February is Black History Month. This serves as the perfect time to remember that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not trends – not just something we embraced and focused on in 2020 and 2021 during Black Lives Matter – but a foundation for building strong, forward-thinking organizations. Recognizing Black History Month isn’t simply about celebration and recognition, it’s about awareness and continued commitment to workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The fact of the matter is, workplaces in the U.S. are more diverse than ever. According to 2024 UN DESA data, the United states hosts the world’s largest number of international migrants, with 52.4 million foreign-born residents. When organizations prioritize inclusion, they are better positioned to understand their clients, serve diverse communities, and stay competitive in a changing marketplace.
Inclusive work environments build trust, reduce turnover, and strengthen collaboration. When employees believe they belong, they are more likely to contribute ideas, take initiative, and support one another. In honoring Black History Month and continuing DEI efforts year-round, organizations send a clear message: everyone’s contributions matter—and that commitment benefits both people and performance.
Just last week, SDEA facilitated training with a small San Diego company. Instead of an overview of definitions such as Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions, we had engaging conversations on the “Whys” and “Hows”. Why do we have biases? Exploring where biases come from and different views on whether we can “unlearn” our biases. We did role-playing on how to address microaggressions both directly and indirectly. There was sharing of personal experiences and group discussion on how to be a good ally.
SDEA encourages all companies to set aside time to reflect and, better yet, have conversations surrounding this topic with their teams. Don’t know where or how to start? Ask them. Ask your employees how they feel about the work environment, what can be improved upon. Ask them what they want to talk about, learn about, know more about. Still struggling? SDEA can help. Call us at 858-505-0024 or email at info@sdeahr.org.
