Conscious Inclusion
Conscious Inclusion (CI) is ASAE’s practical, action-oriented framework to help associations cultivate the desired culture and environment of organizational diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
CI goes beyond identifying and embracing DEI concepts to consciously adopting and executing a practical strategy for leveraging DEI to achieve superior outcomes. This strategy will help organizations unlock the full potential of a diverse workforce and membership.
ASAE has already rolled out new initiatives and is concurrently working on other new programs, products, and services that will support the strategy. Among them:
- introduced a CEO Conscious Inclusion Pledge that outlines a specific set of actions signatory CEOs will take to cultivate a culture and environment of organizational diversity, inclusion, and belonging
- launched a revised Diversity Executive Leadership Program concept and related offerings
- developing a ReadyMe DEI Bootcamp to prepare leaders for upward mobility and executives who are responsible for hiring decisions.
Books and Research
Learn about larger trends affecting DEI strategy for associations.
ASAE’s future-focused environmental-scanning research initiative identifies 50 drivers of change important to associations. Each is described in an action brief that examines its implications and offers ideas for steps associations can take to respond to the trend. The drivers most pertinent to DEI include:
- Dismantling Systemic Racism. Added in 2021, this action brief discusses how industries, professions, and organizations are exploring and implementing policies and programs focused on racial justice. Change will be complex as implications are worked out on the ground.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Although American society and workplaces will continue to grow more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, this will occur against a backdrop of social and political polarization. To help organizations meet these challenges, this action brief posits that DEI efforts should be treated as a systemic priority, supported by a new generation of tools and processes.
- Empowered Women. This action brief, updated in 2021, addresses the unique and important role associations play in promoting women in the workplace and making their presence visible.
- Immigration-Driven Demography. Immigration will remain the central driver of American population growth and diversity for decades to come, reshaping not only demographics but also values and attitudes. This action brief examines implications for associations, including more diverse membership communities with more varied ideas, expectations, and needs.
Effective DEI Practices in Association Governance (coming soon)
An effective DEI strategy for your board fosters greater innovation and creativity among its members. A new report from the ASAE Research Foundation will provide insight into processes that strengthen volunteer leadership and improve organizational outcomes.
