#RM_Ott19 @research_money next panel is on policy and #EDI w/ @kelly_mcgahey of @HireImmOttawa, @BerubeDo @SSHRC_CRSH, Jane Ngobia @sheridancollege, and Mahadeo Sukhai @CNIB

Employers are worried about resistance to #EDI within their organizations, incl white nationalism and resistance to immigrants - @kelly_mcgahey #RM_Ott19

#RM_Ott19 @BerubeDo @SSHRC_CRSH describes case study of complaints against Canada Research Chairs, which were not equitably distributed. This has inspired #EDI initiatives forcing insitutions to meet set targets to submit CRCs. This greatly improved diversity in nominations

M Sukhai @CNIB - if we measure the wrong thing, we won't take the right actions. What does "merit" represent? Excellence and equity are linked, just like innovation and diversity. Policies must be designed with inclusivity in mind, from the point of view of the end user
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There are accessibility dimensions to #EDI as well ➡️ Many people with disabilities do not declare them, many who have indigenous upbringing may not "look" like they are. Different observers will view each EDI group differently.
- M Sukhai @CNIB #RM_Ott19

Interesting slide from J Ngobia on academic diversity outcomes over time : minimal changes, and the only notable categories affected were
- white men
- visible minority men
- white women

No visible minority women.

#RM_Ott19 #EDI

#RM_Ott19 M Sukhai adds that culture eats policy for breakfast, if there is too strong a culture against changes (like #EDI) it won't stick. @BerubeDo agrees that culture is a hard thing to change, esp around "excellence". For which one the strongest contributers, is privilege.

So how can we increase diversity, really? M Sukhai says he's building capacity from the inside, as Chief Accessibility Officer at @CNIB. Having champions within the system helps move things forward ➡️ inclusion breeds inclusion
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#RM_Ott19 @BerubeDo adds that it's important to foster awareness of privilege and bias, and so that those in a position of privilege do not just check their privelege but are fully aware of it.

#RM_Ott19 J Ngobia says one of the biggest problems is self-exclusion ➡️ when straight white men decide they have no stake in the #EDI discussion. Everyone has a stake, and if we're not all at the table then we won't progress together as a society.

Don't lower standards, raise people up so they can achieve them.

If we want an even and beautiful front lawn, we don't need to cut the lawn. We can help each blade of grass grow. - M. Sukhai #RM_Ott19