Building Inclusion Across Multi-disciplinary Teams

 

Date and Time : March 31, 2021 / 10 am PT / 11 am MT /12 pm CT / 1 pm ET for one hour

Webinar Summary: Do you feel like you are working in an inclusive environment? Organizations of all kinds – including corrections – have wrestled with how to create an inclusive culture and promote inclusivity for decades. Now the stakes are even higher to develop and cultivate a culture that promotes excellence by leveraging everyone’s skills, abilities, knowledge, and workplace experiences. Focusing on your workforce’s diverse talents will promote a heightened awareness of each person’s contribution and produce higher performing teams.

If you are interested in being part of a team where everyone can contribute and feel they are a valued member, this one-hour interactive webinar sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) will benefit you. In this webinar, we’ll explore the benefits of building inclusion across multi-disciplinary teams in corrections to increase cultural awareness, operational effectiveness, and program efficacy.

Take-Aways : Building Inclusion: (I.C.E)

• I ncrease effective communication and collaboration between teams and working units
• C odify processes and behaviors that promote innovative solutions to complex issues
• E xcel in the face of organizational change

Speakers

Alfranda Durr, CEO ALD & Associates LLC

Kari Heistad, CEO Cultural Coach International

Alfranda (Al) and Kari are Certified Diversity and Inclusion Practitioners with 40 plus years of combined experience conducting in-person and virtual training on a wide range of Human Resources, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics. Al and Kari have partnered on a popular diversity webinar series covering a wide range of diversity topics. Combined, Al and Kari bring varied perspectives and ways of seeing the world to their presentations.

Who Should Attend ?

Any employee of a federal, state, local, or tribal correctional jurisdiction.

How Do I Register ?

Follow this link to register in NIC’s WebEx Event Center https://nicmeetings.webex.com/nicmeetings/onstage/g.php?MTID=eaf259141606d6fed76a9d70a638f34dc

Who Do I Contact for More Information ?

Content Contact

Belinda D. Stewart, Correctional Program Specialist, Prisons Division

b5stewart@bop.gov

Webinar Technical Contact

Scott W. Richards, Correctional Program Specialist, Prisons Division

s1richards@bop.gov

How Do I Participate Effectively In a WebEx Event Center Webinar? How Do I Get Ready ?

For the best experience in your next NIC WebEx Event Center webinar, you’ll need a hands-free telephone, headset or earbuds, and an internet-enabled computer. For optimum learning, be in a quiet place, free from distractions/interruptions, sight-and-sound separated from others, where you can concentrate on what is happening during the webinar. A separate office space with a door to close is an ideal setting. Connect to the webinar audio bridge via a hands-free telephone, using earbuds/headset connected to your phone/cell phone, so your hands are free to interact with your keyboard.

While tablets and smartphones are also compatible with WebEx Events Center, several of the features are limited, and most devices require the installation of the Cisco WebEx app. Regardless of which device you plan to use, test its compatibility here. The link provides a quick test, and we strongly encourage you to do this before the webinar. If your browser does not pass the test, contact Webex Technical Support at 1-877-669-1782 and tell them you will be attending an NIC webinar on NIC’s Webex site at http://nicmeetings.webex.com . They can help you troubleshoot connectivity issues.

NIC strongly recommends consulting with your agency/local IT , as you may encounter pop-up blocking and/or firewall issues that block the NIC Webex webinar url.

A recording of this webinar will be available @ https://nicic.gov/webinars-broadcasts approximately two weeks after the live event.

Building Inclusion Across Multi-disciplinary Teams

 Date and Time : March 31, 2021 / 10 am PT / 11 am MT /12 pm CT / 1 pm ET for one hour

Webinar Summary: Do you feel like you are working in an inclusive environment? Organizations of all kinds – including corrections – have wrestled with how to create an inclusive culture and promote inclusivity for decades. Now the stakes are even higher to develop and cultivate a culture that promotes excellence by leveraging everyone’s skills, abilities, knowledge, and workplace experiences. Focusing on your workforce’s diverse talents will promote a heightened awareness of each person’s contribution and produce higher performing teams.

