Minority Inclusion Project Newsletter

How to Achieve Authentic Board Diversity Executive Director - Jamal Jimerson Dear Nonprofits, When we started the Minority Inclusion Project (MIP) three years ago, our aim was to recruit people of color for nonprofit staff, leadership, and board positions.  However, over time, our understanding of the diversity problems and solutions expanded.  We quickly learned that many nonprofits requested our help, but did not have a very clear understanding of the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion brings to an institution.  For example, some nonprofits ONLY seek persons of color for their boards to respond to pressure from funders who require board diversity. In fact, I was once told by a white board member that in order to get a foundations money, he needed “MIP’s diversity” (whatever that is).  I quickly asserted that I should mean more to him than just my skin color.  He responded, “Yes. You’re also tall and charismatic.” What a gut punch (to say the least)! You’ll never achieve your board diversity goals as long as you look at diversity as some check mark on your board matrix.  Subjecting people of color to admission on nonprofit boards to merely solve a diversity dilemma without a fundamental understanding and appreciation of our competencies, experiences, and value is disingenuous. So here are some ideas on how to achieve authentic board diversity and avoid tokenism. READ MORE MIP Honors Gala   MIP Honors is our signature fundraising event to recognize, highlight, and celebrate leaders of color across CT who are champions for diversity, equity, inclusion, philanthropy, innovation, and community leadership.  This year's gala will spotlight some of today's most accomplished people of color, as it once again invites the community to network, eat, and celebrate Minority Inclusion Project. The keynote speaker for this year's event is Emmy Award-winning journalist Jemele Hill, one of the most influential voices in sports media. Our dynamic honorees are:   Samuel S. Gray, Jr.- Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford Djuana C. Beamon- Aetna Yolanda Caldera-Durant, M.S.- Fund The People.      Chad Dawson - Champion Breed Boxing Gym ----------------------------------------------------------- Event Info:  Date: Sunday, December 2, 2017  Keynote Speaker: Jemele Hill  Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm  Venue: The Gallery        141 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033  Attire: Formal Last year's event SOLD OUT.  Tickets go on sale TODAY.  RESERVE YOUR TICKETS HERE Board Diversity Initiative   The Board Diversity Initiative is a program we designed to help nonprofits develop a comprehensive plan for achieving board diversity.  The pilot cohort has been meeting since January 2018 and is making significant progress on their action plans.  Mark your calendars forJanuary 22, 2019, as the participating organizations will present their action plans to community stakeholders at our closing event.  Look out for more detailed information in the near future about the final event.  Many thanks to ReSET, Girls on the Run, and Love 146! We also want to thank the Graustein Memorial Fundfor their generous support of the initiative this past year.   -----------------------------------------------------------  Join the Board Diversity Initiative   MIP provides two options for the organizations interested in BDI: Level 1 - Board Diversity Starter: a two-hour session that includes a broad discussion of board diversity and some key goals and interventions that boards can adopt immediately.   Level 2 - Board Diversity Initiative Cohort: our signature year-long board development training and support for nonprofits to create a  race- equity, inclusion, and diversity action plan.   LEARN MORE What's New(s) with MIP? MIP Training & Workshops Inclusion Coach Training - Oct. 16th & 24th DEI: Moving From Ideas to Action - October 18th Implicit & Explicit Bias Training - October 23rd Community Conversations Wake Up: Shattering the Equity Leadership Gap - Nov. 13 Other Announcement Our website has been refreshed.  Make sure you visit www.ctmip.org to see our new look! VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR FOR MORE INFORMATION Peer-Learning Network Update MIP is proud to welcome the newest partner to our peer-learning network,National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) New England. NAMIC is a 501(c)(6) trade association that educates, advocates and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications, media and entertainment industry through its 16 nationwide chapters. We are proud to partner with them.  OPPORTUNITIES  Director of Programs- NCCJ Youth Programs Educator- NCCJ Looking to develop new leadership skills? Join the LeadershipDevelopment Roundtable (LDR).