In the past decade, we saw a marked shift in the initiatives of many businesses and organizations to embrace and elevate programs supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, from internal initiatives, such as employee resource groups, to external messaging and branding. The addition of a DEI officer in a company’s leadership structure went from an anomaly to a norm.
More recently, however, sweeping backlash against DEI in many industries including in higher education has resulted in DEI positions being eliminated, programs abruptly canceled, and the leaders of prestigious academic institutions questioned on Capitol Hill.
So, what happened? And what does this backlash mean for the intended beneficiaries of these initiatives, and the future of increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our communities, educational institutions and in businesses?
Discussion topics may include:
- DEI in the workplace: Is it working?
- Recently, we’ve been inundated with the news of companies eliminating DEI initiatives, from Walmart to Meta. What are the reasons behind these changes, and what will the impact be on our businesses and our communities?
- Since 2023, legislation taking aim at DEI in higher education has been passed or introduced in more than a dozen states. In the wake of the new administration and its executive orders, is the elimination of DEI inevitable? What would the potential consequences be?
In our own community, many institutions have issued public statements addressing executive orders, including the impact on DEI. What is the role of public and private organizations in taking a stance on these issues?
Meet our CFO (Chief Facilitating Officer)
Henry Posko led Howard County-based nonprofit Humanim for four decades; under his leadership, Humanim evolved from its beginnings serving adults with developmental disabilities in Howard County to become a major regional service provider whose focus includes workforce development, developmental disability, behavioral health, and youth services.
Henry has received numerous honors and awards, including being named to the Maryland Business Hall of Fame by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, named Innovator of the Year by the Maryland Daily Record, receiving the Wave Maker Award as a Developer from the Urban Land Institute, and the Associated Black Charities Champion Award for his leadership of Humanim’s work promoting racial and economic equity. He is a former Chair of The Horizon Foundation, Leadership Maryland, and Maryland Works. He has served on the boards of many institutions, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, MICA, and Revere Bank.
Henry is a graduate of the University of Baltimore, received his master’s degree from what is now Loyola University Maryland, and earned his PhD in Organizational Development from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