If you are interested in being part of a team where everyone can contribute and feel they are a valued member, this one-hour interactive webinar sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) will benefit you. In this webinar, we’ll explore the benefits of building inclusion across multi-disciplinary teams in corrections to increase cultural awareness, operational effectiveness, and program efficacy.

Take-Aways : Building Inclusion: (I.C.E)

• I ncrease effective communication and collaboration between teams and working units
• C odify processes and behaviors that promote innovative solutions to complex issues
• E xcel in the face of organizational change

Speakers

Alfranda Durr, CEO ALD & Associates LLC

Kari Heistad, CEO Cultural Coach International

Alfranda (Al) and Kari are Certified Diversity and Inclusion Practitioners with 40 plus years of combined experience conducting in-person and virtual training on a wide range of Human Resources, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics. Al and Kari have partnered on a popular diversity webinar series covering a wide range of diversity topics. Combined, Al and Kari bring varied perspectives and ways of seeing the world to their presentations.

Who Should Attend ?

Any employee of a federal, state, local, or tribal correctional jurisdiction.

How Do I Register ?

Follow this link to register in NIC’s WebEx Event Center https://nicmeetings.webex.com/nicmeetings/onstage/g.php?MTID=eaf259141606d6fed76a9d70a638f34dc

Who Do I Contact for More Information ?

Content Contact

Belinda D. Stewart, Correctional Program Specialist, Prisons Division

b5stewart@bop.gov

Webinar Technical Contact

Scott W. Richards, Correctional Program Specialist, Prisons Division

s1richards@bop.gov

How Do I Participate Effectively In a WebEx Event Center Webinar? How Do I Get Ready ?

For the best experience in your next NIC WebEx Event Center webinar, you’ll need a hands-free telephone, headset or earbuds, and an internet-enabled computer. For optimum learning, be in a quiet place, free from distractions/interruptions, sight-and-sound separated from others, where you can concentrate on what is happening during the webinar. A separate office space with a door to close is an ideal setting. Connect to the webinar audio bridge via a hands-free telephone, using earbuds/headset connected to your phone/cell phone, so your hands are free to interact with your keyboard.

While tablets and smartphones are also compatible with WebEx Events Center, several of the features are limited, and most devices require the installation of the Cisco WebEx app. Regardless of which device you plan to use, test its compatibility here. The link provides a quick test, and we strongly encourage you to do this before the webinar. If your browser does not pass the test, contact Webex Technical Support at 1-877-669-1782 and tell them you will be attending an NIC webinar on NIC’s Webex site at http://nicmeetings.webex.com . They can help you troubleshoot connectivity issues.

NIC strongly recommends consulting with your agency/local IT , as you may encounter pop-up blocking and/or firewall issues that block the NIC Webex webinar url.

A recording of this webinar will be available @ https://nicic.gov/webinars-broadcasts approximately two weeks after the live event.

Click https://nicic.gov/webinar-vilt-readiness for further information on NIC’s live webinars, including (cost = free!), how to obtain training credit from your agency, and much more!

The Best Job Hunting Advice for College Students

 This post is just one of many informative pieces of content that's featured on the Leadership blog.

Image courtesy of Pexels

The Best Job Hunting Advice for College Students

Whether you’re fresh out of high school or moving your career in a new direction, finding the right job to help support your goals and still do justice to your studies can be challenging. You want flexibility so you can focus on your priorities, but it’s also important to earn sufficient income. Here’s how to find the perfect fit to make the most of your opportunities.

Make Some Notes

Finding the right job can seem tough, especially if you aren’t exactly sure what you want to do. You might have certain qualities you want out of the position, aside from the obvious need for income. Perhaps you want flexibility or a job that connects you with certain people on campus. You might desire the chance to get your foot in the door with a particular company or to build certain skills. Make some notes of what you’re looking for and list your experiences and qualifications. These will help you both narrow your job search and begin building your resume. As Snagajob points out, finding a position that pulls it all together and fits with your school schedule is the key to making it work.

