DEI Series

This first episode lays the foundation for the weeks to follow.

In order to get the most out of the future topics and guests, we set the stage by:

• Identifying where your club is today on the topic of DEI
• Assessing how your membership can become more welcoming to all current and potential members
• Discussing our roles as Rotarians in advancing the 4-Way Test in our communities
• Creating an actionable plan to move forward with this topic as part of future projects and initiatives.

Hosts:

• Kim McKoy (she/her) / Kim is a member of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and Executive Director of Path from Poverty.
• Breane Martinez (she/her) / Breane is an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 5020 and a past President of the Kingston Rotary Club.
• Rob Gelder (he/him) / Rob is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a Kitsap Commissioner.
• Dan Weedin (he/him) / Dan is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a business consultant.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Episode #1 Resources

• Read: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
• Watch: Poverty Inc.
• Background: The Four-Way Test

Microaggressions are defined as “indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group.” As Rotarians, we strive to be welcoming and respectful to all members and the people we serve. Unfortunately, we can get caught unintentionally hurting those who we care most about.

In this episode, we will examine microaggressions and show how they can subtly show up in our club meetings, projects, and events. If we can define and identify microaggressions, we go a long way towards advancing the 4-Way Test in our clubs and our lives.

Host: Kim McKoy (she/her)
Kim is a member of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and Executive Director of Path from Poverty.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Guest: Dr. Roberta Wilburn (she/her)
Dr. Roberta J. Wilburn is an award-winning diversity and inclusion expert who champions diversity, equity, and inclusion while inviting people to enhance their intercultural skills and build authentic relationships with people from diverse backgrounds in order to promote cross-cultural understanding. She is an author, diversity trainer, cultural coach, and racial justice advocate that works with people who are serious about uncovering their hidden biases and doing the necessary work to become culturally sensitive and responsive advocates and allies. Using her R.E.A.L. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Framework she teaches and encourages others how to embrace cultural differences and foster collaborative relationships with people from diverse backgrounds using a faith-based perspective so they can excel in a diverse and inclusive world. Dr. Wilburn is also the President and Co-founder of Wilburn & Associates, LLC a consulting organization that focuses on diversity training, intercultural coaching, courageous conversations, and cultural events. She is married to James Wilburn, Jr. and they have 3 adult children and 3 grandsons.

As a transformational servant-leader, she has always tried to have her hands on the pulse of local and national concerns, and it has been recognized by others locally and nationally. She is the recipient of the designation of a Lilac City Legend and Strong Woman Achieving Greatness for Women’s History Month in March 2021.  In the fall of 2016, her diversity work was validated when she became the recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Carl Maxey Racial and Social Justice Award and the following year, she received the 2017 Insight Into Diversity Giving Back Award for Administrators in Higher Education. Her research has led her to pursue and acquire two international grants spanning Africa, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic; receive two invitations to present her research on women of color at the Oxford Round Table in England; and write numerous publications. Her most recent publication was released in April 2021. It was a book chapter entitled: Make Your Inclusion Matter, in “Make It Matter: How to Create a Life of Unforgettable Impact and Abundant Fulfillment.”  

Episode #2 Resources

• Read: Minorities Who ‘Whiten’ Job Resumes Get More Interviews
• Read: The Roadmap to Intercultural Competence
• Read: Make it Matter Project
• Learn: Using the ADDRESS Model to Intervene

Recruiting new members has long been a goal for all clubs. Growing a strong and robust membership is vital for success. Diversity in our clubs creates a more well-rounded, innovative, and inclusive membership.

In this episode, we will discuss how to identify your own club’s demographics, how to thoughtfully create a plan for adding diversity, and how to welcome and develop Rotarians from all walks of life and experiences.

Host: Breane Martinez (she/her)
Breane is an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 5020 and a past President of the Kingston Rotary Club.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Guest: Dr. “Bowtie” Todd Jenkins (he/him)
Dr. Todd Jenkins currently serves as the Senior Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation Leader in Corporate America at a Fortune 400 company and as a Global Inclusion Trainer, Strategist, and Speaker with Bowtie Leadership, Inc. As a consultant, he has worked with several companies such as Walmart, Google, Facebook, American Airlines, Deloitte, etc., oil and gas companies, small and large non-profits, and entrepreneurs. He graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina with two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology, obtained a Master of Science from Illinois State University, and Doctorate from the University of Arkansas. His research area focused on minority professionals, retention, and perception of their supervisor within the workplace. Currently, he is enrolled at Harvard University, completing post-doctorate studies as Harvard Fellow. Also, Dr. Jenkins serves as a faculty member for the Executive Institute on Inclusion and on the Diversity Business Journal Review Board.

Dr. Jenkins is a proud Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Fayetteville, Arkansas; he has served as the former Rotaract Advisor, Interact Sponsor, RYLA presenter, Youth Services Chair, two terms on Club Board of Directors, and graduated from his District and Zone Leadership Academy. Dr. Jenkins is currently one of the youngest Youth Exchange District Chairs in Rotary International. He has had the honor to speak at various Rotary districts, zones, and international conventions. Dr. Jenkins serves on multiple boards locally and internationally in education, business, and inclusion initiatives. He has recently been selected and appointed to serve on the first Rotary International Committee- DEI Taskforce to align Rotary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion assessment, strategy, goals, and initiatives.

Today he is known as Dr. “Bowtie Todd,” who has given inspirational talks and education to audiences of all sizes and backgrounds throughout North America, Asia, South America, and Europe. Dr. Todd Jenkins is a proud husband, author, servant leader, and conversationalist who believes in his philosophy “bowtie” it all together, serve and simply be a gift unto the world!

