Reconstructing DEI: A Practitioner's Workbook

by Lily Zheng

Reconstructing A Practitioner's Workbook Professionally spiraled and resold by a third party. This spiraled book is not necessarily affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by the publisher, distributor, or author.

Genres: Personal Development

328 pages, Spiral-bound

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful and thoughtful approach for DEI practitioners doing the work ✅

[Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Reconstructing DEI: A Practitioner's Workbook" by Lily Zheng offers practical exercises and strategies for individuals and organizations committed to strengthening their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The workbook begins with introspective exercises aimed at helping individuals understand their core values and various social identities. By reflecting on how these identities confer privilege or marginalization and identifying areas of expertise, individuals can deepen their understanding of themselves and their role in DEI efforts.

Once individuals have a clearer understanding of themselves, they can leverage this knowledge to engage others and cultivate supportive relationships. By identifying DEI goals, seeking out partners for shared accountability, and learning to ask for help, individuals can expand their capacity to effect change beyond themselves. Recognizing inequity requires a combination of intuition and evidence-based analysis. The workbook guides individuals through the process of defining specific, measurable outcomes for DEI initiatives, formulating hypotheses, and gathering data to support their findings. It also emphasizes the importance of storytelling to effectively communicate the need for change.

Creating an inclusive culture requires a blend of self-awareness and practical strategies. Individuals are encouraged to commit to lifelong learning, engage in cultural competency, and work towards shifting microcultures within their organizations towards inclusivity. Conflict and harm are inevitable in DEI work, but they can be managed in a way that fosters growth and understanding. The workbook emphasizes active listening, reflective practices, and restorative approaches to conflict resolution as key strategies for reducing harm and promoting healing.

Effective DEI work requires collaboration and coalition-building among diverse stakeholders. Individuals are encouraged to understand the interests and priorities of various stakeholders, craft personalized messages to gain support, and strategically leverage power dynamics to initiate meaningful change. Developing a DEI strategy involves creating a concrete plan with specific initiatives, efforts, and timelines aimed at achieving identified outcomes. Individuals are guided through the process of identifying key issues, selecting outcomes, determining resource allocation, and engaging stakeholders to drive systemic change.

Achieving DEI is an ongoing process that requires sustained effort and commitment. The workbook introduces a four-level model for assessing an organization's DEI maturity and offers practical steps for advancing through each level. It also emphasizes the importance of self-care and maintaining a sense of purpose outside of DEI work to prevent burnout. By applying the practical frameworks and exercises outlined in the workbook, individuals and organizations can move beyond superficial DEI efforts and drive meaningful systemic change characterized by inclusive cultures, representation, and long-term sustainability.

[Mir Shahzad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Some of the key factors that make DEI work effective are: self-reflection, coalition building, restorative approaches to conflict, tailored organizational strategies, and maturity assessments. 

By applying these practical frameworks, you can move beyond superficial and performative DEI efforts and drive meaningful systemic change characterized by inclusive cultures, representation, and long-term sustainability.

[Maxine Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the key factors that make DEI work effective are: self-reflection, coalition building, restorative approaches to conflict, tailored organizational strategies, and maturity assessments. 

By applying these practical frameworks, you can move beyond superficial and performative DEI efforts and drive meaningful systemic change characterized by inclusive cultures, representation, and long-term sustainability.

[Banafshe]

Listened to the summary version

[janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource filled with practical and actionable items.