Creating Impactful Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Programs at Work

  May 11, 2021  1pm EST/Noon CST/10am PST

 

We have invited Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to talk to us as they have recently embarked on their DEI journey. Many of you and your organizations are in a similar phase as the BSA. We hope that this session will guide you in your own journey as we share and learn from each other. 

– Sangeeta & Mariah

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is committed to promoting a culture where every youth, volunteer, and employee feels a sense of belonging and to build communities where every person feels respected and valued.  The vision for making this a reality is to partner with all families and communities in raising young people of high moral character, developing their leadership skills and preparing them to serve and thrive in a world of increasing complexity and challenge.

How does BSA cultivate the culture of belonging?  They have a strategic plan, including commitments to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) through use of Volunteer and Employee DEIB Training, introduction of a Merit Badge focused on DEIB, reviewing our programs for Cultural Appropriation, and through use of Workforce Resource Groups to help advance professional development, support, networking and belonging, to name a few.

Join us as we learn more about BSA’s DEIB strategy, as well as challenges and learnings to date, with Elizabeth Ramirez-Washka, the Chief Diversity Officer for the Boy Scouts of America.

About the Presenter:

Elizabeth Ramirez-Washka

Vice President – Diversity & Inclusion and Associate General Counsel – Labor & Employment Boy Scouts of America

Elizabeth Ramirez-Washka leads all BSA diversity and inclusion initiatives and provides legal advice on employee relations issues to both the national office and local councils. She is a founding member of the LISTOS workforce resource group and an active member of RISE.

Prior to joining the BSA, Elizabeth was the employment attorney at both Keurig Dr Pepper and Tenet Healthcare, handling employment and labor matters as well as union negotiations and campaigns. She spent the early part of her career as a trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board and a criminal prosecutor at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.

Her commitment to workforce diversity is underscored by her active leadership as treasurer and board member of the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation, program chair for the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association’s Latina Leadership Program, and mentor in the Diversity Pipeline Attorney Program (DAPP), a career-readiness and job placement program for diverse law students.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and a doctor of juris prudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. She and husband Todd have two daughters, Isabella and Julianna.