Whether we realize it or not, the polarization and uncertainty happening in society impacts every aspect of our lives, including the workplace. When we feel that a core part of our values or our identity is threatened, our instinct is often to contract, to seek what feels comfortable, predictable, and safe. Yet it is precisely in these times when we need to expand, to venture beyond the assumed safety of our comfort zones and echo chambers. We will explore 3 practices for expansion and how to broaden and diversify our social networks to make better decisions for our organizations.

Presenters: Maria Morukian, MSM Global Consulting & Jasmin Robinson, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "death by a thousand paper cuts?" It's not only blatant acts of bias that exclude or discriminate against people from minoritized populations. It's often the more subtle acts of exclusion, also known as microinequities or microaggressions, that are equally if not more harmful. These behaviors  on the surface may seem insignificant, for example: 

• frequently interrupting the same people during conversations
• consistently forgetting or mispronouncing a person's name
• using coded or stereotypical language
• overlooking someone's work but praising another's 

Regardless of the intentions of the message sender, the impact of such actions are often deeply felt by the receiver, especially if they have been on the receiving end of exclusionary treatment many times before. This session will help you recognize some common microaggressions, understand the impact of such actions, and develop techniques to respond effectively when they occur.

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

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

What is the secret ingredient for high performing teams? 

Research over the last few decades clearly indicates that teams with high levels of "psychological safety" consistently and dramatically outperform those that do not. Psychological safety refers to freedom from fear of being ridiculed or punished for speaking up about one's ideas, opinions, questions or mistakes. When individuals feel fully included and are able to speak honestly and without fear of social risk, teams are more innovative, make fewer errors, are more capable of complex problem solving, and are willing to give discretionary effort for the good of the group. This session will explore the key elements of psychological safety in teams. You will be equipped with tips and techniques for fostering psychological safety in your organization.

Presenters:  Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement; Maria Morukian, Founder and President, MSM Global Consulting

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

What is an ally? What does allyship look like in practice? Historically, allies use their agency to challenge systems that exclude minoritized communities. However, this term can often be misunderstood or misused in a way that perpetuates harm to the very communities we want to support.

This session will define what it means to be an ally and why allyship is important to the animal welfare profession. Together, we will explore actions to support diverse communities and become better allies. 

Presenter: Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

Everyone has biases. They can impact our decision-making and behaviors, perpetuate stereotypes, and sometimes cause harm to others. During this session, we will explore the nature of bias, learn about different types that influence the work environment, and identify strategies to address bias effectively in the workplace. This session is open to all animal welfare professionals and would especially benefit hiring managers, teams, and other decision-makers in your organization.

Presenter: Jasmin M. Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

How often are you evaluating whether the services you provide are truly reachable to your target audience? Are you reviewing the data you collect to make informed decisions, even if it is illustrating tough realizations? Hear how Montgomery County (MD) Collaboration Council came to the difficult understanding that its target communities were not taking advantage of their services because of obstacles in their path and how the pandemic helped push them to re-evaluate how to use technology to increase their access to these emerging communities.

Presenter: Dalbin Osorio, Managing Director of Public Affairs, Montgomery County Education Association (MD)

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

One of the most important skills for any leader is the ability to listen. However, many of us need to learn how to listen effectively. We usually prepare our response rather than trying to process and understand the other person's message. This webinar will explore the power of listening and identify practices to help you listen at a deeper level to gain a better understanding and build trust with your employees.

Presenter: Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

Moving from being a bystander to an upstander can be challenging. Sometimes we feel compelled to take action but freeze up when we sense real or perceived danger. How do you know when to act? What are the different ways to respond? This session will explore bystander and upstander behaviors and help leaders identify strategies to reduce harmful behaviors when they occur. 

Presenter: Jasmin M. Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

In today's workplace, the most influential leaders are those who demonstrate curiosity and rely on the collective wisdom of their employees, rather than assuming they alone need to have all the answers. To solve the complex challenges that face your organization, an essential leadership tool is knowing how to ask questions that will lead to practical results. This webinar will explore how to bring an inquiring approach to decision-making as a leader.

Presenter: Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.

Feedback is an absolutely critical ingredient for team performance. It builds trust and transparency, lets team members know they are supported, and troubleshoots performance challenges early on. Yet leaders often struggle to give effective feedback. This session will highlight the importance of building a strong feedback culture, and offer participants a model for giving valuable feedback to reinforce positive actions and redirect problematic ones. This session is especially for anyone who manages or supervises staff and volunteers, but anyone who wants to effectively support team members will benefit from participation.

Presenter: Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting

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)

Part of The DEI Dozen package.