EDAA Committee

ARIDO releases DIV.e.IN Survey Insights Report and the Chandy Principle™, Phase One Report

Earlier this year, ARIDO hired Matrix360, a third-party talent management and workplace strategy organization to lead the Association and the Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Advancement Committee (EDAA) committee with our work. This work included diversity training, a survey that engaged the ARIDO membership, and an initial recommendations report identifying a roadmap for ARIDO’s next steps.

ARIDO is pleased to share with the membership the results of the DIV.e.IN Survey Insights Report and the Chandy Principle™, Phase One Report.

Image with the cover of the Chandy Principle Report

The Matrix DIV.e.IN™ Survey Insights Report

The Matrix DIV.e.IN ™ survey system is designed to provide an effective overview of member demographics, perspectives and attitudes, and a comparative analysis of key factors that are connected to diversity, equity, and accessibility. The survey measures all aspects of the organization that includes valuable intelligence for blind spots, hidden gaps, and growth opportunities that directly impact members and the organization.

The Matrix DIV.e.IN™ survey was sent to all 2,753 ARIDO members in spring 2021. That participation rate for the survey was 35%. The data collected is reflective of the overall membership and ARIDO recognizes the need to consistently collect, measure and report on an annual basis.

For ARIDO, the data reveals an association where a strong majority of members are highly committed to diversity, however, are unsure if ARIDO’s business framework and foundation is currently diverse and equitable. The vast majority of members believe that in interactions with the association and events they can expect to feel safe, and where a large majority of members have not experienced any form of discrimination, harassment, bullying, or stereotypes. The overall framework of ARIDO seems to reveal a progressive, committed, and multigenerational membership that acknowledges there is room for improvement for access to opportunities for diverse equity-seeking groups.

We encourage members to review the full report. Pages 8 to 13 of the report contain highlights of the examination and categorized in the following areas:

Demographic Overview
Diverse Representation
Perspectives for Advocacy and Communications
Perspectives for Initiatives and Events
Perspectives Related to Workplaces in the Industry

CLICK HERE TO READ

The Chandy Principle™, Phase One Report

This report was developed following the results of the DIV.e.IN Survey, organization-wide sensitivity training, and through ongoing discussions between Matrix360 and ARIDO representatives. The report identifies a strategy roadmap for the association which outlines categories of actions. The ARIDO leadership, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Advancement Committee, and ARIDO Board of Management will all be involved in the action plan to lead ARIDO through next steps.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

Next Steps

Next steps within the action plan will commence in fall 2021 and continue for a 36-month period. As ARIDO begins this work with Matrix360, it will report back to the membership on the progress of this work.

We encourage members to read these reports and provide any feedback directly to ARIDO leadership via Sharon Portelli, Executive Director and Registrar at sportelli@arido.ca.

ARIDO recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today, people across Canada will mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in order to recognize the ongoing trauma of First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis people which was caused by residential and day schools.
September 30th is an opportunity to remember the children who were lost, survivors, and their families, and commit to the process of truth, reconciliation, and justice with First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis people, as well as take action to heal and work to build a better future together.

As an ARIDO member, you are encouraged to reflect on ways to work towards reconciliation in your daily life and learn more about the history of residential schools, the Indian Act, the ways that First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis people have been harmed, and the ways these impacts continue to be felt. Part of reconciliation is acknowledging the past and working to ensure history is not repeated, by respecting Indigenous treaties and rights and questioning our own perceptions and stereotypes.

Over the last eight months, ARIDO has partnered with Matrix360 Inc to examine and build a foundation to guide our learning diversity, equity, and accessibility journey as an Association.

As an Association, ARIDO recognizes that we have a lot of work ahead and are committed to building and advancing diversity, equity, and reconciliation internally and externally. The ARIDO Board and staff are invested to shift the narratives from talk to action for all members.

Later today, we are releasing two significant reports that outline key priorities and recommendations identifying a roadmap for ARIDO’s next steps.

We believe that the learning must be continuous. We encourage all members to further explore and learn the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Report.

A few resources to help guide your learning:

Throughout the week, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) will be hosting online events and learning opportunities for both schools and the general public. They will also be producing an hour-long special to be hosted on APTN and CBC on September 30 at 9 pm.

Learn more about the origin of Orange Shirt Day, and Phyllis (Jack) Webstead’s story.

Familiarize yourself with the 94 calls to action put forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015.

Learn about the traditional territory of where you live and the treaties which are established on it.

Donate or get involved with a local Indigenous organization.

Begin the Indigenous Canada course offered by the University of Alberta which covers the history and key issues which face Indigenous people today.

Many libraries have compiled reading lists of books by First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis authors for children, teens, and adults.

The National Film Board of Canada has compiled a list of films and documentaries by Indigenous people that you can watch.

The Power of Colour Session 3 Postponed

The ARIDO Power of Colour: Being Black in Design panel series was the first of a series of conversations around the barriers and issues in the industry with a mandate of raising potential avenues for change. The series was hosted and moderated by Chandran Fernando of Matrix360 and led by several practicing designers who were both members and non-members of ARIDO.

Following the first two sessions, the panelists regrouped with ARIDO leadership and the Co-Chairs of ARIDO’s Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Advancement Committee (EDAA) committee to discuss next steps.

The first two sessions within this series have been successful in bringing important experiences and issues to the forefront. We have learned over the past year that as we continue to move forward moments of reflection and readjustment can ensure that ARIDO’s commitment to advancing the work in this area is positive and results in impactful change. This is one such moment where we will pause to further reflect on the first two sessions in greater detail and as a result, the third session scheduled to occur on September 21 will be postponed to a later date.

The panel series has brought to light that solutions and actions towards real change can be accelerated within EDAA’s Committee work as it continues its mandate. ARIDO leadership and the EDAA Co-Chairs have received several recommendations from the panelists that focus on actionable next steps.

ARIDO will present the recommendations received from the panelists to the EDAA Committee who continue to lead as the current gatekeepers of all organizational matters related to Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Advancement within the organization. The recommendations will be reviewed by the Committee against their mandate and the ARIDO Board’s Strategic Plan; specifically, the targets and strategies identified in the Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Advancement Pillar.

The EDAA Committee has also received the Phase One recommendations report from Matrix360 and will assess the recommendations submitted by the panelists against the identified next steps in this area of work for ARIDO.
Within the coming days, ARIDO will be releasing the results of the DIVeIN Survey and the Phase One Report. The survey was released to the membership in late March to help ARIDO understand member’s perspectives, attitudes, and experiences as well as identifying member demographics and key trends to help build best practices with diversity, equity, accessibility, and advancement in mind. The Phase One Report outlines a series of recommended next steps for ARIDO in response to the survey results and organizational training carried out to date.

We recommend all members review these documents and welcome any feedback or comments from the membership at large. Comments can be sent directly to Sharon Portelli, Executive Director, and Registrar at sportelli@arido.ca.

We will also report back to the membership plans to continue the work resulting from this panel series once the EDAA Committee has reviewed and identified appropriate next steps.