{"id":70553,"date":"2020-10-28T14:18:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T18:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=70553"},"modified":"2025-10-10T10:23:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T14:23:42","slug":"inclusion-week-2020-recap","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/inclusion-week-2020-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton’s Inclusion Week Attracts Large Audiences and Inspires Challenging Discussions on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Carleton's Inclusion Week Attracts Large Audiences and Inspires Challenging Discussions on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

During a time of worldwide calls for greater equity, diversity and inclusion in society\u2014and in the midst of a global pandemic\u2014Carleton\u2019s second annual Inclusion Week<\/a> played a significant role in hosting urgent conversations about advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week of virtual events, including panelists from across the country and around the world, ran from October 19 to 23, and was hosted by the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities (EIC). It kicked off with an interview<\/a> with Innovation, Science and Industry Minister, Navdeep Bains, followed by a workshop in Inclusive Leadership, a Neuroscience of Inclusion<\/a> panel, an Accessibility in Times of Transition event<\/a>, and an African Diaspora in the Academy<\/a> panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the total audience for the week exceeded 400, staff, students and external community members, more than double that of the inaugural event last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Assistant Vice-President and University Advisor for EIC Michael F. Charles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe stature of this event grew substantially this year,\u201d observed Michael Charles, assistant vice-president and university advisor in EIC.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cMembers of Carleton\u2019s senior leadership, the Board of Governors, and external leaders from coast to coast\u2014including executives from SSHRC, a federal research funding agency\u2014attended together with community advocates. The feedback has been enthusiastic and it has been a privilege to have been a part of this level of engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The event series furthers one of the priorities in Carleton\u2019s recently released Strategic Integrated Plan, which outlines a commitment for all of us at Carleton to work together in ways that address issues of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).  The implementation of this vision is set out in the draft Institutional EDI Action Plan<\/a> \u2013 the subject of broad cross-campus consultations this Fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCarleton is a diverse community that strives for inclusion, but we are part of the broader world and in no way immune from issues and challenges of discrimination and inequity,\u201d President Benoit-Antoine Bacon wrote in a letter about Inclusion Week<\/a>. \u201cWe have made progress this year<\/a>, but there is no question that much remains to be done. It is our shared responsibility to always seek to do better and to be part of solutions. The burden of change is on each of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Challenging Perspectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Inclusion Week included discussions from a number of perspectives, beginning with Charles\u2019 recorded interview with Bains. The keynote event explored how educational institutions and government can work together to spark transformational change.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cThere needs to be an understanding that EDI is not only the right thing to do, but it makes society better,\u201d Bains said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cEDI gives better outcomes, drives innovation, productivity and better returns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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