Diversity, equity, and inclusion has been an OYA Agency Key Initiative since 2019. The DEI team is committed to creating an agency where everyone belongs, where we all work toward equity, and strive for a culture of authentic inclusion, even when it is complex and challenging. Their goal is to create systems that include and work for everyone. A key part of their work is facilitating training at the agency level.
At OYA, employee orientation is more than just showing someone how the copier works, where the breakroom is, or how to complete your timecard. It is large investment including months of both on-the-job and classroom training. Part of this onboarding process is diversity, equity, and inclusion training.
The diversity, equity, and inclusion team has partnered with OYA Training Academy to develop a curriculum for New Employee Training. The Director of Training Academy, José Guardado, shares the critical role this plays: “From day one of my career here at OYA, the DEI team has been an integral part of the journey. Both for myself in my role and for the Training Academy team. The threading of DEI content to new employee training has had a tangible impact on how our team, and more importantly, how new folks joining this work at the agency see themselves, and the world of OYA (for example, youth relationships, staff interaction/support, and community engagement).”
New Employee Training components include foundational curricula ranging from understanding key terms and concepts; learning about the impact of inequity in our state and agency; how to address bias; and ways to create a workplace and services that support and include all youth, community members, and employees. When asked about the ongoing relevance and impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings, José Guardado shared that the impact is immense and affects the work, “In every way! The care, support, and encouragement we provide and the culture we create through training with a DEI lens touches so many people each and every day. More empathy, more kindness, are just a few outcomes I have experienced.”
For youth, staff, and communities who live with day-to-day disparities and challenging systems, creating empathy and kindness is no small feat. Diversity, equity, and inclusion training is at the core of this work and, as José notes, that when we are, “open to the wonder of getting to know yourself and others… our culture can be transformed and enhanced in ways one single person could never have imagined. I know, to some, perhaps lofty aspirations. That’s okay – that’s exactly as it should be. Let’s keep talking to each other.” And that is the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion training—opening ourselves up to connecting and learning from one another and growing a workplace and world that includes everyone, and sees and celebrates our differences.
