Chief Diversity Officer, U.S. House of Representatives, 117th & 118th Congresses and Managing Principal, Moon & Associates, LLC
During my time as the Chief Diversity Officer at the U.S. House of Representatives for the 117th & 118th Congresses, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shaped its definition of “representation” based on the concept of proportional representation as set forth within United States Constitution. The concept of proportional representation is premised on ensuring that groups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body — and for our office, that constitutional charge extended to representation among members and member offices by championing their reflection of the congressional districts in which they were elected to serve. We defined “diversity” as the practice of ensuring that the congressional workforce reflected the many communities that represent all segments of society, “equity” as the process of ensuring fair, just, and impartial treatment of employees from these communities, and “inclusivity” as the acknowledgement, appreciation, and application of the contributions of employees from these communities. These definitions extended across several dimensions of representation, such as but not limited, to age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, individuals with disabilities, political ideologies, military members and spouses, caregivers, first generation degree holders and|or professionals, immigrants, returning citizens, speakers of other languages, and individuals in rural areas, persistent poverty areas, areas with limited broadband access, etc. Through this definition, ODI endeavored to ensure that every corner of the country saw themselves in the work of our office as the USHR aspired to form a more perfect union through “we the people” — and I’m forever proud to share that 225 right-leaning offices and 197 left-leaning offices used our service offerings to build both a qualified AND representative congressional workforce before our elimination. Many thanks to Forbes for having me at the ForbesBLK Summit in ATL! #bestjobever #onward
Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke about DEI at the 2024 #ForbesBLKSummit. https://trib.al/TG5ePgO
I really appreciated the facts over feelings approach. With more information, hopefully fewer people will vote against their own interests.
Your panel this week at ForbesBLK educated me and I commit to looking more in depth to things outside of my day to day that will impact my day to day if we don't pay attention. Thank you
Both qualified and representative. Say it again for the people who need to hear it again and again. 🗣
Sesha Joi Moon, PhD My question for you is what is it going to take for DEIB to be viewed as a constitutional mandate. Everything appears to be made a red or blue issue, when in actuality sense and sensibility is needed to understand the importance of DEIB.
Your panel was truly one of the highlights of my day! Thank you for providing such insightful knowledge to DEI practitioners such as myself.
Thank you for your fact based panel participation. One of my key takeaways was do the research.
Sesha great panel today. couldn't agree with you more.
Amazing and the #Formation hat is setting the tone - go off, sis!! 🔥
Booked and busy ✍🏾 I know that’s right
Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & People Analytics
1moKilled it today - thank you for the truth bombs! 💪🏾