Please contact our Registrar or call 1-800-218-2220 for important information about this program. Thank you!

 “Studies over the past decade have confirmed, our brains operate with a vast unconscious mind that even Freud never suspected.” -D.G. Meyers, Scientific American Mind

Neuroscience research over the last decade reveals that our day-to-day behaviour is dictated – contrary to popular belief – more by how we feel rather than by what we think. Emotions, invisible and controlling, are rooted in the unconscious mind and frequently impact our actions without our awareness. Developing greater emotional intelligence – self-awareness, empathy and relationship-building – is widely recognized as the most important personal competency for leaders to possess.

The terrain of emotions raises important and profound question for issues of diversity in the workplace:

• What is the role of emotions in our interactions with people from backgrounds different than our own? 
• How do we uncover our personal “blind-spots” that reside in our unconscious mind in order to create truly inclusive, welcoming environments?
• What is the role of unconscious bias and emotional triggers in how well we handle conflict that involves issues of difference (i.e. race, gender, class or sexual orientation)? 

The Diversity & Equity Leadership Institute (DELI) is an award-winning professional development opportunity grounded in adult education and layered with cutting-edge information from the fields of neuroscience, social psychology, and bias research.  By combining anti-racism strategies with emotional intelligence and conflict resolution, a deeply holistic approach has been developed that balances intellect with emotions, and internal factors with external forces.  This methodology is successful in nurturing personal growth, learning – and unlearning – through the use of various theoretical lenses, without being confined to a singular ideological position.  

Managers, supervisors, educators, facilitators and diversity representatives from the public, non-profit and private sectors will be equipped with the emotional competency to both navigate through difference and lead effectively.  The DELI, honoured with the 2010 Award of Excellence for Best Practices in Diversity Training and Development*, will both support and challenge your approach to diversity and inclusion. 

Programme evaluations and participant responses have been consistently outstanding for the Diversity & Equity Leadership Institute: 

"If you work in diversity and equity and can only attend one workshop this year, this is the one." ~ Craig H, Children's Aid Services Diversity Supervisor

"This course makes me feel whole; that there is a real and urgent need for 'all of who we are' to step forward, to be present in our roles as leaders, educators.... especially if we are to transform our communities in healthy and holistic ways."  ~ Indy Batth, Program Manager, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC

“The activities were excellent and useful to take back... Incredibly useful. Incredibly. I can’t say enough good about these amazing 2 days!”  ~ Kim MacKenzie, O.C.I.S.O. 

 "I know that what I learned in terms of being present, checking in, building inclusive communities up front (as a form of "prevention") will stay with me and inform my teaching and research practices as will the emotional intelligence piece and how this is connected to equity work." ~ Susan Walsh, Professor, Mount Saint Vincent University  

 “A wonderful weaving of the emotional, the spiritual, the political, the communal, intellectual. Great!”  ~ Njeri-Damali Campbell, Peel Diversity Roundtable

Note: if you are interested in deepening your facilitation skills, please consider the Diversity and Equity Leadership: Facilitation & Design program (DELI II) directly following this, September 28 -30^th, 2011.  Program Cost: $785 ($545 tuition + $240 meals/accommodations) 
Register for both DELI I and II: Cost: $1175

* The Award of Excellence is a bi-annual award presented by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, an arms-length federal government agency with a mandate to fight racism in all its forms. 

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