The Seven Deadly Sins of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)

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Join Keith Martin-Smith as he questions whether DEI initiatives are achieving their intended goals of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Instead of moving in that direction, are they further perpetuating any number of unseen biases? Is the narrative around privilege and diversity not only too simple, but working against a stated desire for cultural equity?

Keith questions many DEI assumptions, with loads of data, such as how other facets of privilege like class and education level impact our understanding of police violence, who is really being oppressed, and many other nuances. He asks, and answers, how we might rethink and reshape the DEI discourse, moving towards more skillful, more honest, (and more integral) approaches.

Hard-hitting and direct, Keith cites 7 places where DEI, while partially true, is moving into problematic application because of the places it’s also partially false – and seemingly blind to that. His 7 sins are: 1.) Simplified Understanding of Privilege (included in the free preview) 2. Narrow Perspective on Diversity 3. Intolerance 4. Equal Outcomes Lead to Biased Policies 5. Excessive Focus on Oppression and Power 6. Tribalism 7. Anti-liberalism

We hope you can join this important conversation, which will be the foundation for upcoming talks around how DEI can be improved.

Images and maps by Corey deVos

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