Western North Carolina Diversity Engagement Coalition
Presents
Fall 2017 Professional Development Series
Eligibility to Participate: Open to employees in WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition member organizations and community members who would like to better position themselves for advancement. Certificate of Completion awarded upon attendance at five or more sessions.
Learning Objectives:
● Build and strengthen relationships
● Understanding your personal strengths
● Managing conflict and navigating challenging environments
● Negotiation skills
● Developing your narrative
● Developing and deepening leadership skills while increasing your value
Program Dates: Wednesday, September 27 through November 15, 2017
Duration: 8 Weeks
Time: Wednesday Evenings starting with casual snacks and networking at 5:30 followed by the class from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: MAHEC Education Building, 121 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
*Registrations accepted throughout the entire series but registration is required to participate*
For questions or more information, contact Paulina Mendez at paulinam364@gmail.com or 828-785-4274
Schedule and Learning Objectives
WEEK 1: Networking Basics
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
MAHEC, Balsam Room
Presenter:
David Carr, Asheville Way Facilitator, Human Resources, City of Asheville
Learning Objectives:
● Learn how to make meaningful connections
● Identify which intentional methods feel natural for individuals to use
● Discuss effective methods of following up
● Start developing relationships with other classmates – You’ll get to practice!
Homework: Receive StandOut book and take the assessment; read your report and bring it to class next week.
WEEK 2: StandOut - Discover Your Strengths and Lead from Your Edge
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
MAHEC, Cherokee Room
Pre-Classwork:
Take the StandOut assessment on-line (less than 15 minutes) and read your report.
Presenter:
Lakesha McDay, Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Consultant for The Center for Leadership and Professional Development, Mission Health
Learning Objectives:
● Trainers from Mission Health Leadership Team will lead you through the StandOut assessment and explain how you can use your assessment to maximize their effectiveness at work
● Gaining understanding who you are, what your top strengths are, and how you can best contribute to your team.
WEEK 3: Introduction to Racial Battle Fatigue
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
MAHEC, Balsam Room
Presenter:
Megan R. Underhill, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina Asheville
Learning Objectives:
● Develop an understanding of the concept of racial battle fatigue
● Learn how racial battle fatigue affects the health of people of color
● Explore how racial battle fatigue is facilitated by racial micro aggressions
● Link racial battle fatigue to the whiteness of organizational spaces
● Discuss how to make workplaces more racially equitable
WEEK 4: Effective Communication Skills Can Lead You to Success
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
MAHEC, Cherokee Room
Presenters:
Darryl Rhymes, Special Assistant to the President for Inclusion & Employment Recruiter, A-B Tech Community College
Learning Objectives:
● Assessment of yourself including your reputation and attitude
● Navigate through different personalities and cultural differences
● Strategies for continuous improvements
● Personal Documentation
● How to “hold your own” in difficult or unprofessional conversations
● How to deal with people who are jealous or make stereotypical remarks
● How to prepare to get what you desire and deserve
WEEK 5: Building a Structural Understanding of Power, Privilege + Oppression
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
MAHEC, Balsam Room
Presenters:
Marisol Jimenez, Lead Consultant, Tepeyac Consulting
Learning Objectives:
● Practice group norms that can support courageous conversations about power, privilege, and oppression
● Deepen understanding of how power dynamics and difference can impact individual and group dynamics
● Consider what kinds of strategies are needed to interrupt inequitable power dynamics
● Set intentional commitments for advancing equity
WEEK 6: Negotiation Fundamentals
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
MAHEC, Cherokee Room
Presenter:
Desiree Adaway, Principal, The Adaway Group
Learning Objectives:
● Help you recognize the daily opportunities you must negotiate to solve everyday issues and problems
● Increase your value to your employer or business through clear communication
● Study a process now taught by the top business schools in the country called Interest Based or Mutual Benefit Negotiation
WEEK 7: Be AUTHENTIC in Your Next Job Interview
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
MAHEC, Balsam Room
Presenter:
Chris Hegg, Owner, Peak Opportunity Career Coaching; Career Coach, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Learning Objectives:
● Deliver a warm personal/professional introduction;
● Tell 1 authentic professional story that develops trust and helps break down unconscious bias;
● Confidently describe their top talents in a concluding pitch.
WEEK 8: Speed Interviews and Graduation
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
MAHEC, Cherokee Room
Facilitators:
Members of the Steering Committee of the Western North Carolina Diversity Engagement Coalition
Learning Objectives:
● Use the “speed networking” technique to meet with executives from the Diversity Engagement Coalition’s anchor institutions and practice your elevator speeches and interviewing skills
● Receive feedback from executives
● Reflect on feedback and learning experiences from the entire series
● Graduation, celebration, and awarding of certificates!
