Inclusion Matters - Diversity and Inclusion

Inclusion Matters is an annual series of lectures, trainings, and informational symposiums to give employees the tools they need to ensure we at Fermilab can foster a positive community and help to advance the efforts of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Inclusion Matters 2023: Accountability, Accessibility, Awareness

2023 Program Descriptions & Event Registration Info

Accessibility accommodations are available for all Inclusion Matters events. Please contact Anahi Ruiz Beltran with questions.

April 5, 1 – 2 p.m. central time – Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Virtual: Psychological safety is the belief that it’s OK to take interpersonal risks without fear of undue consequences. In a psychologically safe environment, people are more likely to speak up when they see their team or organization heading down the wrong path. They’re more likely to brainstorm and experiment in ways that help teams innovate, and they’re less likely to go along with risky behaviors that create an unsafe workplace. Psychological safety allows a person to be themselves, which strengthens morale, sense of belonging, and employee retention. In this session, we’ll discuss how leaders can foster a psychologically safe environment, and explore why people may feel psychologically unsafe without their leaders even realizing it.

April 19, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. central time – Symmetry style guide: Writing about people with dignity

Virtual: The style guide for Symmetry Magazine has traditionally answered questions such as “Should there be a hyphen in high-energy physics?” and “What should you call Rubin Observatory on first reference?”

But writing about scientific research also involves writing about the people who make that research happen. That brings up different questions, such as “How do you quote a source who communicates using sign language?” and “When is it appropriate to mention a source’s race?”

To answer these more people-focused questions, Symmetry Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Jepsen has put together a different style guide, based on more than 50 references from organizations such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Transgender Journalists Association.

In this talk, learn about what the process of putting the guide together taught the Editor-in-Chief of Symmetry about how and why to use conscious language.

April 26, 12 – 1 p.m. central time – Administrative Professionals Day

May 3, 1 – 2 p.m. central time – Mental Health Awareness

Virtual: At one time or another, everyone experiences symptoms of mental illness. Too frequently the response to such symptoms in the workplace is confusion, fear, judgment, avoidance and outright rejection. This leads to a worsening of symptoms and a deterioration of performance. This training is designed to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to promote ways of supporting one another in the workplace. The session will address signs and symptoms of distress and effective ways of providing support for co-workers. The training also will include exercises to develop these skills.

May 17 1 – 2 p.m. central time – How World Events Can Impact Veterans’ Mental Health

Virtual: Current events can be triggering for veterans, impacting their mental health and overall well-being. In trying to make sense of world events, veterans often experience emotional, behavioral, cognitive and physical reactions. These reactions can lead veterans in distortions further impacting their view on themselves, others and world events. This training will help veterans process events around the world that may impact their mental health. Additionally, relatives of military veterans and friends will benefit from this training by discovering ways to be supportive.

Past Inclusion Matters 2023 events

January 18 – How to be an Effective Mentor for Underrepresented STEM Trainees

In honor of National Mentoring Month, Dr. Antentor O. Hinton, Jr., and Dr. Haysetta D. Shuler presented virtually on what good mentoring looks like, including learning how to motivate and support individuals. The presentation also covered emotional intelligence and cultural competency.