Prepare Your Paperwork

You want to put together a top-notch resume. Most employers receive a substantial number of applicants, so yours needs to stand out to the hiring manager. Search for great sample resumes online, then tailor your resume and cover letter to the job you’re applying for so you can get an interview. When writing your cover letter, one recommendation is to address it to a particular person in the company. If you can find out the name of whoever will read your letter, addressing it to that person will help make your application eye-catching. It shows you are serious about your job hunt and take an interest in the place where you are applying.  

Campus or Off-Campus?

Working on campus provides certain benefits. You can stay close to your classes, and if you live on campus or close by, your commute is brief. Being on campus can also provide the opportunity to connect with mentors, professors, and other students. College Raptor notes that if you want to find campus employment and you are receiving financial aid, you might be able to participate in a work-study program. In this situation, your federal income tax obligation is eliminated until you reach your maximum award amount.  

Internships

An internship is a valuable opportunity to rub elbows with people in the field you wish to pursue. Contrary to what some people might think, you do not need to be a graduate student or senior to receive an internship. In fact, many companies welcome student interns regardless of their grade level. Internships are available year-round, and they are often paid positions. Do your research to find out when applications are due for internships at organizations and companies you are interested in. As Investopedia explains, it will behoove you to send yours in early since internships at the best employers receive significant interest.  

Part-Time and Gig Work

Depending on your situation, a part-time position or gig employment could be the best option for you. Perhaps you are interested in taking advantage of a hobby or interest to make money while furthering your education. There are traditional part-time positions for college students, such as food service or retail, which are flexible, can provide great discounts, and offer a pleasant diversion from your studies. 

You could also become a part-time entrepreneur. Being a part-time entrepreneur offers flexibility and the chance to develop your own business idea, whether it’s doing landscaping, tutoring, coaching, or electronics repair. Another option is to pursue gig employment. There are side gigs that allow you to do all sorts of different things, such as driving, bookkeeping, or dog walking. Side gigs offer great flexibility if you have sufficient self-discipline and organizational skills to stay on track.    

Lay proper groundwork with your new venture by registering it with the state. This is easier than it sounds, thanks to online services. You’ll just need to pick a name for your company and business structure. Be creative when selecting the name, but stick to something straightforward for your customers. And as far as structure, many young entrepreneurs like an LLC since it can grow with the business. Plus, it’ll protect personal assets and has some tax perks. Save yourself a visit with an attorney and use an online service to complete the process. Then you can focus on getting that first customer! 

No matter what your situation, landing the right job can make all the difference while you’re in school. Prepare properly and think through your options; you’ll soon find the perfect fit.

 A few years ago, Sean left his job as a social worker to spend more time with his kids. Today, he writes for LearnFit in his spare time.

Expand Your Knowledge and Skills to Become a Better Leader in the Community

 

Image via Unsplash

Expand Your Knowledge and Skills to Become a Better Leader in the Community

By Sean Morris 

Ready to learn the secret of becoming a stronger community leader? 

Continued education!

In the sections below, we’ll discuss the importance of continuous learning — and the steps you can take to further your knowledge to become a more successful, well-rounded community leader. 

Why Lifelong Learning Matters

As a leader in the community, lifelong learning is crucial to your personal and professional development. 

• Find out what the Business Insider has to say about the importance of leadership and lifelong learning. 

• What separates a good leader from a great leader? Bestselling author Simon Sinek will tell you in this Inc.com video.

• Cultivate a love of learning to improve your chances of achieving professional success, opening your mind to new opportunities, and boosting your creative thinking skills. 

Tips to Further Your Education

Further your knowledge and education to become a trusted, well-rounded leader in the community. 

• Consider obtaining a degree in organizational leadership, public administration, or community leadership. 

• Consider boosting your education with a master's in teaching so you can not only lead, but so you can also help mold today's youth into tomorrow's leaders.

• Read these top-rated books for leaders to build a stronger, more meaningful community. 

