Inclusive Excellence Committee

The Inclusive Excellence committee serves in an advisory role to promote practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging at Illinois Extension. The committee is made up of Extension professionals dedicated to improving our overall capacity as an organization to meet the changing needs of our communities.

Who We Are

This advisory group includes educators, specialists, county directors, and other Extension professionals.

Purpose

The Inclusive Excellence Committee serves to strengthen the University of Illinois Extension as an inclusive organization where difference is celebrated, and opportunities are created for authentic participation to foster belonging. The committee provides input on how to be responsive to the people of a diverse Illinois and Extension staff.

The committee provides guidance for Illinois Extension’s diversity, equity, inclusion, access, (DEIA), and belonging goals and actions. In this role, committee members explore issues, help the organization gain new insights, and provide recommendations to help lead DEIA processes and create a culture of inclusion and belonging internally (e.g., staff and volunteers) and externally (e.g., youth, program participants, partners, and other supporters).

What We Do

• Create, revise, and refresh yearly goals.
• Explore and discuss issues affecting Illinois Extension.
• Provide feedback to the Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access.
• Provide feedback to Extension Leadership (where applicable).
• Reevaluate and assess the committee’s goals at the end of the year.
• Meet as a group four times a year.

Specific Duties

• Advise the Assistant Director on issues and opportunities or projects for an inclusive Illinois Extension.
• Assist in developing and facilitating DEIA training materials and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Explore new DEIA initiatives to determine best practices for statewide culturally relevant programming.
• Provide feedback for recruiting diverse staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Monitor progress in developing DEIA competency skills such as cultural humility among Illinois Extension staff.
• Advocate for DEIA-focused opportunities in the local units (e.g., at staff and Extension Council meetings).
• Share tools, techniques, and approaches that support ongoing DEIA organizational goals.

Meetings

• The committee meets four times per year three via videoconferencing and one in person.

Current Goals

• Revise the committee's objectives and duties.
• Provide feedback on regional and external Navigating Difference Training.
• Invite Extension staff to share feedback or concerns about DEIA topics or issues.
• Develop a plan for addressing or responding to the topics or issues shared.