Link VP DEIB May 2024 - ICF South Florida Charter Chapter

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, during which the primary objective is to combat negative attitudes surrounding mental health concerns through awareness creation and education. By raising awareness about mental health issues, people are encouraged to seek help and support, fostering a more empathetic and supportive community.
The International Coaching Federation encourages all coaches to refer clients to a therapist or trained mental health professional if one or more of these symptoms are present:
• Marked changes in mood such as irritability, anger, anxiety, or sadness
• Decline in performance at work or school
• Withdrawal from social relationships and activities
• Changes in weight and appearance, including negligence of personal hygiene
• Disturbances in sleep (either oversleeping or difficulty falling or staying asleep)
• Expresses hopelessness or suicidal thoughts Common issues that warrant a referral to therapy include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and thought disorders.

Important dates to celebrate in May
Mental Health Awareness Month • National Military Appreciation Month

MAY DEIB Calendar

May 4 – National Day of Prayer
May 5 - National Day for Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
May 6 - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

May 19 – Malcolm X’s Birthday
May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 26 – Memorial Day
May 26 – Buddha’s Birthday

Book recommendation of the month

INCLUSIFY
by Stephanie K. Johnson, PhD

In this groundbreaking guide, a management expert outlines the transformative leadership skill of tomorrow - one that can make it possible to build truly diverse and inclusive teams that value employees’ need to belong while being themselves.
Humans have two basic desires: to stand out and to fit in. Companies respond by creating groups that tend to the extreme - where everyone fits in and no one stands out, or where everyone stands out and no one fits in. How do we find that happy medium where workers can demonstrate their individuality while also feeling they belong?
The answer, according to Stefanie Johnson, is to Inclusify. In this essential handbook, she explains what it means to Inclusify and how it can be used to strengthen any business. Inclusifying - unlike “diversifying” or “including” - implies a continuous, sustained effort toward helping diverse teams feel engaged, empowered, accepted, and valued. It’s no use having diversity if everyone feels like an outsider, she contends.
In her research, Johnson found common problems leaders exhibit that frustrate their attempts to create diverse and cohesive teams. Leaders who underestimated the importance of group coherence and dynamics often have employees who do not feel like they belong; leaders who ignore the benefits of listening to different perspectives leave some people feeling like they cannot be their authentic selves.

Get the book here.

Claudia Flores Loucel