DEI Programs
Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture is an ongoing process.
Your participation in our DEI program will help your organization build its ability to move towards inclusive, debiased, and equitable service delivery for your clients and community.
CZL P.C.’s DEI programs focus on restoring community, equity, inclusion, and transformation. Our holistic approach to our client relationships yields long-term sustainable change and maximum return your investment in centering anti-racism/colonialism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ARCDEI+).
We are committed to delivering service, support, creativity, and leadership that reflects our company’s commitment to equity, accessibility, accountability, anti-racism, candor, and leadership.
Our DEI Curriculum Builds Skills
Our staff offers a combined forty years of experience dealing with the intersection of governance, compliance, sustainability, and the law (DEI, CSR/ESG).
Our programs use an iterative process that includes introspection and skill-building exercises, in-house dialogues, and data review to assess, define, design, and implement sustainable change initiatives.
Through these programs, both staff members and executive leadership learn to hone their skills in internal system analysis, community engagement, data analysis, communication, and strategy/goal setting while utilizing awareness of racial diversity and equity.
Racial Equity Plans and accompanying presentations are designed by the participating client departments.
Where applicable, community members join the conversation (in panels, various circles) regarding the importance and implications of applying an equity lens to the organization’s activities.
Who We Serve
Clients we have served include the city government; Legal Aid Agencies in Illinois, and social service agencies.
Our clients have included:
- Government entities
- Small to medium-size businesses
- Nonprofit organizations
- Benefit corporations
We work with:
- City and State contracts
- General agency/departmental procurement and RFP processes,
- Contracts for development and improvement of corporate governance and DEI initiatives.
What Each Program Includes
Each program includes:*
- An Operational Framework Assessment
This assessment allows us to target the program to our client’s needs. - ARCDEI+ Introspections and our Cohort Program
- Racial Equity Plans and accompanying presentations designed by the participating client departments.
- Midpoint Check-In
- Where applicable, community members join the conversation in panels or discussion circles to explore the importance and implications of applying equity awareness to the organization’s activities.
- The program ends with an ARCDEI+ Framework Findings and Recommendations Report. We deliver our findings and recommendations based on observations and data gathered throughout this program. We use Introspection Debriefing/Reflections and Recalibration opportunities to adjust plans for sustainable growth going forward.
*Optional add-on services are available.
How We Develop Our Program
To design a program and workshops for each client, we utilize a systems thinking approach and iterative development that promotes a just and inclusive organizational culture along with an environment of wellbeing and belonging for all. This iterative process follows four steps:
(1) Assess and Define
(2) Design
(3) Implement
(4) Evaluate/Align
Based on this groundwork, we design and implement sustainable DEI processes and develop metrics for your organizational strategies, impact measurement, and training.
Our DEI Program Experience
We don’t call our program “training.” While it’s not possible to train away bias and racism, we can bring change through thoughtful introspection.
Our team utilizes different methods of facilitation depending on the intricacies and emotions evoked by the concepts and topics.
We approach this space — and the conversations we hold within it — in an interactive and participatory way.
- Each introspection is held virtually to allow greater participation and to respect COVID concerns.
- Virtual learning allows rich opportunities for interaction, sharing, and growth.
How we can serve as part of your DEI/ARCDEI+ journey?
