4 minute read
ABIDE across Ascension
FOSTERING A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Since its launch in the summer of 2020, our ABIDE framework has helped Ascension create opportunities for conversation and engagement around Appreciation, Belongingness, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity — reaching more associates and informing ministry initiatives and functional areas.
COUNCILS AMPLIFY PROGRESS
Through ABIDE Councils, Ascension is bringing to life the ABIDE framework by ensuring its integration and alignment with the Ascension Strategic Plan, Mission and Values within every area of the ministry.
Ministry Markets, Ministry-wide Functions and subsidiaries have each established their own ABIDE Councils and appointed an ABIDE Council Lead.
Within this structure, the ABIDE Council Leads serve as point people to engage associates with ABIDE-related initiatives and resources while also serving as representatives on the System-wide ABIDE Collaborative, a group of about 20 individuals from across the ministry.
ABIDE Council Leads have invited associates to volunteer on their councils to help encourage and engage fellow associates in ongoing listening and sharing of their voices and viewpoints.
“The hallmarks of the ABIDE framework — Appreciation, Belongingness, Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity — are the fulfillment of Ascension’s commitment to social justice, particularly for the most vulnerable,” said Pamela Mitchell-Boyd, ABIDE Director, Ascension, who is working to identify and coordinate opportunities for the alignment of ABIDE-related efforts across the ministry. “The ABIDE framework is helping us examine what we need to do to reshape our perspectives on policies and practices that may, consciously or unconsciously, perpetuate disparities and inequities in our ministries.” Pam, who assumed this newly created role last spring, previously served AMITA Health as the System Director for Diversity, Inclusion & Language Services.
EXPANDING LISTENING TO GIVE VOICE
ABIDE held a series of Dialogue Sessions with associates willing to have candid conversations to gather ideas to take action on some of the most common themes raised by associates during last fall’s ABIDE Listening Sessions. In each confidential session, associates were asked a series of questions, including: “What should Ascension stop doing, start doing or continue doing to improve inclusivity, diversity and equity at Ascension?”
As part of the ABIDE framework’s intentional effort and ongoing guidance to Listen - Pray - Learn - Act, all associates are being invited to share their perspectives as part of
— PAMELA MITCHELL-BOYD, ABIDE DIRECTOR, ASCENSION
Bilal Ahmed, left, a manager with Ascension Transformation Management, and Christine Salm-Little, an educator with the Ascension Wisconsin Employee Assistance Program, share their life experiences using the ABIDE framework.
the Associate Experience Survey, a System-wide survey aligned with the ABIDE hallmarks designed to obtain a baseline measure of inclusion and experience related to the ABIDE framework.
GETTING INVOLVED
There are many ways to share your story or get involved with ABIDE. • ABIDE Council: Talk to your manager about getting involved with ABIDE in your ministry. • ABIDE Microsite: Review the resources and have conversations with your peers and team members at abide.ascension.org. • ABIDE Listening Form: Use the
Share Your Story Google Form located on the ABIDE site to share an experience or story anonymously. • ABIDE Listening Line: Call a tollfree number (833-979-2949), available 24/7, and record your story anonymously. • ABIDE Contact Form: Use the contact form located on the ABIDE site to ask a question or share a comment about ABIDE. • ABIDE Email Inbox: Email your comment, question, experience or story to ABIDE@ascension.org.
SHARING ABIDE STORIES
The ABIDE framework has helped encourage associates to share personal stories and experiences. Their stories are part of ABIDE’s ongoing “My Whole Self” series featured in the monthly ABIDE e-news. These stories and more can be found on the internal ABIDE microsite: abide.ascension.org.
Christine Salm-Little, an educator with the Ascension Wisconsin Employee Assistance Program, said she considers it a privilege to work for an organization where she can show up at work as her whole self.
“The freedom to be authentic and to feel valued makes me want to work even harder to do my best work for my team and for Ascension,’’ Christine said. Christine’s connection of authenticity and productivity is aligned with national findings. One Harvard Business Review study linked the expression of authenticity with greater job satisfaction, engagement and performance. “My input about issues surrounding equality and inclusion is always welcome within our team,” Christine said. “Because my input is valued, I feel empowered to create content and training that promotes inclusivity and shows associates and clients that we truly value diversity.”
Bilal Ahmed, a Chicago-based manager with Ascension Transformation Management who has been with Ascension for nearly two years, said he experienced a powerful sense of community with his team by sharing about his Muslim faith and observation of Ramadan. Since fasting often isn’t observable, Bilal said he tends to keep the practice of fasting to himself during Ramadan but is happy to share about it when asked. So Bilal said he was thrilled when his manager proactively asked him about Ramadan and how he was managing through it.
“I would have simply kept working without saying anything,” Bilal said. “My manager brought it up after doing research on Ramadan and paying attention to the unique needs of his team.” Bilal shared his Ramadan experience not only with his manager but also with his broader team in the form of a reflection. Bilal’s team was so moved by his Ramadan reflection and experience that they decided to show support by fasting too — a gesture that brought a tight-knit group even closer.
