Naperville Community Unit School District 203’s Post

This Pride Month, every company wants you to think they're inclusive. But have you ever tried to actually *implement* a DEI program at a company? These folks have, and they're sharing the ups and downs, the wins and pitfalls, the good, the bad, and the rainbow-logo-ugly. The facilitator of this panel is one of my oldest friends, and someone who thinks deeply about diversity, equity, and inclusion every single day. She's a DEI trainer, a CEO, and a thoughtful human being with lived experiences that make this very close to her heart. She's gathered a panel of people who have put in the work to implement DEI programs at their companies and have a wealth of experience in actually making this happen. It's not an easy process, and it's not as simple as making your logo a rainbow for Pride Month or posting a black square in support of Black Lives Matter. It's also not a set-it-and-forget-it project. Learn from those who have been there about how to make the most of the process and implement a program that truly has an impact.

August is National Black Business Month! At The Greenhouse, we are thrilled to honor and uplift the incredible contributions of Black business owners and entrepreneurs throughout our community. This month, let’s come together to shine a spotlight on the dynamic individuals who are not only participants in Greenhouse-affiliated programs but also pivotal in driving our local economy forward. 🚀 💠 Meet Lolita Dash-Pitts with with ATILOL Consulting Solutions LLC: GH: Tell us a little about yourself and your business: LD-P: Even as a teenager, I took the lead in coordinating discussions on important family matters—be it finances, mental health, or wellness. Today, I’m still the go-to person for information and resources in my family. Everyone knows I’m deeply connected to the community, understand its needs, and actively contribute to its well-being. ATILOL (pronounced “ah-tee-lol”) is my first name, Lolita, spelled backward. Launched on January 1, 2020, my business offers consulting services in recordkeeping management, including registrations, certifications, and licensing applications. We also provide grant preparation, writing, and management services, along with process management using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools. Our focus is on supporting minority-owned small businesses, particularly entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, independent contractors, sole proprietors, and self-employed individuals. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/ejPDAnsn #celebratingprogress

🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Today, we celebrate more than just wearing green and finding four-leaf clovers. It's about embracing the spirit of luck and making our own fortunes! Seize opportunities, create your path, and make your luck! Whether it's through hard work, perseverance, or seizing the moment, we know that success isn't just about chance – it's about taking action. So, on this festive day, let's reflect on how we can craft our destinies. Whether it's networking with fellow members, seizing leadership roles, or diving into new ventures, every step we take is a chance to shape our futures. Remember, luck favors the bold and the prepared. So let's step forward confidently, embrace challenges, and create our luck! Happy St. Patrick's Day to all our members! May your day be filled with prosperity, success, and a sprinkle of Irish luck! 🌈🍀 #MakeYourOwnLuck #StPatricksDay #BusinessHonorsSociety

It's almost time for a four-day weekend, hurrah! Here's what I've been up to this week: ✨ I joined the internal children and young people meeting. It's been really nice to see how these meetings have evolved over the last few months, with a focus on the "so what?" and shifting to collective responsibility. It's also great to see every team member with the opportunity to chair, this time wonderfully so by Curtis Goodwin. I very much enjoyed his ice-breaker of 2 truths 1 lie, can you guess my lie? 😉 ✨ Alison Delaney from Little Bird led a session with our SMT all about purpose. It's the first steps in us moving from management to leadership, and I learnt so much in such a short space of time. Things that really stuck included: ⭐ My values and others' values, and how to adjust and think about people's values in different situations. ⭐ The qualities of a good leadership team and where we collectively agreed our weaker areas were - what's next for how we approach that? ⭐ The accountability ladder - I can really notice when I am at different parts of the ladder, and think I will be able to identify it in others' too. It made me think what I can do to move myself to a different part of the ladder, or enable others to move too. ✨ Catching up with Esme Tuttiett and Alex Lucas about the Ripple Effects Mapping we did for #OSF. Esme has done an incredible job of turning hundreds of post-it notes into themes and impacts, and it will be core to our report to the DfE. ✨ Discussing the proportionate approach to MEL for Active Partnerships plan, and how we can socialise it to Active Partnerships with Graham Macpherson Graeme Sinnott and Chad Oatley. These conversations are so important to us Active Partnerships, and it will be great to get some feedback and reflections on the plan at our insight leads meet on 18th April ✨ Understanding what we want from a Somerset-wide VCSFE sector insight hub, with Katherine Nolan Nina Hurst-Jones and Andrew Ridgewell. The conversation was open, honest and provided us all with some much needed clarity on next steps. I'm really excited about the potential for this project and what it can do for our sector in Somerset. ✨ Catching up with Roz Fitches is always such a pleasure! ✨✨✨✨✨ My physical activity highlight this week is noticing the importance of getting up and moving during the working day. Little bits like popping for a walk during a full day workshop, or getting outside for lunch, have really helped me clear my head and re-focus. And sometimes all it needs is 5 minutes! ✨✨✨✨✨ Have a lovely Easter and see you on the other side 🐣

