Inclusivity Included: Powerful personal stories

Cultivating the mental health and well-being of diverse employees

Dr. Sherry C. Wang, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University, joins John Iino to share personal stories and discuss her scholarship on ethnic minority health disparities, including the roles of acculturation, stigma, and oppression.  Employees from diverse backgrounds lack representation, and face stressors, such as microaggressions and unconscious bias, that degrade mental health and interfere with psychological wellness. Furthermore, access to mental health care is unequal in the United States: Asians are 51% less likely to use mental health services than whites, Latinos are 25% less likely, and Blacks are 21% less likely. In this episode, Dr. Wang discusses the links between mental health and inclusion, and how organizations can improve access to culturally sensitive care.

For more information please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page or Reed Smith’s recent Mental Health Summit Report.

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Legislating identity: The fight to protect transgender rights

2021 has been a record-breaking year for legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, with a tragic focus on anti-transgender legislation. Over 30 state legislatures have introduced more than 100 bills that would curb the rights of transgender people.

Sasha Buchert, senior attorney at Lambda Legal, discusses the impact of these bills, and describes the coordinated response that Lambda Legal is taking to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

Reed Smith Global DE&I Advisor Iveliz Crespo and Partner Alan York, who is also global chair of the firm’s LGBTQ+ business inclusion group, co-host this important session.

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Justice for all: Building a generation of anti-racist lawyers

Rutgers Law School Co-Dean and Professor of Law Kimberly Mutcherson discusses the leading role lawyers (at law schools in particular) can and should be playing in the battles against racism and for racial justice.

Dean Mutcherson co-developed the Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project, a comprehensive phase guide to help law schools develop a sustainable anti-racist agenda. In this podcast, she reveals how law schools and law firms can turn statements of solidarity into action plans to combat racism.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.

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Ray Cardozo: The Power of Proximity

As we kick off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Reed Smith appellate partner Ray Cardozo shares his personal story including migrating from Kenya to New England, attending UC Berkeley, becoming an attorney and arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court for Reed Smith. Ray discusses the impact of racism and shares solutions all of us can undertake to stop hate and pay it forward for future generations.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.

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Keys to recruiting diverse legal talent

Merle Vaughn, national law firm diversity practice group leader at Major, Lindsey & Africa, shares her experiences in recruiting diverse talent. She tells co-hosts  Iveliz Crespo and John Iino how leading recruiters have found success, how diverse individuals can maximize their opportunities and how employers can improve their recruiting practices.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.

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Innovative DE&I programs for corporations

KeyAnna Schmiedl, global head for culture and inclusion at Wayfair, joins co-hosts Iveliz Crespo and John Iino to share their thoughts about the innovative programs and policies at Wayfair, and discuss which ones have produced the most meaningful results.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.

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Legislating diversity: Current initiatives and their impact on corporate America

Reed Smith attorneys Liza Craig and DJ Cespedes join co-hosts Iveliz Crespo and John Iino to discuss recent federal and state legislative initiatives that regulate organizations’ diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the criminal justice system, and opposing litigation. They also look into new executive orders from the Biden administration, California’s mandate for board diversification, and other legislation impacting company policy and diversity initiatives. Our panel will predict outcomes for future legislation promoting diversity.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.

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Best practices for building effective diversity, equity & inclusion programs

Many organizational leaders want to do the right thing—they’re committed to creating more equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces. In spite of that, many leaders are unsure where to begin. In this episode, co-hosts John Iino and Iveliz Crespo join Reed Smith counsel Liza Craig – our deputy director for diversity, equity & inclusion programs in the U.S. – to share strategies for achieving transformational change on issues of equity, inclusion and diversity.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity & Inclusion page.

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How data tech and analytics can improve diversity, equity and inclusion programs

Listen as notable speakers discuss the impact of IT and analytics in driving positive DE&I outcomes. Traci Shirachi, CEO of The Mark USA data analytics company, with Iveliz Crespo and John Iino, explain how data analytics broaden the definition of diversity, by drilling down into thoughts, feelings, socioeconomic backgrounds, relationships, experiences, culture, and generational perspectives. 

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity & Inclusion page.

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Rethinking history through an Indigenous lens

Every November, Native American Heritage Month provides a national platform for indigenous people to shed light on their communities. In this episode, we will learn about the complex cultures and traditions of Indigenous communities and the often-overlooked history that continues to shape the inequities they experience today. Speakers include Jacob McArthur, member of White Earth Ojibwe Nation, Tori McConnell, member of the Yurok tribe, and Dina Horwedel, director of public education at the American Indian College Fund, joined by our hosts John Iino and Iveliz Crespo.

For more information, please visit Reed Smith's Diversity & Inclusion page.

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