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KEIRUS BY KJE curated a brave space for DEI Change Makers during a collaborative planning session that equipped leaders with tools, resources and a community of peers.
PLANO -- KEIRUS BY KJE held its second annual KEIRUS EVOLVE at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in Dallas, Texas. KEIRUS EVOLVE has been dubbed as the "un-conference" for its uniquely intentional approach for bringing DEIB leaders, HR professionals, and DEIB champions together to learn and create an effective strategy to continually move forward as change agents, despite the challenges of the current anti-DEI climate.
"Our goal for KEIRUS EVOLVE was to create a space for DEIB practitioners and champions to build community while gaining the tools they need to be transformative leaders," says Kelley Johnson, Founder and CEO of KEIRUS BY KJE. "From the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received from those in attendance, we succeeded in creating a much-needed space for transparency, best practice sharing, and the mental reset needed to make an even more impactful change in our organizations and communities." Johnson continues, "We've always transformed cultures by driving DEI as an enabler of commerce, culture, and community, but now we are being seen as a veteran DEI firm that 'has the backs' of DEI professionals who sleeves are rolled up doing the work."
Johnson initiated the conference by revisiting the tumultuous periods we've successfully navigated, serving as a reminder of our capacity to withstand distractions and daily discouragements in the realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She referenced significant events like September 11, 2001, marking its 22nd anniversary, and the uncertainties brought about by COVID-19 in 2020. These unpredictable life circumstances were linked to the determination to emerge stronger in the face of opposition to DEI, conveying a deeply resonating message. Johnson shared her 5R strategy, incorporating personal anecdotes from the early stages of her career that propelled her into the diversity and inclusion field following 9/11. Attendees were encouraged to reflect on their career paths and the driving forces behind their work. Johnson stressed that we now have more resources than ever before to address DEI challenges and recognized relationships as invaluable assets for the journey ahead.
Participating alongside KEIRUS EVOLVE were notable figures including Humera Kassem, Chief People Officer at Sabio Holdings; Alex Shootman, CEO of Alkami Technology; Crysta Dungee, Head of US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Takeda Pharmaceuticals; Devean Owens-Toler, PhD, Operations and Analytics Leader at KEIRUS BY KJE; Felicia Taylor, Chief People Officer at WebPT; and Misty Tippen, Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Integer Holdings. The attendees represented various organizations, including Children's Health, Liberty Mutual, AT&T, Dallas College, Bell Flight, CBRE, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Medium Giant.
KEIRUS BY KJE collaborated with the Dallas Regional Chamber to present KEIRUS EVOLVE as a precursor to the DRC's annual State of DEI event. Latosha Herron-Bruff, the Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Community Engagement, concluded, "KEIRUS BY KJE is an outstanding organization. I deeply appreciate their work and the dedication of DEI professionals who tackle these challenging tasks every day. The synergy between KEIRUS EVOLVE and the DRC's State of DEI was natural, as both aim to make Dallas the best place to live, work, and conduct business for everyone." This aspiration for inclusivity lies at the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion and is the fundamental mission of KEIRUS BY KJE.
The KEIRUS EVOLVE 2023 event concluded with a compelling call to action through the launch of the ABIDE WITH CARE CHALLENGE, offering an opportunity for all those eager to make a difference. This challenge encourages individuals to commit to the KEIRUS C.A.R.E. model within their organizations and communities, focusing on Creating awareness, Appreciating diversity, Respecting everyone, and Embracing inclusion to "light the world" with care.
