Ocoee green-lights city-wide DEI education campaign

At a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs are being defunded and eliminated in schools and workplaces across the state of Florida and across the country, Ocoee’s Human Relations Diversity Board (HRDB) Tuesday won unanimous approval from the city commission to roll out a city-wide educational campaign for exactly that.

“Diversity Drives Ocoee: A Community Journey to Diversity Equity and Inclusion,” will feature monthly posts on Ocoee’s website and social media channels as well as a 12-episode online video course “that supports learning specifically related to the various heritage months throughout the year,” Kellie Beck, HRDB member-at-large, told the commission. The start date is still to be announced.

The online diversity course is produced by LinkedIn Learning and will be accessible from any smart phone, tablet or computer and free to anyone with an Orange County Public Library Card.

The first few episodes explain the foundations of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, dive into anti-racism for Black History Month and cover fighting gender bias in the workplace for Women’s History Month. Course content, Beck said, was developed by thought leaders on each topic specifically for LinkedIn Learning’s professional training videos.

Beck said that Orange County Library System, which has a contract with LinkedIn Learning to provide access to the 10,000 videos in LinkedIn’s library, is providing technical support, a FAQs page and help line.

“Our goal for this is…[that people] would be able to access this course and improve their knowledge of diversity in the community,” she said.

The commission also approved funds to print a brochure explaining the role of the Human Relations Diversity Board along with an infographic illustrating Ocoee’s racial, ethnic, generational and income diversity. The brochure also contains a QR code for a community survey about where the HRDB should focus its energies: fostering relationships, providing resources, offering training and holding speaker events? The HRDB wants to hear from residents.

The brochure will be tucked in with residents’ upcoming water bills.