and inclusive community by:

  1. Learning more about DEI in Rotary, including understanding definitions and how to celebrate and respect our differences.
  2. Determining why DEI matters to our club and community and how using DEI principles can help our club grow and become stronger.
  3. Raising awareness of DEI, including creating a DEI committee in your club that reflects the demographics of your community. 
  4. Taking action on DEI in our club and community for instance educating yourself about underrepresented groups in your community in order to become a more knowledgeable and effective advocate for DEI. 

We have invited two guests to be part of a conversation sharing their thoughts, and their experiences with DEI and helping organizations along the journey.

Sara Buczynski has worked in the settlement sector for over 10 years. In this field she has had the opportunity to work at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in community programming and development, and coordinating refugee resettlement. Sara currently works in the Rainbow Refuge Program at EMCN supporting LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees, and is a co-cordinator of the LGBTQ+ Newcomer Edmonton Group. When she first started in the sector she noticed there were no safe services available for LGBTQ+ newcomers in Edmonton, and since then has actively worked to advocate and establish relevant services and programming in our community.  Rainbow Refuge and the LGBTQ+ Newcomer group are the first programs in Edmonton and have now been running for almost 5 years.

Shelley Sabo is a new Rotarian in the YEG Passport Club. She is thoughtful about how a DEI prism helps translate Rotary values into practices that fosters diversity within YEG Passport and in how it relates with partner organizations. Shelley has a small grant writing and facilitation business called Stone Soup Village. 

We invite you to be part of the conversation, by Zoom, March 21 at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West.