It’s crucial for workplaces, educational institutions, and community groups to provide environments where everyone can truly thrive. “Belonging by Design” is a workshop designed to empower attendees across various organizational settings to create spaces that promote structural belonging. This session goes beyond traditional diversity and inclusion discussions to address the real challenges and opportunities in fostering environments where all individuals feel genuinely supported, valued, and included.
Participants will learn the difference between forced belonging, where people feel pressured to conform, and structural belonging, where the environment is deliberately crafted to embrace everyone’s unique identities. Combining expert insights, interactive exercises, and practical strategies, the workshop will equip attendees with the tools to evaluate their current practices and policies, pinpoint barriers to true inclusivity, and implement specific actions that transform their environments.
This workshop is ideal for anyone aiming to lead or influence the creation of a supportive culture in their workplace, school, or community setting. It challenges participants to reconsider how environments can be organized not just to accommodate diversity but to actively leverage it for collective benefit. Attendees will leave with a clear plan for advocating and enacting changes that cultivate an inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully.
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Who should enroll?
This workshop is for leaders, professionals, educators, and community organizers dedicated to nurturing an inclusive and supportive atmosphere in their respective spheres. It is especially valuable for:
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Professionals in any Sector
Understand how to enhance your organizational culture to support diverse identities and experiences. -
Educators and Administrators
Implement strategies in your schools and classrooms that foster an inclusive educational environment. -
Community Leaders and Organizers
Learn how to create community spaces that are welcoming and inclusive, promoting participation and engagement from all members. -
Policy Makers and Leaders
Gain insights into creating policies that support diversity and inclusion across various community and professional settings. -
Individuals Feeling a Lack of Belonging
This workshop provides insights into the root causes of belongingness at work and offers practical strategies to foster a sense of belonging within one's environment.
What You'll Gain
Learn how environments can either hinder or promote a sense of belonging and how to effectively foster structural belonging.
Acquire skills to assess and transform your environment, ensuring it supports and celebrates diversity.
Enhance your capability to lead inclusivity initiatives and advocate for meaningful change in your community or organization.
What You'll Learn & Do
- Define and differentiate between forced belonging and structural belonging.
- Recognize the impact of non-inclusive environments on individual well-being and group dynamics.
- Assess current environmental or organizational practices that may hinder or promote a sense of belonging.
- Discuss real-world examples that illustrate challenges and successes in fostering inclusivity.
- Identify initial steps and simple strategies that participants can immediately implement to enhance inclusivity in their respective spaces.
- Encourage personal commitment to specific actions aimed at creating more inclusive environments.
Extended Learning Objectives for Virtual Community and Q&A Participants
- Share experiences and outcomes from implementing strategies in their environments, discussing what worked and what challenges were faced.
- Explore further the nuances of creating inclusivity through structured peer discussions and expert feedback.
- Develop more detailed plans for more complex or larger-scale initiatives, considering feedback from peers and experts.
- Engage in problem-solving exercises that address specific situational challenges presented by participants.
- Establish ongoing relationships with peers in the virtual community to support continuous improvement and adaptation of inclusivity strategies.
- Utilize the network for sharing resources, tools, and updates on best practices and new insights in the field of diversity and inclusion.
What to Expect
Prepare for an interactive and enriching learning experience that includes:
Program Timeline
There are two levels of engagement and participation in our September programming, and those are described more in detail below the calendar.
- The Explorer level registration allows access to the September 5 workshop.
- The Engager level registration allows you to have access to our virtual learning community, a follow-up Q&A event, access to the event recordings, additional weekly learning content, and more. NOTE: Based on registration, this level of engagement is subject to change towards a more customized solution for registrants.
Select each of the items on the calendar to learn more.
Participation Options
Explorer Tier
Designed for those looking for a concise overview of the key concepts of structural belonging. This tier is perfect for busy professionals who need quick, impactful learning. Gain foundational insights and practical tools to start understanding and addressing the dynamics of belonging in your environment.- Access to the live 2-hour virtual workshop. (9/17, 11 AM CT)
- Digital workshop materials and resources.
- Digital Badge & Certificate of Participation for LinkedIn
Engager Tier (VIP Access)
Ideal for proactive learners eager to extend their engagement beyond the workshop. This tier supports those who want to consolidate their learning, engage in continuous discussion, and begin applying their insights in real-world settings. NOTE: Based on registration, this level of engagement is subject to change towards a more customized solution for registrants.- Everything in the Explorer Tier
- Live Q&A session to deepen your understanding. (TBD)
- Access to the workshop and Q&A recordings.
- Virtual Learning Community with 3 weeks of additional learning content.
- BONUS! 30-minute private coaching session with Dr. Meagan Pollock
Financial Assistance Options Available
Access is important to us, and we never want money to be a barrier to learning. That’s why we provide a wealth of free resources to help you facilitate change. However, this workshop is a unique and specialized offering, and paid access enables us to create new resources. We recommend that you first seek support from your employer to invest in your professional development. If securing funding is not feasible, we invite you to apply for our sliding scale fees, scholarships, or consider bartering your services. Applications for financial assistance will be evaluated based on cohort size, specific needs, and your motivations for joining this program. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
FAQ
We don’t have a plan to teach this course again. We are working on some other courses, so there will be future opportunities, just maybe not this specific curriculum.
The content will remain available on the Engineer Inclusion Network for at least a year.
The weekly learning content is fully at your own pace, and the time investment depends on you! You could simply skim the content in 15-30 minutes, take some ideas/questions with you to practice noticing and listening around you as you work normally. As your time becomes more available, you can revisit the content and dive deeper with more practice and exercises to facilitate change where you are able.
Register Now!
Join us for the “Belonging by Design: Creating Inclusive Spaces” workshop to take the first step towards transforming your environment into a hub where everyone feels valued and included. Whether you’re a professional looking to enhance your organization’s culture, an educator aiming to nurture inclusivity in the classroom, or a community leader advocating for equitable spaces, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a lasting impact. Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of this vital conversation and movement towards a more inclusive future.