2024 SUMMIT PROGRAM OUTLINE
May 8, 2024
Government relations is vital and impactful work that imagines and advances collective futures for clients, constituents, and communities. For the credibility of our profession and the well-being of our democracy, we are committed
to excellence, unquestionable ethics, and working in the interests of the groups we represent. Marginalization, underrepresentation, hateful rhetoric and action, and the spread of politics that challenge people instead of ideas
threaten the aims of government relations and our democracy writ large.
The DEI Summit provides a forum for government affairs professionals to harness the power of our networks, connecting across diverse experiences to explore strategies that effectively advance more equitable policy and inclusive
cultures. The program balances visionary thinking on the future of the profession with granular insights about innovative practices and lessons learned to face shared problems with shared persistence and resolve.
9:30 - 9:45 am
Platform Open | Welcome
Opening remarks from WGR Leadership and Roz Brooks (PwC US Public Policy Leader)
9:45 - 10:45 am
Keynote: Making the Case for DEI & DEI Best Practices
Keynote Speaker: Hadeil Ali, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
This session will explore four key dimensions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that hold particular relevance to Women in Government Relations, drawing upon insights gleaned from professional endeavors, leadership roles, and scholarly research.
1. Moral and Ethical Responsibility
2. Business Imperative
a. The Role of Workforce Resilience
3. National Security Considerations
4. Preservation of Institutional Credibility
Throughout the session, participants will be encouraged to reflect on the nuanced opportunities and challenges inherent in each case, fostering critical contemplation regarding the implementation and enduring sustainability of DEI initiatives within their respective organizational frameworks. Leveraging illustrative examples and empirical case studies drawn from research, Hadeil will aim to furnish attendees with a comprehensive toolkit and strategic framework conducive to navigating the complex landscape of DEI implementation within their organizational contexts.
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Navigating Polarization and Combatting DEIA Fatigue
Maria Morukian
Even the most well-trained endurance runners have found themselves hitting what is called the “wall,” when their energy suddenly bottoms out and they feel like they’ve run headfirst into a brick building. Their legs feel like heavy weights. Their vision becomes blurry. They feel detached from their surroundings. Diversity, equity and inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) work is often described as a marathon, and just like runners hit the “wall”, so do leaders and change agents.
In times of uncertainty and increasing polarization, when DEIA efforts are surging but also being used to sow political discord, how can you push past the “wall”? What can you in your government relations role commit to doing to sustain DEIA even in the moments of greatest adversity? This session will explore strategies to bring an endurance mindset and regimen to DEI, and equip government relations leaders with the tools to develop the physical, mental, and emotional stamina to continue to make progress even when we hit the wall.
Learning outcomes:
1. Explore the cycle of progress, polarization, and pushback in DEIA work and the impact on leaders and agents of change
2. Identify techniques to navigate polarizing conversations, regulate emotional triggers, and speak truth in high risk situations
3. Determine strategies to sustain momentum and endurance for long-term progress
12:00 PM
Virtual Brown Bag Lunch: Write It Out, Moving Past Fear and Uncertainty with Evolve Benton
12:45 - 1:45 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- Your Truth Is Your Strength: How Naming Power and Privilege Brings Humanity to the Workplace
Beatriz Garcia & Marisa Urrutia Gedney
- Building Equity Consensus & Priorities in Membership Organizations
Jennifer Dexter
- Financial Inclusion: How advocates navigate financial institutions to create a more inclusive community
Nicole Elam & Paola Diaz & Cathi Kim
2:45-3:30pm
Overcoming Toxic Polarization: Skills for Effective Bipartisan Leadership
Layla Zaidane, Rep. Victoria Wilburn Garcia (D-IN), and Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-IN)
Join Future Caucus' Layla Zaidane, Rep. Victoria Wilburn Garcia (D-IN), and Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-IN) for a session on effective bipartisan leadership. Discover actionable strategies to navigate toxic polarization and cultivate collaboration amidst ideological divides. In this empowering session, you'll emerge equipped to champion bipartisan solutions confidently and gracefully.
Learning objectives:
1. Attendees will learn the tools necessary to foster meaningful dialogue and cooperation across party lines, empowering them to advocate for and enact bipartisan solutions in their respective spheres of influence.
2. The discussion will highlight the contributions and perspectives women legislators bring to the policy making process.
3:30 - 4:00 pm
Closing Remarks
May 9, 2024
9:30 - 9:45 am
Platform Open
9:45 - 10:30 am
Keynote Session
Hope MacDonald Lone Tree (Navajo)
Deputy Commissioner
Administration For
Native Americans and Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
10:45 - 11:45 am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- Do or DEI: Implementing Equitable Hiring Practices for the Policy Workforce
Olivia Umoren
12:00 PM
Lunch and Learn with Katharine Manning
1:00 - 1:45 pm
Plenary Session: Navigating the DEI Landscape in Government Relations: Strategies for Organizational Transformation
Jasmine Sessoms
This session will focus on the critical role of DEI in government relations, highlighting how inclusive strategies can enhance policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and campaign effectiveness. It will offer practical insights into developing and implementing DEI frameworks that resonate with both internal teams and external constituents in the governmental sphere.
1:50 - 2:00 pm
Closing Remarks
5:00 - 7:00 pm
In-Person Reception
American College of Radiology
505 9th St. NW, Washington DC
WGR offers programming as a benefit and service to our members and the profession. The views expressed by speakers are their own and their participation in WGR events or programming does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent and are affiliated with. Views and opinions expressed by WGR members are their own and do not necessarily reflect WGR’s positions.
