DEI Course Descriptions

Diversity – Equity – Inclusion

Marshea Pratt

GR Martin Solutions is pleased to offer more in-depth learning and development experiences in the DEI space through Marshea Pratt. With two decades of experience leading, mentoring, and building teams, Marshea Pratt understands the opportunities and challenges that come with being an effective and impactful leader of a diverse workforce. Marshea offers an approach toward elevated intercultural competence that participants find to be fair, engaging, insightful, and thought-provoking. Her training style is designed to empower participants to think critically, adapt to challenging situations, and continuously build the “muscle” of listening to understand and not just respond.  She often uses real world work scenarios mixed with storytelling to make DEI discussions relatable and interesting.

The ABC's of DEI – Great opportunities exist in the workplace for growing teamwork across cultures.  This module keeps the conversation going with regard to cross-cultural understanding and intercultural competence.  Transformative tools will include introductions to cultural relativism, Aristotle’s Golden Mean, moral theories, and paradigm shifts in helping modern day professionals to engage in deep dives of assessing the moral high ground.  A second module briefly helps participants to understand such evolving terms and concepts as: Allyship, equity vs. equality, and the difference between race and ethnicity.  A final module offers some brief multicultural insights on six specific historically oppressed cultures.  (This is the only course taught by Dr. Martin and may serve as a foundational course for the remaining courses if so desired.)

• Format: Life podcast with full opportunity for questions, reactions, and comments.
• Topic Areas: DEI, moral principles, ethics
• Timeframe: 3.5 hours

Improving Communications in a Multigenerational Workforce – Today’s workplace includes people who were born across several decades. Each generation brings unique perspectives to the workplace table which can create opportunities for creativity and innovation, but also potential conflicts and misunderstandings. This workshop teaches participants practical techniques to improve their communication skills within and outside of their own generation.  We will further examine stereotypes and myths about each generation.  This session will include opportunities for hands-on practice scenarios using “real world” workplace scenarios.

• Format: Interactive large group and small group discussion
• Topic Areas: Communication, DEI, Leadership, Project Management, Team Building
• Timeframe (general course): 90 Min
• Advanced Course (as part of Supervisor/Manager Training): Two hours

Learning How to Deal with Workplace Conflicts – Whether you are a front-line worker or a manager, there may be times in the workplace when conflicts arise. If work relationships are going to be productive and respectful, it is important to learn how to handle disagreements and conflicts in a healthy manner. This workshop provides a space for employees to learn and practice strategies to identify issues, listen actively, and discern and apply the appropriate level of response.

• Format: Interactive large group and small group discussion
• Topic Areas: Communication, DEI, Leadership, Project Management, Team Building
• Timeframe (general course): One hour
• Advanced Course (as part of Supervisor/Manager Training): 90 minutes

Inclusive Boundary-Setting in the Workplace – Boundaries provide a “guide” for employees to understand what acceptable workplace behavior is, and how this behavior affects the way employees communicate with each other. While some boundaries are universal across difference, others are more nuanced and can vary based on the situation and relationship between individuals. This interactive workshop explores what boundaries are, what factors inform how to set them, and how to apply this knowledge to create and maintain appropriate boundaries with colleagues to foster a respectful and welcoming work environment.

• Topic Areas: Communication, Conflict Resolution, DEI, Leadership
• Timeframe (general course): 90 Min
• Advanced Course (as part of Supervisory/Manager Training): Two hours

The Welcoming Workplace: The Platinum Rule – In today’s market it is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain employees, whether in-person, remote, or hybrid. Losing good employees is not the only consequence of an unhealthy company culture. It can also damage relationships with the employees who stay with the company long-term. If employees are set up to thrive in a culture that helps them to feel valued and appreciated, it is much more likely that supervisors/managers will have more productive teams and positive relationships with those they supervise/manage. The Platinum Rule says, “Treat others the way they want to be treated.” This interactive workshop examines case studies of companies who have been successful at building a welcoming workplace and offers ways to create and maintain a welcoming workplace environment using the “Platinum Rule” as a foundation.

• Topic Areas: DEI, Productivity, Retention, Workplace Culture
• Timeframe (general course): 1 hour
• Advanced Course (as part of HR Professionals, Supervisory/Manager Training, Executive Leadership): Two hours