Workshop | Creating a Weight-Inclusive Culture in the Workplace

This workshop will cover the following learning objectives:

Understanding Anti-Fat Bias  AKB, SPT, LMT

  • Identify personal narratives, biases, and thought patterns connected to body size.

  • Define anti-fat bias and recognize its manifestations in workplace settings.

  • Identify common stereotypes and misconceptions about body size.

Recognizing the Impact  AKB, SPT, LMT

  • Analyze the adverse effects of anti-fat bias on employee well-being, productivity, and workplace culture.

  • Discuss the implications of anti-fat bias on career advancement, hiring practices, and team dynamics.

Building Awareness and Empathy  SPT, LMT

  • Develop strategies to increase awareness and empathy towards colleagues of all body sizes.

  • Participate in activities that challenge personal biases and encourage inclusive thinking.

Implementing Inclusive Practices  SPT, LMT

  • Identify practical steps and policies to create a more inclusive workplace environment.

  • Learn best practices for promoting body diversity and preventing weight discrimination in recruitment, performance evaluations, and daily interactions.

Legal and Ethical Considerations LMT

  • Understand the legal framework regarding weight discrimination in the workplace.

  • Explore the ethical responsibility of organizations to address and mitigate anti-fat bias.

Creating an Action Plan LMT

  • Develop a personal or Team action plan to address and reduce anti-fat bias in the workplace.

  • Commit to ongoing education and advocacy for body positivity and inclusivity within the professional setting.

Alicia Sojourner

City of Vancouver's Director of Diversity, Equity, and inclusion

They/Them

Alicia Sojourner is a passionate advocate for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and a lover of hip-hop music. With extensive experience as a consultant for public and private organizations, Alicia has successfully designed and implemented strategies for organizational change and leadership development focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. They have also guided cross-cultural communication and cultural and emotional intelligence development as the City of Vancouver's first Director of Diversity, Equity, and inclusion. Alicia is dedicated to promoting innovative practices that tackle complex social issues and enhance workplace and community culture.

Alicia has worked across various industries and business sectors, including Fortune 500 companies, government, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and educational institutions. Alicia leverages their knowledge, skills, and background to support multiple communities in their equity journey. Alicia's work encompasses team development, equity toolkits, baseline assessments, equity SWOT analysis, diversity and inclusion professional development, equity and inclusion strategic planning, identity-driven leadership for leaders of color, consultancy, and coaching.

Alicia has an impressive list of accomplishments, including being a Certified Diversity Professional, Master Certified Coach, and alums of the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program and the Humphrey Institute Policy Fellowship through the University of Minnesota. They are also a True North Leadership alumni through Harvard Business School, an Intercultural Development Inventory® qualified administrator, a ToP Facilitator, a Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation and Leadership trainer, a Racial Justice Circle Facilitator and trainer, and a True Colors® Certified Facilitator.

Throughout the years, Alicia has actively participated in various personal endeavors to support, advance, and eliminate obstacles for communities that have faced challenges. Some of Alicia's volunteerism includes developing programs to reduce employment inequities for queer and communities of color, establishing self-sufficiency programs for homeless youth, leading support groups for single parents, creating the curriculum "How to Talk WITH Kids about Race, Sexuality, and Gender," and providing guidance to police and fire departments on how to work with LGBTQ2S+ and neurodiverse community members.

Alicia has been awarded the Beat the Odds Award through the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota and the Young Alaka'i Award for working with marginalized youth and was the winner of Inspiring Women by the WNBA Minnesota Lynx.

Alicia is originally from Minnesota but happily lives in Vancouver with their partner and their pandemic puppy. Alicia has various hobbies, including meditating, studying the force, teaching younglings, and practicing their virtual reality lightsaber skills. As a family, they enjoy hiking, traveling, Mario Kart competitions, comic books, kayaking, and exploring the food trucks in the Pacific Northwest. Alicia also has two adult sons back in Minnesota. Alicia doesn't miss the cold or snow!