There's been a lot of discussion among event professionals around diversity—and for a good reason. The right initiatives can make your meetings better and safer places to be.
Want to create a culture of inclusion at your next event? Read on to find a list of strategies your team can use to foster inclusive experiences for all.
1. Foster inclusivity through activities and programming.
Every attendee deserves to feel welcome. Empower everyone to participate by leveraging these strategies:
- Avoid choosing event dates that coincide with religious holidays.
- Designate multi-faith prayer rooms for rest and reflection.
- Accommodate food restrictions and faith-based health considerations.
- Clearly label ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.
- Plan a menu that incorporates food staples from various cultures.
- Provide mocktails and alcohol-free drinks during receptions.
- Prepare event materials in different languages to ensure equal access.
- Choose a mobile app that offers accessibility-friendly features.
Take programming one step further by infusing social responsibility into the agenda. Host a philanthropic activity like sorting canned goods, planting trees, or volunteering with a local nonprofit.
2. Hire diverse speakers and presenters.
Today, there is an increased demand for presenters who reflect the diversity of an audience. Attendees may struggle to identify with your event's programming if they do not see accurate representation.
Highlight speakers of different ethnicities, backgrounds, and gender identities to bring fresh viewpoints on leadership, innovation, technology, or other event-related topics.
3. Partner with minority-owned organizations.
When deadlines are tight, it becomes easy to use the same vendors and partners to save time. However, with all the amazing minority-owned event businesses out there, finding and supporting them is easy.
Use your buying power to create high demand for minority-owned businesses. Explore directories, refer businesses to others, or make a purchase. Engage with companies on social media through likes, shares, comments, and tags to uplift their brand.
4. Leverage event badges and badge ribbons to spark conversation.
Did you know you can create a more welcoming experience right from an attendee's badge? Name tags and lanyards, for instance, are the perfect spot to highlight sponsor logos, share your event's hashtag, or print an uplifting motto.
You can also add a pop of color to badges with unique badge ribbons. Pronoun ribbons, for instance, provide the ability to visually communicate pronouns. Diversity-themed ribbons are also a unique and cost-effective tool for sparking conversations.
5. Read the Event Planner's DE&I Handbook.
Incorporating diversity into an event is a crucial step in creating a successful gathering. Following the strategies outlined above will ensure your meetings are more accessible and welcoming.
Download the Event Planner's DE&I Handbook to discover even more ideas. Inside, you'll find key definitions, best practices, downloadable resources, and more to get your team started. Get your copy by visiting pcnametag.com/inclusive-events.
Need more inspiration? Visit pcnametag.com/inclusive-events to find the event essentials you need to host inclusive meetings, from badges and lanyards to holders, badge ribbons, gifts, and more.