Master Key Leadership Skills

Become a better community leader by mastering these key skills and abilities. 

• Discover the qualities that make for great community leaders, such as self-awareness, an eagerness to learn and adapt, empathy, and honesty. 

• Improve your ability to empathize with others and understand their feelings and motives. 

• Take the opportunity to volunteer locally so you can help others in need and spread love and awareness.

Great leaders are lifelong learners, but learning isn’t all about obtaining a college degree or professional certificate. To become a better leader in your community, it’s just as important that you focus on personal growth and development — and learn key skills that will help you to become more honest, empathetic, and adaptable in your personal and professional life. 

 A few years ago, Sean left his job as a social worker to spend more time with his kids. Today, he writes for LearnFit in his spare time.

Teleworking: A “How To” On Staying Effective and Productive During and After Covid-19

Teleworking: A “How To” On Staying Effective and Productive During and After Covid-19

WHEN: Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 1 pm – 2:30 pm

WHERE: Online, via Zoom

It would be great if you and your team could join the discussion.

Please register by clicking this LINK and share with your colleagues.

Cassie Hammett Presented With the 2019 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award

 NEW ORLEANS - Cassie Hammett is a dynamic trailblazer in the effort of community involvement and improvement and is one of the single most valuable resources to the New Orleans Division, Shreveport Resident Agency Child Exploitation Task Force.

In 2007, Ms. Hammett founded a non-profit organization called The Hub, a truly unique program designed to reach out and minister to the community's most desperate members. In her own words, this organization was created for the "widow, the orphan, the hungry, the poor, the exploited and the outcast." Initially, this ministry, under the name of The Lovewell, focused on the homeless population, providing them with methods of increasing their independence in order to better their own situation. In this program, individuals are encouraged to attend classes and courses designed to educate in important life skills, in order to gain points, they can then use to provide for their own needs. These points give them access to resources like a clothing store, laundromat, food store, and hair salon, all run by volunteers of the organization.

In 2011, The Hub branched into a different ministry as well. While the programs for the homeless and poverty-stricken remained in full force under The Lovewell, a second avenue of this organization formed to address the needs of a population generally dismissed, ignored, forgotten, or avoided. This new subset of The Hub, known as Purchased: Not for Sale, focuses on providing services for individuals involved in the sex industry. Purchased ministers to exotic dancers, women who have been involved in prostitution, adult victims of sex trafficking, and children who have been victims of trafficking or who are deemed at high risk for being recruited into this industry.

Purchased: Not for Sale included four different programs: Recovered, Reclaimed, Rejuvenate, and Demand.

Recovered is a two-year long residential program designed for women who have been involved in prostitution and want out of that lifestyle. Purchased provides housing for these women and a series of classes to teach them essential life skills, as well as classes to help heal from addiction.

Reclaimed focuses on underage individuals who have been victims of human trafficking. Purchased has partnered with Department of Children and Family Services to help train volunteer foster families in specialized methods to work with child victims of sex trafficking.

Rejuvenate focuses on teenage girls that are considered high-risk for being recruited into the sex trafficking industry. Rejuvenate seeks to help restore and build relationships with the teenage girls and their families to set up a support structure that might otherwise be lacking.

Demand focuses on those seeking to fulfill that demand within the sex industry in conjunction with Clint Davis Counseling services, to educate the solicitors of the sex industry. First and second time offenders can attend the program’s “John School,” in an attempt to affect change at the most basic level: the demand.

The Hub is a non-profit organization, funded entirely through donations, more than 30 different churches, and more than 35 community organizations, including Juvenile Justice, medical doctors, rehab programs, GED programs, food banks, employment programs, and many others.

In 2014, Ms. Hammett became the first and only non-government organization member of the FBI New Orleans, Shreveport Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF). Ms. Hammett and Purchased: Not for Sale have become invaluable resources to the efforts of special agents and other Task Force officers working child exploitation and human trafficking cases in the Shreveport area. Ms. Hammett and the employees at Purchased are on-call any time the CETF needs them. Ms. Hammett offers services to any adult women arrested by FBI or other law enforcement, and at times has been able, through her love and care of these women, to gain valuable insights and information that have been beneficial in the execution of the FBI’s human trafficking investigations.

