MPI Potomac is an inclusive community of meeting professionals who embrace learning, collaboration and your development.
This is not just something we say, it is our mission. As MPI's leading chapter in diversity, equity, and inclusion we do not take lightly the responsibility to our members to continue to grow, learn, and improve our efforts, in addition to helping our members do the same. As part of that mission we will continue to update this page with resources including articles, books, videos, and our own MPI Potomac podcast.
On May 25, 2020 George Floyd was killed. Another Black man is gone due to police violence. Racism and discrimination have no place in our community, and the MPI Potomac Chapter stands alongside our Black and Brown brothers and sisters as we mourn another senseless death. The time is now for people of all races, especially the white community, to denounce institutional racism and build a society that is not only equal, but equitable, just, and safe for all. Talk to your fellow man. Make your voices heard. Together let’s build a space that ensures that no matter one's race, income, culture or identity, everyone thrives. Call out the injustice. Get uncomfortable and join together so that this will never happen again.
As a White male, I can do better. I continue to work to understand my privilege and implicit biases and actively work to be a better advocate, ally, and friend. Educate yourself. Listen to your teachers, your neighbors, your friends, professional colleagues, I don’t care who it is. Just LISTEN. Believe people of color when they share their experiences. We all can be a better version of ourselves and a better people as a result.
I found the commentary below very powerful in helping my understanding and like to share it with you.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege. I Decided to Be Honest.
Sincerely,
Anthony Molino
President, MPI Potomac 2019-2020
ATD - What’s in a Name? Cognitive
Bias
Forbes Magazine - Ideological Diversity in the Workplace in this Time of Social Change
The Meeting Professional - From Inclusion to Belonging
The New Humanitarian - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in International Development
The Travel Courier - Let's Talk About Racism in Travel
Fortune Magazine - Diversity and Inclusion Index
MPI Blog - Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in All Areas of Business
MPI Blog - Strong Diversity and Inclusion Efforts Will Help our Industry Recover
Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
Why you should not bring your authentic self to work | Jodi-Ann Burey | TEDxSeattle - YouTube
TED Talk - How to Outsmart Your Own Unconscious Bias
Business Insider - List of 12 Diversity Books Every Leader Should Know About
Rise Award - video
MPI Gulf States Coffee Connection -
Racism in the Workplace and Community
BLM Explained - video
Sesame Street addresses BLM - video
Understanding Privilege - The $100 Race
Anti-Racist Dictionary
2021 Diversity Holidays & Observances
MPI - https://www.mpi.org/membership/communities
ASAE - https://www.asaecenter.org/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion
PCMA - https://www.pcma.org/ascent/
National Diversity Council - http://www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org/
DiversityInc - https://www.diversityinc.com/
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion - https://ccdi.ca/
Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion - https://www.enei.org.uk/