The Smart Communications Podcast: Episode 169 Summary

Title: How Can You Plan an Inclusive and Welcoming Project?
Host: Farah, Co-Director and Worker-Owner at Big Duck
Guests: Brenda Perez and Josh Kelly, Account Managers at Big Duck
Release Date: September 4, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 169 of The Smart Communications Podcast, host Farah delves into the crucial topic of planning inclusive and welcoming projects within nonprofit organizations. Joined by Big Duck's newest account managers, Brenda Perez and Josh Kelly, the episode explores actionable strategies to foster inclusivity in project management and organizational communications.

Meet the Guests: Brenda Perez and Josh Kelly

Brenda Perez brings a wealth of experience in logistics planning and community organizing. Before joining Big Duck, she spearheaded initiatives advancing immigrant rights, labor organizing, and civic participation. Holding a Master's in Divinity from Vanderbilt University, Brenda authored her thesis on "Joyful Resistance" and serves as the secretary of Big Duck's board of directors.

Josh Kelly has a robust background in managing strategic communications for electoral and advocacy campaigns, particularly in queer liberation and abortion access. With a BA in Theater from Pace University and postgraduate research in Critical Gender Studies from Central European University, Josh approaches project management with an outcome-oriented mindset, emphasizing authentic and meaningful engagement.

Shaping Inclusive Project Management through Experience

Farah initiates the conversation by highlighting how Brenda and Josh's diverse backgrounds as activists and organizers influence their roles in account and project management at Big Duck.

Josh emphasizes an outcome-oriented approach, essential in advocacy and electoral work:
"I'm very outcome oriented. I think that's sort of the hallmark of advocacy and electoral work in general... focusing on what does authentic, thoughtful and effective engagement look like." ([02:21])

Brenda focuses on aligning with clients' missions and fostering meaningful connections:
"I always try to focus on the mission and the vision and the people on the ground who is ultimately going to be most impacted by us doing really great work." ([03:14])

Developing Content on Inclusive and Welcoming Projects

The episode explores the genesis of Brenda and Josh's content on inclusivity, inspired by their shared organizing backgrounds. They aimed to translate community organizing tools into accessible practices for wider nonprofit use.

Brenda discusses the importance of not just what is done but how it is done:
"It's not just about what we do, but it's also about how we do it... making space, inviting people to participate." ([05:57])

Josh highlights the transition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from a static concept to actionable practices:
"DEI is a verb, not a noun... focusing more on action and less on talk." ([06:50])

Key Practices for Inclusivity and Welcoming Projects

Brenda and Josh outline ten practices aimed at enhancing inclusivity in project management. They delve into several key strategies:

1. Virtual Accessibility is the New Normal

Josh underscores the necessity of virtual accessibility, especially in remote and hybrid work environments:
"Creating hybrid environments as the new normal... virtual accessibility benefits everyone." ([11:40])

He advocates for preemptive accommodations such as ASL interpreters and translators:
"It's made for you. You do not have to go through the emotional exhaustion of perpetual self-advocacy." ([13:00])

2. Think About Metrics

Brenda advises nonprofits to establish measurable metrics for inclusivity from the project's outset:
"Start with what you can measure... set some metrics from the start." ([14:20])

She emphasizes aligning metrics with organizational values and DEI commitments to evaluate progress effectively.

3. Access and Decentralizing Data

Ensuring that project information is transparent and accessible to all stakeholders is crucial. Brenda suggests: "Share updates and progress transparently... decentralize data to avoid overburdening specific individuals." ([14:40])

4. Continuous Invitation

Inclusivity requires persistent outreach. Brenda recommends: "Make the invitation multiple times... integrate it into your outreach system as a continuous process." ([16:00])

5. Build Flexibility

Brenda highlights the importance of flexibility in budgets and timelines to accommodate unforeseen opportunities and diverse participation:
"Build a reserve budget... add wiggle room to make space for more voices." ([17:50])

Josh complements this by emphasizing flexible participation methods:
"Slido allows people to submit questions anonymously... multiple ways to engage ensure authenticity." ([18:56])

Overcoming Challenges and Resistance in Organizations

Addressing resistance from leadership or organizational structures, Brenda and Josh offer pragmatic advice:

Brenda encourages incremental implementation and persistence:
"Find ways to practice inclusivity in small steps... your actions have impact, even if not immediately visible." ([21:16])

Josh advises modeling best practices regardless of one's position:
"You can still model best practices by example... use your privileges to enact change." ([23:24])

They emphasize that inclusivity efforts, though challenging, are essential and worth the persistent effort.

Final Tips and Recommendations

As the conversation winds down, both guests share additional insights:

Josh champions lifelong learning in DEI:
"Be a lifelong learner... inclusivity is a never-ending process that extends beyond the workplace." ([25:17])

Brenda advises staying agile and prepared to adapt:
"Plan for constant resetting as new people join... be open to new ideas and practices." ([26:17])

Conclusion

Farah concludes the episode by acknowledging Brenda and Josh's contributions to Big Duck's blog and encouraging listeners to explore their written work for deeper insights. She underscores Big Duck's commitment to not only creating effective nonprofit communications but also ensuring the processes are inclusive and engaging.

Brenda and Josh express their enthusiasm for future collaborations, leaving listeners with a sense of ongoing support and resources to build inclusive and welcoming projects within their organizations.

For more insights and resources on inclusive project planning and nonprofit communications, visit Big Duck's Insights and connect with Brenda Perez on LinkedIn.