Happy New Year! We hope this newsletter finds you well and open to all of the possibilities that 2024 holds.
The beginning of a new year is a great time to go back to our roots. While we at Rework Work provide various forms of DEI education, coaching, resources, and support, the way we approach DEI is the heart of everything we do. Awareness, Alignment, Action, and Advocacy are our roadmap to effectively disrupting, evolving, and innovating DEI in organizations large and small.
In 2024, our DEI at Work newsletter will focus on Awareness – the first and most pivotal step in advancing DEI. Without awareness, there’s no accountability or buy-in to make lasting changes in the workplace. In short, if people don’t believe there’s a problem, they won’t see the need to do things differently.
For example, were you aware that nearly 1.1 million people in the United States are living in modern slavery conditions? According to a study done by human rights group Walk Free, there are at least 3 victims for every 1,000 people who are being coerced into various forms of servitude. Until recently, many people believed slavery and human trafficking were atrocities taking place in developing countries a world away. In 2010, however, President Obama declared January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month specifically to shine a light on the injustices happening in our own backyards.
Once we’re made aware of the injustices around us, it’s difficult for us to sit on the sidelines. In the case of slavery and human trafficking, there’s a myriad of organizations, such as Hope for Justice, working to both educate and eradicate their practice. If we’re talking about inequity and bias in your workplace, it means increasing awareness among individuals to motivate (and sustain!) inclusive changes for the good of the whole team. If your organization has a DEI vision or is looking to craft one, my purpose and passion is to be with you every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and learn how Rework Work can help you embed diversity and inclusion into the very core of your organization.
With appreciation,
Stacey Gordon, MBA
Rework Work CEO
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