Feel free to connect with Dr. Jenkins at www.bowtieleadership.com.

Episode #3 Resources

• Read: Rotary History & Vision
• Connect: Bowtie Leadership
• Listen: The Bowtie Convo Podcast

Sometimes lost in the discussions around DEI is the real challenges faced by members (and potential members) who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or sometimes Questioning), and others. The “plus” represents other sexual identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit.

In this episode, we will explore how microaggressions can negatively impact members in this community, and how we as Rotarians can improve our ability to recruit and welcome LGBTQ+ members.

Host: Rob Gelder (he/him)
Rob is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a Kitsap Commissioner.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Guest: Manny Santiago (he/him, they/them)
J. Manny Santiago is the Executive Director of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, having been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to this position in 2019. Originally from the mountains of Puerto Rico, Manny graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus. He studied theology, obtaining a Master in Divinity at the Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts, and studied Public Administration at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce.

Manny serves on various committees and workgroups on religion, Latinx identity, sexual and gender identity, and immigrants’ rights at the national and international level. His writings have been featured in several books and professional journals, as well as in The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and many other national media.

He currently lives in Tacoma with his husband and enjoys cooking, traveling, hiking, and reading works by Latina women writers.

Episode #4 Resources

• Learn: Washington State LGBTQ Commission
• Learn: LBGTQ+ Meanings Graphic
• Learn: Inclusivity Graphic

The topics of race and racism are crucial – and often uncomfortable – conversations that are necessary to advance truth, fairness, goodwill, and better friendships around both Rotary and the global communities we all serve.

In this episode, we will discuss the history of race in America and how it impacts our relationships, businesses, and communities. Additionally, we will discern unrecognized racial habits to help close the gaps between people.

Host: Dan Weedin (he/him)
Dan is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a business consultant.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Guest: Dr. Terrance MacMullan (he/him)
Dr. Terrance MacMullan is a professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy program at Eastern Washington University. He has been at EWU since 2002. He earned his PhD in Philosophy at University of Oregon and his BA at Hamilton College. Dr. MacMullan specializes in social and political philosophy, and pragmatism.

Dr. Macmullan is the author of the book Habits of Whiteness: A Pragmatist Reconstruction. Habits of Whiteness offers a new way to talk about race and racism by focusing on racial habits and how to change them. According to Dr. Terrance MacMullan, the concept of racial whiteness has undermined attempts to create a truly democratic society in the United States. By getting to the core of the racism that lives on in unrecognized habits, MacMullan argues clearly and charitably for white folk to recognize the distance between their color-blind ideals and their actual behavior

Episode #5 Resources

• Read: Habits of Whiteness
• Read: Dusk of Dawn
• Read: Why Ta-Nehisi Coates is hopeful
• Learn: Bacon’s Rebellion
• Learn: John Dewey
• Learn: Adrienne Rich

Now it’s time to take action.

In this final episode, we pull all our discussions together and set goals for our own efforts to enhance DEI issues into our individual clubs.

Hosts:

• Kim McKoy (she/her) / Kim is a member of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and Executive Director of Path from Poverty.
• Breane Martinez (she/her) / Breane is an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 5020 and a past President of the Kingston Rotary Club.
• Rob Gelder (he/him) / Rob is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a Kitsap Commissioner.
• Dan Weedin (he/him) / Dan is a past President of the Poulsbo Rotary Club and a business consultant.

Facilitator: Jaime Hollis (she/her)
Jaime is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Guest: Dr. Raymond Reyes (he/him)
Dr. Raymond F. Reyes currently serves as Associate Vice President for Cultural Initiatives in the Office of the President for Gonzaga University.  He has previously served as the Associate Provost and Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President, and as the Interim Director for Gonzaga University’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE) and Interim Director for the Unity Multicultural Education Center (UMEC). Prior to these administrative appointments he was an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Gonzaga University. He had a joint appointment teaching classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level for the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Administration, Curriculum, & Instruction (ACI). He has also taught graduate leadership classes in the School of Professional Studies.  Dr. Reyes has been with Gonzaga University since 1987.

His areas of scholarship and expertise are institutional diversity planning, implementation, and assessment, optimizing organizational performance through intercultural competence and multicultural literacy, human development and learning, leadership development, culturally responsive teaching, and Ignatian Pedagogy. He has conducted hundreds of trainings, technical assistance seminars, and keynote presentations throughout the United States, Zambia, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada.

Prior to coming to Gonzaga University, he served as the Administrative Director for the Coeur ‘D Alene Tribe of Idaho. He has 33 years of experience in Indian Education and professional development training.

Episode #6 Resources

• Read: Rules for Radicals
• Listen: Intercultural Yoga Podcast
• Learn: Intercultural Development
  Inventory

Facilitator

Jaime Hollis (she/her) is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 15 years’ experience in developing equity and inclusion trainings, programs, and policies.

Jaime currently serves as the Diversity Director at the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. She previously worked in a variety of roles in higher education, including four years at Gonzaga University. There she developed the operations, services, and programs for the Lincoln LGBTQ Resource Center and established the first office dedicated to the support of transfer, veteran, and returning adult students. Jaime has also taught a variety of courses in Communication Studies at Eastern Washington University, Whitworth University, and Gonzaga University.

Jaime was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She completed her B.A. at Eastern Washington University where she majored in Women’s and Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies and completed a M.S. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in cultural, instructional, and organizational communication.

Jaime lives in Milton, Washington with her partner of 21 years and their two children and three dogs.