Please Wait a Moment
X
About Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Initiative

NDEO's Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Initiative

In Fall 2020, responding to input from members, staff, and board and with guidance and recommendation from then NDEO Advisory Board Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Crystal Davis, ED/CEO Susan McGreevy-Nichols met with equity consultants at Maryland Nonprofits to craft a year-long audit of NDEO programs and organizational structure through the lens of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI). The audit will help provide a roadmap for organizational and programmatic changes over the next few years as NDEO embodies its commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization. Click here to read about the consultants NDEO worked with on this project.
 
Since NDEO’s participation in the audit of our organization through the lens of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2020-2022), we continue to analyze our programs and make changes as needed to honor our commitment of making our organization more equitable to all dance educators.  
 
JDEI initiatives are embedded throughout our current 5-year strategic plan. This work will continue to be ongoing, but since the audit we have made many of our programs more financially accessible, implemented non-member options for many programs, increased accessibility measures in courses and events, continued to expand anti-racism work, continued to work on transparency within our messaging and various aspects of our programing,…and more! 
 
NDEO recognizes the importance of transparency with our members. If you have questions about a specific program as it relates to JDEI, please email membership@ndeo.org and we would be happy to answer your questions.
 

NDEO acknowledges the generous contributions of Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation in supporting NDEO's JDEI, Strategic Plan, and Professional Development Scholarship initiatives, along with general operating support.

Presentation on JDEI to the NDEO Membership

"Sharing Our Experiences: Voices from the JDEI Project"

Click here to view an interview compilation lead by NDEO President Kelly Lester with various co-leads from the JDEI Workgroups

Click here to view the JDEI powerpoint from Kelly Lester's presentation at the 2021 Annual Membership Meeting.

Why is NDEO doing this?

Research shows that organizations experience greater engagement, creativity, and innovation when they embrace the work of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Moreover, a thorough evaluation of systems and programs can foster transformational change within the organization. The JDEI review is an important step toward this ongoing endeavor.

What is the JDEI audit?

Maryland Nonprofits led NDEO through a process in four stages:

  • Discovery and Design ~ Understand and identify areas that need to be strengthened for the organization's growth.
  • Planning and Co-Design ~ Conduct and analyze a membership survey and develop a unified vision of the proposed plan of action.
  • Implementation ~ Activate member work groups to initiate the organization and program review.
  • Action and Accountability ~ Conclude with an action and accountability plan outlining concrete steps to be taken in subsequent years.
  • Click here to view an overview of the JDEI audit presented by Maryland Nonprofits.

Timeline

To date:
  • January 2021 - Application open for NDEO members to participate as a JDEI auditor. Click here to read NDEO Executive Director Susan McGreevy-Nichols’ letter to the membership announcing the project.
  • March 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits hosts trainings with JDEI workgroup participants to prepare for the audit and build community amongst the group.
  • April 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits conducts surveys with NDEO staff, board, and membership regarding understanding and perception of organization’s alignment with JDEI values.
  • May 2021 - Launch of JDEI audit. Full JDEI group is broken down into nine workgroups focusing on different aspects of the organization. These are: Awards & Scholarships; Board & Governance; Communication; Conferences; Membership; National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA); Online Professional Development Institute (OPDI) & Webinars; Publishing; and Standards & the Registry of Dance Educators (RDE). Click here to read NDEO Board President Kelly Lester’s letter to the membership.
  • July 2021 - First round of individual audits submitted to Maryland Nonprofits.
  • August 2021- Maryland Nonprofits presents initial analysis of first round audits at meetings with each of the nine workgroups. Workgroups meet to synthesize and complete round two audits.
  • September 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits presents round two audit results to full JDEI workgroup.
  • October 2021 - NDEO provides update on JDEI audit to NDEO membership at the 2021 NDEO Virtual Conference.
  • December 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits works with NDEO leadership to craft the JDEI Action and Accountability Plan. Click here to view the Maryland Nonprofits Equity Program Audit Report to National Dance Education Organization.
  • February 2022 - Present JDEI Action and Accountability Plan to NDEO membership at Annual Meeting.
Ongoing:
  • 2022 - 2024 - JDEI Action and Accountability Plan implementation.