On Monday, February 22nd,  2021 Greenfield Community College will be hosting a two-hour virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Outdoors Summit beginning at 10am EST. Hosted in partnership with Rachel Hailey of Rachel Hailey and Associates Consulting, this event will bring together leaders, professionals, facilitators, educators, retailers and outfitters from across the outdoor industry and the field of social justice to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in their communities and organizations.

This summit comes in advance of a proposed six to eight-week certification course on diversity, equity and inclusion slated to run in the Fall of 2021 through GCC's Center for Workforce Development and Community Education. Focused on the intersection of outdoor leadership and social justice, this course will be designed to address the pressing needs of leaders and organizations looking to further their efforts in D.E.I.

"This initiative is so important for Franklin County and for rural areas," comments Rachel, "because not only is it the right thing to do at this point in time, both ethically and for our industry, but it's also a way to feed the bottom line. Welcoming diverse populations is good for our economy."

A combination of facilitators, mentors, teachers, and speakers, Rachel Hailey and Associates Consulting is on a mission to create a more inclusive, unified, and accessible world— beginning with the outdoor industry. By catalyzing deeper conversations around the relationship between D.E.I., leadership and the outdoors, Rachel and her associates provide individuals and organizations with concrete action steps they can take in order to better serve underserved and underrepresented communities and become a leader in D.E.I.

"I am very excited about Rachel's presence in the college and her expertise in putting this together," comments Chet Jordan, GCC's Dean of Social Sciences and Professional Studies.

Rachel and her associates have built partnerships with local and national organizations including Zoar Outdoor, Berkshire East, Northwest River Supplies, and Teva, many of whom will be represented at Monday's summit.

"One of the things that makes this summit so special," says Rachel, "is the focus on actionable systems— tangible steps that can get people the results they're looking for."

Beginning with a grand assembly and a presentation, the summit will engage participants in discovery discussions, open dialogue and Q&A, giving them space to discuss challenges, raise concerns and give feedback— all of which will inform the design of the Fall program.

"This summit will give participants a hand in creating something important," says Rachel. "Participants will leave knowing there's a new certification program that they had a hand in designing and can confidently send their people to."

Don't miss this chance to be a part of an important conversation around D.E.I., leadership and the outdoors. This summit is part of a growing initiative to bridge a longstanding gap in making outdoor pursuits, and their benefits, more widely available to people of all races, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. Organizations, communities and leaders from every industry will benefit from being a part of the conversation.

Join us via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99605507409

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