Promoting the Importance of Diversity, Equity + Inclusion

Challenge

Educate national and state leaders on the diversification of the United States and the importance of DE+I work to the school nutrition profession and SNA.

Actions
  • Began with CEO facilitating a strategic discussion with SNA Board of Directors in 2018, educating them on the growing diversity of the United States, the importance of DE+I and the work other associations are undertaking in this critical area; and identifying important strategies to incorporate into SNA’ strategic plan.
  • Held a similar discussion with national committee members and state association leaders later that year and have had follow up discussions with state leaders about the importance of incorporating DE+I strategies in state’s annual plan of action.
  • Have featured DE+I speakers at SNA’s major meetings for the past two and a half years.
  • Launched a DE+I webinar series this fall for SNA members; including one planned for February during Black History Month featuring a panel of SNA past and current African American leaders to share their leadership journeys and encourage others to advance in their profession and become involved in the leadership of their state and national associations.
Outcomes
  • Incorporated DE+I work into the SNA strategic plan and annual plan of action beginning in 2018; included strategies enhancing recruiting effort to add more diverse members to SNA’s Board and Committee positions; featuring DE+I speakers at SNA’s major meetings and increasing diversity of member speakers for ed sessions; publishing an issue of SNA’s award winning magazine with a focus on DE+I (due to an overwhelming response of members sharing their stores, included devoted more editorial in the next month’s issue).
  • More diversity on SNA national Board and Committees as well as in state association volunteer positions. This year, SNA has its first male president in 48 years and African American president in 13 years.
  • DE+I speakers have been among the most highly rated at our members and resulted in members thanking SNA for focusing on this important work.
Contact

Patricia Montague, FASAE, CAE

Quote

Incorporating DE+I strategies into SNA’s strategic plan is one of the most critical initiatives the association has undertaken in the past several years because it enhances the profession, career opportunities for members and strengthens the connection between SNA members and America’s students that they are serving healthy and nutritious meals to every school day.

Patricia Montague
CEO, School Nutrition Association
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