Ask Me Anything: Courageous Conversation on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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About the Ask Me Anything Series

Ask Me Anything sessions is a platform to share stories, listen, ask respectful questions and continue on our journey to becoming more inclusive organizations. As individuals you can’t necessarily change where you live, you certainly can’t change your past, but you can adjust who influences you—through the authors you read, music you listen to, movies you watch and interactions with your community. The Ask Me Anything series provides you with an opportunity to increase your perspective—to learn from the lived-experiences of individuals who are bravely sharing their experiences to help educate and move the public service towards a culture where equity is embedded.

The series also provides an opportunity for you to know that you aren’t alone, these experiences, especially the negative ones are systemic and happen all too frequently throughout the public service. The objective by shining this light is to continually increase the network of public servants ready to take action and move forward towards a culture of inclusivity and belonging.

Mission - Ask Me Anything Series

We recognize that individuals are composed of a multitude of layers that make us who we are. We do not fit easily in one box or another and we can’t be neatly counted. We represent the mosaic of Canada.

It is important that we find value in each other’s experiences, differences and unique characteristics. When we build our cultural competencies, we are able to work better together in our teams and respond to each other with relevance, empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain greater appreciation of each other and the diversity that surrounds us.

We know through diversity, workplaces and communities are stronger, more successful and resilient. And most important, it creates spaces of inclusion and fosters a workplace of belonging where people feel valued.

#AMAChallenge

We encourage others to have courageous conversations with their peers. Use the monthly Ask Me Anything sessions as an opportunity to have brave conversations in your workplaces with your teams.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Invite your leaders and colleagues in your organization to an Ask Me Anything watch party, tune in live and watch the session together. Make sure it’s in their calendars.
• Before the watch party, book a “After the AMA – Team Session” with your immediate team for the day after the event for 30-60mins. Share the resource guide and have these questions for discussion.

2021	Past Events
February 16	Black History Month: Anti-Black Racism
March 23	Women Leadership - Gender Equality
May 5	Inclusion and Belonging: Recap
May 26	Asian Heritage Month
June 29	National Indigenous History Month
July 14	Pride Season - Public Service Pride Week
September 22	Representation in Leadership
October 20	Women’s History Month: Building Resiliency
November 24	Institutional Influence: Exploring Anti-Racism Secretariats
***	Future Events
December 8	Accessibility: Thriving vs. Surviving
2022
January 12	Microaggressions and Mental Health
February 9	Black Heritage Month
March, 9	Women in STEM
April 13	Sikh Heritage Month
May 18	Asian Heritage Month