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By Jonaki Mehta   Every year, in order to receive federal money, state and local school leaders promise the U.S. Department of Education they will continue following federal rules, including civil rights laws. It's standard practice. So when the department sent a memo on April 3 asking school leaders to, once again, certify they would follow civil rights laws, or risk losing federal funds, it left many scratching their heads. Hadn't they already done that this school year? Read More Here. Image by jcomp

By  Olivia Hampton ,  Obed Manuel ,  Leila Fadel The U.S. Department of Education has given schools and universities that receive federal funding an ultimatum: eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. The Education Department has directed institutions, from preschools to colleges, to stop using "racial preferences" in admissions, financial aid, hiring and other areas in a letter sent last week . The directive extends President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs as part of his fight against "wokeness." Read More Here.   Image by creativeart

By Kayla Haskins The recent surge of companies dismantling their DEI programs has sent shock waves throughout the corporate world. From Tractor Supply Company to Lowe’s, Harley Davidson, and even the University of Kentucky, this trend raises concerns about the future of workplace inclusivity initiatives. However, it’s crucial to look beyond the headlines. While some organizations are scaling back, many others are quietly reinforcing their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In fact, 72 percent of C-suite and HR leaders plan to increase their DEI commitment over the next two years. Read More Here. Image by rawpixel

By Curtis Bunn One by one, diversity, equity and inclusion programs at some of the country’s biggest companies fell apart in 2024, with signs that efforts to reverse DEI initiatives will only ramp up in 2025. This year saw the rise in prominent figures like Elon Musk and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson , among others, who vocally pushed against DEI initiatives. Major companies, including Walmart , Lowe’s , Ford and Toyota , heeded the calls and dialed back their DEI programs, particularly after social media-driven campaigns by influencers like Robby Starbuck .  Read More Here.  Image by rawpixel

By TalentMap The  Merriam-Webster  dictionary defines “welcoming” with terms such as comforting, inviting, desirable, hospitable, kindly and personable.  If you’ve ever walked into a party where you don’t know anyone and after about an hour, you realized you didn’t want to leave, you either met an old friend that you really like or there’s a good chance the host did a great job at making you feel welcome.      The power of feeling welcome   Organizations have the power to do the same thing. Smart organizations realize that their most valuable resource is their staff, so they invest in a work culture that makes every employee feel welcome.    We’re using the example of a house party here but it’s easy to see how these “welcoming” behavio u rs easily transfer to a welcoming work culture. Whether you’re welcoming new employees to your workplace culture, or you’ve recently updated your culture and you’re helping employees to adapt to the changes, these tips will help to ensure  that you’re creating  a culture that says, “you’re welcome here.”  Read More Here. Image by rawpixel

By employmenthero At some point in our lives, we all have most likely experienced having or needing an ally. When you were at school, did a teacher ever get you in trouble for something you didn’t do? Were your siblings ever guilty of picking on you? Or were you ever targeted for having different interests than others? All of these experiences are times where you might have wanted someone to step in and stand up for what’s right. There are countless ways to be an authentic ally in the workplace. It can be as simple as reaching out and showing interest in another individual. Sometimes it’s about encouraging a person to keep reaching their career goals or providing opportunities for them to grow. Fostering an inclusive workplace can significantly boost team morale and productivity. For more tips, check out this guide on creating an inclusive workplace. Read More Here. Image by freepik

By Janna Rodriguez   As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I wanted to share how it is important for us all to reflect on women’s progress in the business world and the importance of supporting and empowering women-owned businesses, particularly in the early childhood education sector. For decades, women have fought for equality in the workplace and have made significant strides in breaking down barriers and glass ceilings. Read More Here. Image by lookstudio

By Guilherme Leme For many of us, working from home — whether full-time or part-time — has become the new norm, and with that comes new challenges at work. Between the distractions, interruptions, and the continuous need to maintain an agile mindset, it can become difficult to manage, seek, and commit to new ways to improve work performance.  By not taking the time to identify and improve work performance, you may find yourself experiencing issues like a decline in work quality, communication, and professional development.   Whether you’re new to the workforce, seeking a promotion, or trying to make a career change, learning how to continuously develop yourself professionally should be a standard practice that’s inspiring and challenging in a positive way. Don’t wait until your annual performance evaluation — or, worse, until your boss brings it up. Read More Here. Image by freepik

By Sara Moniuszko A majority of Americans were stressed before Election Day , and now post-election, emotions are still running high for many across the country.  Experts say Americans with varying political views may be overcome with emotion in the wake of the election results, from pride and optimism to disappointment, frustration and even fear. "Feelings of, 'How did this happen?' are likely widespread and would have been whichever way the vote had gone. For many, these strong emotions reflect the heightened stakes of what has been called one of the most important elections in U.S. history, as people contemplate what the results mean for their values, communities and hopes for the future," Chaitali Sinha, psychologist and chief clinical research and development officer at mental health app Wysa, told CBS News.  If you're someone looking to better cope with heightened emotions around the election, here are some tips according to experts.   Read More Here. Image by rawpixel

By Ashley Mowreader College students who feel as though they belong at their institution are more likely to retain, persist and graduate, but learners who do not feel represented in their student body are less likely to find that feeling. A recent study from the University of Georgia found depression and anxiety rates are higher among students who are not the majority race at a predominately white institution (PWI). More than half of students who self-identified with races other than white reported feelings of mild depression, and 17 percent reported experiencing moderate to severe depression. Read More Here. Image by lookstudio