Implementing change can be difficult work. And you are not in it alone. Join an interactive opportunity to brainstorm and commiserate with other leaders who are working towards sustainable change.

This interactive workshop will equip leaders with tools to respond to common pitfalls that occur when implementing inclusive practices and sustaining culture change efforts. Participants will share stories and develop an action plan to respond to roadblocks and resistance.

Plan to keep your microphone unmuted and your webcam on so that you can fully engage.

Faciliator:  Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

This discussion is the final part in a three-part Making Sustainable Change Series which addresses the mindset leaders need to affect change. The series includes a webinar, a roundtable discussion, and an interactive clinic. While you don't have to attend each session in the series, participants who commit to the entire series will benefit the most.

You must participate in either the webinar or the roundtable to attend The Clinic!

Webinar: How to Make Meaningful Culture Changes, Wednesday, March 12, 3pm-4pm ET

The Roundtable: Navigating Resistance and Strengthening Community, Tuesday, April 22, 3pm-4pm ET

This live session has been approved for:

• 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit 
• 1 NACA CE

This roundtable discussion explores the realities of helping animal welfare organizations make progress toward their equity and inclusion goals, despite roadblocks and resistance. Learn from industry leaders as they share:

• Experiences creating long-term change at their organizations
• Challenges and successes they faced while addressing inequities in the workplace
• Lessons learned

Panelists:

• Panel TBA
• Faciliator: Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

This discussion is the second part in a three-part Making Sustainable Change Series which addresses the mindset leaders need to affect change. The series includes a webinar, a roundtable discussion, and an interactive clinic. While you don't have to attend each session in the series, participants who commit to the entire series will benefit the most.

This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:

• 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit 
• 1 NACA CE

A four-session accelerated course for leaders working towards an equitable and just profession.

Animal welfare leaders increasingly recognize the importance of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organizations, yet often face challenges figuring out where to start the journey or how to maintain momentum and measure progress.

This program will offer senior leaders the tools to guide their organizations through the complex challenges of embedding DEI principles and practices into their animal welfare organizations. Leaders will:

• Reflect on their individual identity-based lenses, perceptions, and biases
• Learn techniques for engaging in healthy dialogues and handling conflicts
• How to make DEI a part of day-to-day organizational life.

Participants will have a unique opportunity to engage with a cohort of leaders from across animal welfare to share common challenges and promising practices, to collectively support their respective organizations and the overall animal welfare profession. 

Workshop Objectives:

• Define concepts of DEI and impact on animal welfare
• Examine our DEI Journey Maps and share with others
• Practice calling in conversations and how to foster open communication 
• Strategize new ways to incorporate DEI practices throughout your organization 
• Craft a 90-day action plan for the top three things you can do that would advance DEI in your organization

While we recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion from multiple levels of an organization, this course is specifically designed to support leaders, including executives, C-level staff, directors of municipal animal services, and board members.

• This program takes place across 4 online workshops:
  • Mondays, 3pm - 5pm ET on March 24, April 21, May 19, and June 16
    
    
• These Zoom experiences will not be recorded.
• Virtual break rooms will be used for small group activities and reflection.
• This course requires pre-work. Additional details will be provided after registration, however, we ask that leaders interested in this course commit to up to 3 hours of pre-work before our first session. 
• Participants who complete the course will receive a printable certificate of completion and access to office hours from Maria Morukian & Jasmin Robinson. 

Course Faciliators:

- Jasmin M. Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
- Maria Morukian, Founder & President, MSM Global Consulting

Low-cost registration fees have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.

• $39 for Professional and Student members of The Association 
• $89 for Learning Non-Members

Become a member of The Association and save big.

If your organization has a financial hardship that makes paying for this training difficult, please contact us at learning@theaawa.org to inquire about scholarships.

Very limited seats available. Please register by Monday, March 17.

This online workshop has been pre-approved for:

• 8 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits
• 8 NACA CEs

Curious about the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) Exam? 

Join the program administrator and several CAWAs and ask us anything about the program - from eligibility to studying tips to why the CAWA credential is a boon to your career ambitions.

This 45-minute conversation will help you decide if the CAWA credential is right for you.

Thursday, March 13, 1-1:45 pm ET

This online learning series addresses the mindset leaders need to affect change. The three-part series led by Jasmin Robinson, The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives, includes a webinar, a roundtable discussion, and an interactive clinic.

