5 simple ways to eliminate D&I roadblocks

Real change starts with remembering there’s an “I” in D&I.

Here are five ways we can each step up our own accountability while helping to eliminate roadblocks to diversity and inclusion at our own organizations:

1. Budget for action.

“We’re in an interesting place,” says Aerial Ellis, Ed.D., a consultant and PR professor at Lipscomb University. “Rising awareness is good and so is a growing understanding that business leaders must now respond to racial justice.”

The problem? “That doesn’t mean D&I initiatives are being implemented,” she says. “We need to keep pushing our organizations to take action.”

The first step is allocate budget and resources to D&I.

“Earmarking $3,000 for training isn’t enough,” Ellis says. “It has to be part of a strategic plan executive over 12-18 months—and training and hiring are just the first steps.”

2. Push transparency.

Ellis confirms that there’s a diversity deficit in communications.

She recently conducted a study on intercultural competence and found that only 6% of communicators are African-American, according to U.S. census data.