In addition, Ms. Hammett is always available to assist in whatever capacity when a juvenile victim is recovered. At times this has meant helping to find housing, and at times it has meant bringing food to the child victim and sitting with her and law enforcement all night because housing could not be found. Ms. Hammett has even provided trial testimony in a case involving the trafficking of a 14-year-old girl, the result of which saw the pimp receive a 50-year federal prison sentence in 2019.

Ms. Hammett is a visionary; she has seen the problem and has chosen to not only combat it, but to make every effort to prevent it and to offer assistance in recovery from it. This is true of both her endeavors through The Lovewell and through Purchased: Not for Sale. She has established an oasis in a community where poverty and prostitution are rampant. But she’s not content to stop there. Ms. Hammett’s program is invaluable in the effort to combat the sex industry in the Shreveport/Bossier City area, but the sex industry is everywhere. To this end, Ms. Hammett has developed a template for her program for other cities in other states that might want to fight this problem. Already, she has helped launch a Purchased program in Las Vegas, Nevada, including facilitating a discussion between the organizers of that program and special agents of the Shreveport Resident Agency in order to help develop a plan for the Las Vegas program to effectively work with law enforcement in their area. Ms. Hammett is not only a resource to this community, but to every community that has or will follow in her footsteps.

On Friday October 2, 2020, FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran, Supervisory Special Resident Agent Chris Plants, and Community Outreach Specialist Lori Chauvin will formally present Ms. Hammett with the 2019 Director’s Community Leadership Award for her tremendous efforts with the homeless and sex industry communities.

The FBI Washington Field Office Announces José Andrés as the Recipient of the 2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

 Acting Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) James A. Dawson is pleased to announce José Andrés as the recipient of the 2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Washington Field Office (WFO).

The award ceremony, usually hosted by the Director of the FBI, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With sincere appreciation, WFO recognizes the compassion and outstanding service Chef Andrés provided to the National Capital Region during a difficult time.

“It seems like a lifetime ago, but in 2019, thousands of federal workers in our communities did not receive paychecks for an extended period due to the government shutdown,” said Acting ADIC Dawson. “During that time, Chef Andrés provided more than 100,000 free meals in the D.C. area alone, providing a beacon of hope for affected federal workers and their families.”

“Chef José Andrés continues to set the standard by providing resources to those battling through hard times,” Acting ADIC Dawson said. “His efforts through #Chefsforfeds assisted the federal work force during a critical moment, many from WFO. Despite the shutdown, FBI employees from WFO were deemed essential and were still working, despite not receiving a paycheck. The FBI’s mission and so many others were maintained due to his commitment and hard work. During the pandemic, we see Chef Andrés continue to do this work and help those in need, not just in our city, but around the world.”

Chef Andrés created the nonprofit World Central Kitchen to provide free meals to people affected by natural disasters in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which killed at least 100,000 people. The group has since served more than 40 million meals, responding to disasters such as wildfires in California, a volcanic eruption in Guatemala, and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Chef Andrés expanded the organization’s mission to support government employees during the government shutdown by creating #Chefsforfeds. This was a nationwide program created as a comprehensive resource center for federal workers around the United States. It included not only a food bank, which provided free meals, but also information on other programs, including D.C. Diaperbank and payment deferral programs for utility companies.

As the shutdown continued and more people were unable to maintain their normal way of life, #Chefsforfeds evolved and began providing bagged groceries in addition to hot meals. In total, more than 11,000 people were helped through the resource center along with 12,456 meal kits distributed.

The FBI’s DCLA was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in the community. Visit the FBI website for more details on Chef Andrés and the other people and organizations who have been recognized around the country for their service above and beyond the call of duty to help keep America and its kids safe.

For questions regarding the FBI’s Community Outreach Program, visit www.fbi.gov.