Calendar of Events

Presented by Bob Hulsey, Justice Waidner Smith and Mana Tahaie

At this month's learning lab, we will explore some of the complex questions often faced by those passionate about being change agents in the development and execution of diversity and inclusion initiatives, including:

1) What does a truly inclusive organization look like?
2) What are the organizational barriers to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace?
3) How can individuals developing a diversity initiative align the inclusion strategy to the organization's mission, core values, and overall strategic goals and objectives?
4) What are concrete strategies and actions that individuals can take to further diversity and inclusion within their workplaces?

Bob Hulsey, Managing Consultant in Diversity, Justice Waidner Smith and Mana Tahaie, both of YWCA Tulsa, will offer insight and perspective into these challenging questions. The presenters will share strategies to ensure that your approach to diversity and inclusion is well planned and designed to enhance your organization's culture. This lab will offer clarity to, sometimes blurry, diversity and inclusion initiatives and practices.

Bob Hulsey has his own firm working with organizations consulting on Inclusion and organizational development.  He has been in the Corporate and Health Care world in the Inclusion, Community Relations and Employee Assistance / Health Benefits realm.  Bob also served as Director of the Northeast Oklahoma Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a local and federally funded program focused on improving access to healthcare in rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma.

Licensed Professional Counselor for 21 years; during that time served as volunteer counselor in a variety of human service agencies in Portland and Tulsa.  Bob served in the Peace Corps in South Korea for two years and taught English as a second language in Indonesia for two years.  He has a B.A. in Psychology from University of Tulsa; MS in Counseling Psychology from Oregon State University. Bob is very involved in the community volunteering his time and expertise.

Bob lives in Tulsa with his partner of 19 years, Sam Wheeler.

Mana Tahaie is the first Director of Racial Justice and co-directs the Inclusion Institute. Ms. Tahaie joined the YWCA in June 2008, growing the Racial Justice department to include anti-racism training and consulting, racial caucus groups,two annual signature events, community collaborations, and advocacy.

Before joining YWCA Tulsa, Ms. Tahaie served as the Deputy Director of Oklahomans for Equality, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization and community center. She is the past convener of the Tulsa Say No to Hate Coalition and currently serves on the boards of the United Campus Ministry at The University of Tulsa, the TU Women's & Gender Studies Department, ACLU Oklahoma, and the Center for New Community.

Ms. Tahaie earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science from The University of Tulsa. She brings with her an analysis of power, organizational and institutional development, and identity-based oppression.

Justice Waidner Smith is YWCA Tulsa's Director of Human Resources and codirects the Inclusion Institute. Her contributions to the YWCA date back nearly a decade, when she chaired the board's Racial Justice committee and developed several programs as a volunteer. She joined the staff after pursuing a master's degree in Intercultural Leadership and Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute.

Before entering graduate school, Ms. Waidner Smith spent several years in nonprofit management at Oklahomans for Equality, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, and the Regional AIDS Intercommunity Network. She serves on the board of the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association, the Goodwill Business Advisory Council, and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and the American Society for Training and Development.

Ms. Waidner Smith received her bachelor of arts in Social Politics & Writing at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She is skilled in organizational development, change management, and facilitation with specializations in intercultural inclusion and conflict transformation.