At Heartland, we've always believed that greatness is achieved not just by our individual efforts, but by the strength of our collaborations. That's why this week is extra special—it's an opportunity to amplify our impact by joining forces with our trusted partners who share our vision and values. 🚀 From brainstorming sessions to strategy meetings, from late-night calls to celebratory milestones, our Stronger Together partners have been by our side every step of the way. Together, we've tackled challenges, sparked innovation, and achieved extraordinary results that transcend what any of us could accomplish alone. 🌐 As we concluded our recent Blitz Week, let's celebrate these partnerships that form the bedrock of our success. Let's lean into collaboration with renewed vigor, knowing that together, we're unstoppable. Let's leverage our collective expertise, creativity, and passion to break new ground, exceed expectations, and make a lasting impact. 💥 So here's to our Stronger Together partners—thank you for your unwavering support, your boundless dedication, and your shared commitment to excellence. This week, let's harness the power of collaboration like never before and make our collective mark on the world. Together, we're unstoppable! #NationalBlitzWeek #StrongerTogether #Partnerships #Collaboration #Teamwork #Culture Photo Credit: John Wunder

Don your green and raise a toast, because St. Patrick's Day is almost here! ☘ For a bit of fun, here are the results of a survey that reveal the top 10 US states where March 17th is not to be missed. The rankings are based on a combination of factors including the abundance and affordability of events, as well as overall enthusiasm for the holiday. Where's your go to for St Patrick's Day? #StPatricksDay #IrishFestivities #TopStates #ShamrockCelebration"

🎉 The importance of celebrating the small steps...this week, we are celebrating as we welcome another new client on board!   Taking a moment to celebrate your business wins is essential. It really does boost morale, motivates your team, and builds confidence.  So, whether big or small, make sure to celebrate every victory – it's worth it! What's your favourite way to celebrate victories in your business? Share your ideas in the comments below!

I am increasingly passionate about advocating for Entrepreneur Mental Health. To reignite valuable conversations and learnings, I am reposting a fun video montage from the inspiring 2023 QED Global Summit. This event featured two days of presentations and discussions with some of the best minds in fintech. QED Investors demonstrated its commitment to prioritizing the well-being of CEOs and their teams by inviting me to lead a session on mental health education and to facilitate genuine discussions about the stressors they face.  The summit culminated in a powerful message: "We want you to feel supported by us and to create cultures where mental health conversations are welcomed." My vision is for more conferences to create space for authenticity, enabling individuals to share struggles, resources, and uplift one another.  As an Executive Coach with a background in clinical therapy, I see the urgent need to shift the paradigm so that mental health is no longer stigmatized or concealed. It should be seen as a shared responsibility, rather than an issue to be tackled alone. There is vast potential in expanding the support network available to founders, both from VC partners and from within their own community.  I will continue to advocate for this cause and guide my clients to recognize the link between performance, productivity, self-awareness, and well-being. As I collaborate with exceptional founders from around the world, I am more committed than ever to expanding the avenues of support for this community of innovative leaders. Maryalice Giroux Viljoen Tommy Blanchard Ashley Marshall #executivecoaching #mentalhealthawareness #entrepreneurmind

Do you have a culture of celebration in your organization? Here are 4 incredible reasons to celebrate with your team. (From The Communication Code by Jeremie Kubicek - Speaker/Best Selling Author )

Winning doesn't help you When you are new to it When our institution was organizing an event called Business Combat, I was thinking of participating, but my inner self didn't want me to come out of my comfort zone. Later, the girl on the right side of the frame influenced me to participate and I came out of my comfort zone to test my passion for business. When I completed my presentation in round 1 of that event. I don't get the idea of winning. What I thought was all I need is confidence for my future endeavors. I carried the same momentum till the end of the event. I got rewarded with the Third prize. What eventually helped me to get 3rd prize out of 84 teams is an intangible aspect called Passion towards business. I am a bit disappointed with the result, as I thought of getting 2nd place. But I need to accept the fact that " When you are starting, all you need is confidence, not the prize you're aiming for." Repost this if you find it useful ♻️ P.S: Have you ever felt that confidence helps us to scale more? Share your experiences in the comments.