Designing Resilient Communities for Change: Successes, Challenges, and Practical Ways Forward

Affinity groups are effective in creating workplace cultures that foster belonging, strengthen allyship, and develop emerging leaders. Organizations can offer structural support for these communities and gain these benefits. In the face of US legal and political challenges to DEIA initiatives, how can individuals and organizations create or maintain resilient communities?

Our panel, from a range of organizations, will discuss their experience and examples of leading community groups to take active roles in advocacy, advance organizational goals, and develop career opportunities, and ways to define and track metrics for success.

Using scenario modeling, the audience and panel will consider how affinity groups and communities within organizations can mitigate risks, provide support, advance organizational goals, such as increasing employee satisfaction and retention, or creating accessible and inclusive products.