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Session—"It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to DEI" Across sectors, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are under fire—renamed, reduced, or removed altogether. Yet for many OD professionals, the core values of equity, justice, and belonging remain essential. This interactive session explores the evolution of DEI through real-world insights from practitioners in the DC/MD/VA region. Participants will engage in Open Space-inspired dialogue, co-creating conversations around questions like: What remains when the language disappears? How is the spirit of the work being carried forward? What new approaches are emerging? Using collaborative tools, we’ll surface practical strategies and close with collective sensemaking. Together, we’ll reflect on what still holds true and explore how to build resilient, values-driven approaches to equity and belonging in today’s shifting landscape. Presenters: Erin Finn, Nia Akinkugbe, Akela Smith
Erin Finn Nia Akinkugbe Akela Smith
Reflective Edge—Nia Akinkugbe, Erin Finn, and Akela Smith—is a facilitation team dedicated to creating inclusive, participatory learning experiences that inspire reflection, connection, and action. With backgrounds spanning corporate, nonprofit, higher education, and international development, they bring a unique blend of systems thinking, emotional depth, and creativity to their work. They design and lead workshops, retreats, and dialogues that help groups navigate complexity, strengthen relationships, and spark meaningful change. Skilled in in-person, virtual, and hybrid facilitation, the team prioritizes accessibility and engagement in every setting. Recent collaborations include the interactive session Good Trouble: Tapping into the Power of Disruption at George Mason University’s ODKM Learning Community, where participants explored how embracing disruption can fuel leadership and innovation. Reflective Edge is united by a commitment to amplifying lived experiences, holding space for complexity, and helping organizations and communities move forward with clarity and purpose. |
