Company: The Winters Group, Inc., Charlotte, NC
Company Description: Since 1984, The Winters Group, Inc., has unapologetically challenged systems of oppression and pushed the boundaries of what it means to be inclusive. Proudly Black women-owned and -led, we have unflinchingly guided hundreds of companies and organizations to reject the status quo, interrogate inequities, and dismantle unjust systems.
Nomination Category: Media Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Event of the Year
 Nomination Title: The Winters Group's 2024 Racial Justice at Work Summit: Justice for All
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, describing the nominated work - it's development, purpose, and performance to date, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions, provide them in the appropriate spaces below:
Please see written answers below and attached links and PDFs. If you would like to experience the virtual summit, please use the following login:
Login link: https://events.wintersgroup.com/rjaw24/event-hub
Username: help@stevieawards.com
Password: stevie123!
- The date on which the nominated event was staged:
The Winters Group's Racial Justice at Work Summit: Justice for All event was staged April 23-25, 2024. The website promoting it launched November 15, 2023.
- Provide a description of the nominated event - it's development, purpose, and results to date (up to 350 words):
Total 349 words used.
The Winters Group’s 2024 Racial Justice at Work Virtual Summit was centered on the theme “Justice for All.” This groundbreaking event brought 7 powerful keynotes, 150+ presenters delivering 80+ sessions, 11 panel discussions, 2 in-depth workshops, 7 performance artists, 4 virtual lab experiences, and networking both live and asynchronously via chat.
The Winters Group, a Black women-owned and -led consulting firm established in 1984, conceptualized the summit as the continuation of their thought leadership from their 2023 book Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change. The vision was to create a restorative space where DEI practitioners could connect, get inspired, and learn innovative strategies to support their work in volatile times. By bringing together luminaries in the field, including bestselling authors Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Minda Harts, disability advocate Molly Burke, LGBTQIA+ activist Rob Smith, DEI trailblazers Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Jane Elliott, they created the DEI event of the year, filling a gap in the community left after events like the Forum on Workplace Inclusion shuttered.
With only six months to plan and execute this event, a diverse committee of women made sure all voices were heard and recognized for a truly inclusive process. They intentionally designed the marketing and branding to be inclusive and accessible, and this continued on to the actual event through use of American Sign Language interpretation, captions, screen reader compatibility, shortcut keys, and best practices for inclusive communication, such as asking presenters to describe what they look like for attendees who are blind or who have low vision.
The Racial Justice at Work Summit inspired 493 attendees, 82.6% of whom identified as women, nonbinary, or agender. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:
- “The speakers were outstanding and beyond the typical DEI panels we see usually.”
- “Every part of each day was centered on the work that I do as a DEI professional and me as a Black person in this space. It's not often I experience that.”
- “The level of expertise in the sessions was impressive leading to deep powerful conversations.”
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