The Foreign Service Journal, October 2020

38 OCTOBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL have included a talk on “Words Matter” and a well-attended December 2019 roundtable on “Walking the Talk on Diver- sity,” which drew participants from across the department and included on the panel Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s very first chief diversity officer, Janice Underwood. We hosted speak- ers on racism and microaggressions for domestic audiences, drawing more than 200 participants, as well as for deputy chiefs of mission (DCMs) and principal officers. At the 2020 WHA DCM/Principal Officers conference, Diver- sity Council members pitched posts to set up their own diversity and inclusion councils, using the WHA Diversity Council as a resource. Posts across the Western Hemisphere are standing up and expanding their diversity council mandates and creating a bureau-wide network to share best practices. In addition, two intergovernmental agencies—the Inter-American Foundation and the Millennium Challenge Corporation—requested and received briefings to help the organizations strategize and set up their respective approaches moving for- ward on diversity and inclusion for staff in Washington, D.C., and throughout the field. Members of the WHA Diversity Council have served as diversity and inclusion advisers by participating in conference calls with DCMs, reviewing posts’ concept papers, and providing best practices lists and other reading and resource materials. One DCM noted that the council’s “deep understanding for the complexities of the issues, appreciation for the essential role of leadership and practical guidance to take us from concept to council were enormously useful.” WHA was one of the first bureaus to dis- seminate a message standing against discrimi- nation and reaffirming our core principles on diversity at a town hall following the death of George Floyd. As a result of those discus- sions, the WHA Diversity Council identified 15 actionable steps that the bureau and the department can take to ensure every employee is treated fairly and has a fair shake with regard to development, advancement and participa- tion in bureau policy. Many members of the WHA Diversity Council also serve on employee affinity groups and have forged partnerships across these groups. The WHA Diversity Council Core Group, from left: John Crippen, Litah Miller, Miriam Murray, Maria Apud, Stacy D. Williams and Blakeney Vasquez. The WHA Diversity Council sponsored a presentation by Janice Underwood, Virginia’s chief diversity officer, to more than 60 participants at the State Department on Dec. 3, 2019. WHA PDAS Julie Chung, at left, with Janice Underwood. Inset: Janice Underwood presents “Walking the Talk on Diversity.” BLAKENEYVASQUEZ LITAHMILLER