Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023 - 578

HR representatives of companies would be
interested in the workshop.
What are some goals/concerns you would like to
see DEI Council focus on?
Student education on DEI would be useful since
it's not common knowledge among students. Field
personnel in government regularly interact with people
that have not been trained in DEI. An example was
given that a customer was not listening to what the
lead scientist was saying when speaking up. The
individual wished the colleague had training on how to
be an ally. A male colleague wanted to help but did not
have the education/tools to do that.
It would be good to have a talk on the business
impact of diversity discussion scientific data
behind it. It was also recommended to have some
education on how to train manufacturing workers
vs. corporate on DEI. Currently, there is no buy-in
from manufacturing workers. How do we get them
involved? Include different aspects of diversity
(hearing impairment and challenges as an
example) so we can better include them. People
need to be brave.
The following question was posed: What are
some best practices at conferences that you would
like to see IAFP implement? Angela thanked the
IAFP Board. She discussed updates to the labeling
of food at the conference (e.g., allergens), rentals
for scooters, and microphone use. One person
said there needs to be a sensory-friendly space
free of fluorescent lights and noise. There should
be the use of inclusive graphics so people can truly
understand presentations/posters (e.g., color blind).
There was a comment on the good use of the
catering and dietary signage (e.g., for celiac).
Someone asked if there was a template for student
poster that encompassed inclusive colors? Scoring
rubrics should include scoring for accessibility. The
diversity of judges is also important.
One aspect that would be useful is to have IAFP
Annual Meeting as a hybrid event due to funding
and/or visa issues. Angela Shaw mentioned that this
has been discussed many times.
The following question was posed: How would
you like to provide feedback to the DEI Council? No
comments for this question were mentioned during
the meeting.
578 Food Protection Trends November/December
Students should be involved early and often.
There was mention of student scholarships and
student resources available. Someone liked the
focus on diversity, but would also like to see a
focus on inclusiveness. Angela Shaw mentioned
the forming of an IAFP Annual Meeting Welcome
Committee and brainstorming for that idea.
Simple things can be done in a virtual space
or real space in terms of training (how to run a
meeting, including closed captioning in webinars).
This is a leadership question. Do people have all the
tools to be inclusive?
Anything new that we put in we need to explain
why. Communication is important and focus on the
" why. " Angela Shaw mentioned a Why Campaign
through the Council.
Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023

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