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DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Message

 

As I hope has been clear through our words and actions, Belonging is a value that our board and chapter has made a priority over the past year. That focus is just the start of our conversation about bringing greater diversity and equity into coaching. The urgency of this was affirmed during ICF Converge 2021, when Charmaine Roche and Jonathan Passmore shared the results of their study on Racial Justice Equity Belonging in Coaching Report. They made a compelling case that there is much work to be done. There are significant barriers to entry to being both coach and client, which is reflected in a lack of diversity among coach trainers, educators, and practitioners. This results in fewer options for BIPOC clients to work with someone who shares or has personal awareness of their racial, ethnic, or cultural experiences. 


While the industry might contribute to divisions if current practices are maintained, it also has enormous potential to contribute to healing. We acknowledge where we have fallen short of our ideals, seek to repair harm, and focus on being the change we want to see. 


ICF’s core values of Professionalism, Collaboration, Humanity, and Equity compel us to examine how we live those values as individual members and as a chapter. In the ICF Code of Ethics, Section IV—Responsibility to Society, we pledge to “Avoid discrimination by maintaining fairness and equality in all activities and operations, while respecting local rules and cultural practices. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or military status.”


ICF has been actively working to bring more equity into coaching, starting with the guidance they provide us in the Code of Ethics, core competencies, and in the curriculum requirements of coaching education programs. 

What can we do here at ICF Michigan to promote racial justice, equity, and belonging within our membership, and by extension the people we serve and our respective communities?


This is the question we’ve started asking ourselves in 2021, and the work will continue in 2022 and beyond. We invite you to join us in that effort


We are starting with a few assumptions and truths:



  • We condemn systemic racism and social injustices in all their forms, explicit and  implicit.
  • Action and accountability matters. We recognize this is a long-term effort and isn’t  going to be measured by objective metrics; that said, there are ways of evaluating  progress that should be part of any statement and plan.
  • While this is a “marathon, not a sprint,” this is a priority that deserves a sense  of urgency.
  • Belonging is foundational to community, healing, and learning.
  • Systemic oppression, particularly of BIPOC, is real, and it cannot be tolerated.
  • We seek to align with ICF Global’s efforts (https://coachingfederation.org/about/diversity-and-inclusion) while creating initiatives and priorities that will best serve our chapter.
  • We believe in belonging, human dignity and agency, creating brave spaces, and  honoring and celebrating our diversity. 
  • We will approach our task with humility, open hearts and minds, curiosity, a  willingness to be uncomfortable and cause discomfort, and an understanding that this is ongoing work, not a finite project. 



DEIB in Action at ICF Michigan:  


We at ICF accept that our roles as coaches is to cultivate trust and safety and evoke  awareness. Through our chapter programs, we not only condemn Systemic Racism and  Social Injustice, but we are committed to providing a platform and safe space to  communities impacted by these systems. 


  • In all educational and professional development programs, we strive to bring together the  range of voice, experiences, and perspectives from our community to enrich our collective  learning, honor the dignity and identity of all participants, and explore and celebrate our  commonalities and our differences. 
  • ICF Michigan Pro Bono Community Outreach partners with diverse groups and  organizations matching coaches and clients based on their current needs and goals.
  • Our monthly All-State Virtual Coach Café is led by coaches from our diverse  multicultural membership. 
  • We provide monthly Core Competency and Professional Development Webinars that  facilitate growth and awareness of issues that affect our community of coaches and  clients.  
  • Encourage commitments from ICF Michigan leadership and members to be vocal and active in acknowledging, naming, and transforming injustices into belonging and equity. In particular, we see as part of our professional identity being anti-racist. 
  • Formation of standing DEIB leadership team responsible for receiving feedback,  continuous learning, program creation, holding leadership and membership accountable for implementation. 


This is the work we’re being called to do individually and collectively. It’s not going to be done by a single person, a single board, or even a single chapter. This board is inviting all of you to consider how you want to play a role in fostering equity and belonging. If you’re interested in joining the DEIB leadership team, please let us know. If you want to get involved with a specific initiative that comes out of that work, we welcome your enthusiasm. You can foster belonging by being a warm and generous presence to everyone you encounter, new members, old friends, and everyone in between. Grand gestures are fabulous, but their effects are only sustainable if they are supported by small acts of everyday kindness and belonging. 


Contact any board member if you want to share your experiences, ideas, expertise, resources, or questions. We look forward to walking alongside you to cultivate a sense of belonging and community for all. 



Beth Buelow, PCC

2021 ICF Michigan President

With support from the 2021 Board of Directors