Inclusivity Included: Powerful personal stories

Autism acceptance and benefits of neurodiversity

Courtney A. Munnings, certified life coach, speaker, commercial litigator and neurodiversity advocate, discusses her recent autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, the challenges she faced before diagnosis, and the benefits of autism and neurodiversity in the workplace. Joined by co-hosts Iveliz Crespo and John Iino, Courtney dispels myths and stereotypes that block true neurodiversity, and provides strategies to leaders creating truly diverse and inclusive organizations.

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Daphne Kwok: The voice of the AAPI community

Daphne Kwok, the vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Audience Strategy at AARP, joins John Iino and special guest host Janet Kwuon to share her advice as a “leader of leaders” in promoting and empowering Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Daphne raises important issues, such as representation, education, and action in response to the “Model Minority” myth and hate crimes against the community, as well as advice to younger colleagues just starting their journeys.

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The hidden curriculum: The impact of inequities and systemic barriers on the mental health of students

Reggie Jones, LCSW, associate dean for Health and Wellness at Bryn Mawr College and co-host of the podcast “What the Health?!,” joins our hosts to discuss her work dealing with inequities and oppressive structures that negatively impact the mental health of first-generation, international, and LGBTQ+ students, and students of color. Reggie discusses the unique obstacles these students face as they pursue higher education learning opportunities and shares strategies for dismantling these barriers.

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For the people: A city solicitor’s commitment to DE&I

Diana Cortes, city solicitor for the city of Philadelphia and the first Latina to hold that role, joins co-hosts, John Iino and Iveliz Crespo, to discuss her powerful personal story and her priorities as city solicitor, including collaborating on police reform initiatives and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the city’s law department. Diana also provides guidance to other government attorneys, emphasizing that championing DE&I in the legal industry is an ethical imperative.

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Dr. Gennifer Herley: Support for the transgender community

Dr. Gennifer Herley, founder and executive director of TransNewYork, joins co-host John Iino and guest co-host Alan York, Reed Smith partner and chair of PRISM, Reed Smith’s LGBTQ+ business inclusion group, in a powerful discussion aimed at educating listeners about the transgender community, the challenges it faces in the current political environment and the mission and work of Trans New York.

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The stories we tell: Brands, authentic marketing, and advocacy

Research suggests that 70 percent of consumers want to know what the brands they support are doing to address social and environmental issues. However, jumping on the social cause bandwagon is not enough; these public commitments need to be authentic. To delve deeper into this topic, John Iino and Iveliz Crespo are joined by seasoned social media and brand expert Wilsar F. Johnson, vice president of social media and brand development at SKDK, to discuss the company’s people-first approach to helping brands and other clients communicate authentically, avoid blowback from consumers, and manage crises in a thoughtful and strategic way.

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At the intersection of DE&I and talent development

Erin Wilkins, Reed Smith’s DE&I talent development analyst, joins our hosts, John Iino and Iveliz Crespo, to discuss the role that bias plays in talent development in the employment environment, including advancement, work assignments, and opportunities. Erin also discusses her role in administering and further developing Reed Smith’s DE&I Leadership Development Program, a groundbreaking program that is centered on the premise that mitigating bias and creating equitable opportunities requires intentionality and commitment.

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Combating disinformation in public health

Evan Thornburg (she/her), Health Equity Special Advisor for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, joins Reed Smith DE&I professionals John Iino (he/him) and Iveliz Crespo (they/them) to discuss how misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories pose a serious threat to public health. They discuss how it affects equitable engagement of services, causes confusion, creates mistrust, harms people’s health, and undermines public health efforts. Evan dives into the disparate impact that the spreading of inaccurate information has on vulnerable and marginalized communities and their ability to make informed decisions about their health. She also shares strategies that individuals can adopt to combat these threats.

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Building a diverse talent pipeline

Geoff Young, a partner in Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes Group and executive director of diverse recruiting, joins co-hosts John Iino and Iveliz Crespo to share strategies for building a diverse talent pipeline. Geoff discusses his efforts in identifying and hiring diverse attorneys in accordance with the firm’s Racial Equity Action Plan and provides guidance for organizational leaders seeking to improve their recruiting practices.

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Goodbye gender binary

Join us as we do our part to normalize respecting, sharing, and educating others about personal pronouns. Global DE&I Advisor Iveliz Crespo and DE&I Global Chair John Iino discuss being non-binary, the importance of respecting pronouns, and strategies that help ensure organizations and individuals are inclusive of the transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming community. This session honors, and coincides with, International Pronouns Day.

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