The series includes:

Webinar: How to Make Meaningful Culture Changes, Wednesday, March 12, 3pm-4pm ET

The Roundtable: Navigating Resistance and Strengthening Community, Tuesday, April 22, 3pm-4pm ET

The Clinic: Steps to Building Change Coalitions, Wednesday, May 14, 3pm-4pm ET  -- must participate in either the webinar or the roundtable to attend The Clinic!

While you don't have to attend each session in the series, participants who commit to the entire series will benefit the most.

Leaders of animal welfare organizations often face complex challenges, especially trailblazers trying to make sustainable and meaningful culture changes to address the needs of increasingly diverse staff and communities.

Meaningful change requires the courage to explore and challenge beliefs and assumptions that hinder progress toward our goals. This webinar is for leaders ready to reimagine possibilities for equity and inclusion in the workplace. Participants will examine the mental roadblocks that hinder progress and explore the tools needed to champion organizational transformation.

Presenters:

• Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting
• Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

This webinar in the first part in a three-part Making Sustainable Change Series which addresses the mindset leaders need to affect change. The series includes a webinar, a roundtable discussion, and an interactive clinic. While you don't have to attend each session in the series, participants who commit to the entire series will benefit the most.

his session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:

• 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit 
• 1 NACA CE
• 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Leaders from the DEI Council of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement will share results from the 2024 animal welfare survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession. The survey data provides insights into where the animal welfare industry has made progress since the original 2021 DEI survey and offers recommendations to further address systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare. The panel will focus on what’s next in this important work and identify paths for animal welfare professionals to strengthen their DEI journey. 

Panelists:

• Maria Morukian, MSM Global Consulting
• Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
• Zimife Umeh, MSM Global Consulting

We thank Adopt a Pet for generously sponsoring the DEI survey.

This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:

• 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit 
• 1 NACA CE
• 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

View our DEI Resource Library found on our main site.

Discover all of our DEI learning opportunities.

The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is committed to action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in animal welfare and we want you with us on this journey. As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Commitment to Action, The Association will continue offering resources and learning opportunities designed to further the eradication of systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.

We thank The Life of Riley at Spring Point for their support of The Association's DEI initiatives.

Gain skills for navigating challenging conversations around DEI and get practice presenting to colleagues. This program includes a 3-day in-person training and online coaching. 

All participants will enjoy full scholarships, including travel and accommodations.

2024 training cohorts:

• April 9-11 (Atlanta, GA)        FULL
• June 5-7 (Denver, CO)           FULL
• September 4-6 (Phoenix, AZ) FULL

Check back for 2025 Ambassador cohort opportunities.

Participants in this four-part workshop series, designed for individuals in leadership roles, will explore why and how to advance DEI at their organization.

Session Dates:  March 24, April 21, May 19 & June 16 - Mondays, 3-5 pm ET

Low-cost registration fees have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.

Learn More

Check out The Association’s DEI Pride Store, where your purchase of tees and hoodies helps to support our Conference Scholarship Fund.

A comprehensive transition plan is a hallmark of a well-led, well-managed organization that is focused on its mission and the best interests of its staff, volunteers and community. 

Learn how to create and maintain an effective succession plan from Gary LaBranche, the author of The Association CEO Succession Toolkit, the first published book focused solely on planning for, managing through and completing an association CEO transition and succession -- and the book The Association's CEO, Jim Tedford, used when he wrote his own succession plan. 

Learning Objectives

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

• List some of the historical and trend data about leader tenure, transition, and search
• Outline three types of transitions and six common transition scenarios
• Discuss key elements of a Transition and Continuity Plan
• Summarize the roles of an organization’s staff, board, general counsel, auditors, insurance agents, and others play in the transition process
• Describe the relationship of succession to strategy

This webinar is especially intended for CEOs, board members, and HR leadership who need to understand how to develop and maintain a transition and continuity plan.

This webinar has been pre-approved for:

• 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
• 1 NACA CE
• 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

What keeps employees around?  

In this roundtable, panelists will discuss the realities of sustaining a workforce with employees from various backgrounds, needs, and experiences.  Hear how they keep their staff engaged and committed to their teams and organizations. We'll talk about providing professional development opportunities for employees, whether they are in their dream job or aspire to grown into another role.

This discussion is especially for hiring managers, leaders, and committees who are interested in learning about resources that can help empower, support, and maintain a diverse workforce.

The Roundtable Panel:

• Rachel Levine, Director of People Development, Dumb Friends League
• Jessica Lopez, Executive Director, The PAW Mission
• Jessica Umunnabuike, Senior Talent & Diversity Specialist, San Diego Humane Society

Moderated by:

• Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

This roundtable has been approved for 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit.