Unconscious bias can be an obstacle when attempting to enhance diversity within an organization or team. Also, lack of inclusion can result in individuals not fully supporting the focus on DE&I or feeling as if an organization's efforts are not genuine or cannot impact them or their work. DE&I is only successful when it starts with the tone at the top.

• For several years the bank has worked to educate everyone on the importance of diversity and inclusion (with "equity" being included in 2020). The bank has conducted annual mandatory D&I training for all staff since 2017. 
• The Board of Directors, which oversees the bank's DE&I program, is also focusing on enhancing Board diversity. The Board participated in unconscious bias training in July 2019 with additional diversity training/discussions related to social justice in 2020. Also, the bank conducted additional training for its senior leadership team in 2019 and 2020. 
• In 2020, the bank implemented SmarterU, an online Learning Management System. Moving forward, the bank will continue with live DE&I training and will also offer online content for new hires and as a refresher course for existing employees. The SmarterU platform provides the ability to develop an online library of DE&I content that will be available 24/7 for employees and contractors. 
• The 2021 training will focus on "Demonstrating Empathy." This topic will build upon content that was presented in previous years.
• The bank's 2021 DE&I training calendar has been shifted earlier in the year, with a Q1 start date. This schedule change will provide employees more opportunities to practice the newly acquired DE&I skills and encourage increased employee engagement across the diversity spectrum.

Companywide training allows everyone to align on the meaning and business value of DE&I, focusing on the impacts of inclusion and exclusion; explore organizational cultures below the waterline'; identify exclusive and inclusive behaviors; and practice skills that create positive interactions in our working environment.

In 2020, the bank continued to require annual D&I training for Individual Contributors and Managers. The training content for both groups focused on the business case for D&I and the importance of valuing differences. Managers also received additional content promoting skills development for leading inclusively.

Assuring the cultural competence of the bank's leadership is essential. In 2019, the DE&I senior leadership training focused on generational agility and opportunities to model, encourage, and further D&I. In 2020, senior leaders focused on understanding the professional experiences of the bank's African-American employees and completed the Intercultural Development Inventory®, a cross-cultural assessment of intercultural competence. They also discussed how their personal assessments could potentially impact their role and the organization.

In 2020, the bank increased its efforts to engage with diverse employees and the communities we serve through the following efforts:

• Hosted three listening sessions focused on helping the organization better understand the experience of African American employees
•  Partnered with the other Federal Home Loan Banks to host a "Systemwide Conversation on Race"
•  Launched the African American Employee Resource Group.
•  Celebrated Juneteenth as a bank holiday
• Hosted a session on LGBTQ+ communications during LGBTQ+ Awareness month