Diversity and Inclusion

In 2020, the DBC Leadership Team launched the DBC Diversity and Inclusion Communications Program, which provides members with essential tools and education to recognize, value, and effectively address the needs of various audiences, including but not limited to culture, ethnicity, gender, race, age, body size/image, capability (rather than disability), religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geography, education and philosophy.

Program Components To-Date

• I AM OPEN TO LEARN! #diversitymatters campaign: Requests members join in and spread the message of learning.
• Keeping Diversity in V.I.E.W.: Visualize. Inspect. Empathize. Watch. Wait. Welcome: Virtual workshop with Letitia James that will review bias types while analyzing productive and counterproductive ways to invoke bias. An interactive experience allows participants to raise awareness to the critical role cultural humility plays.
• Diverse Voices in Dietetics Series by The Food & Nutrition Magazine® Collaboration: This effort amplifies the voices of people of color and other underrepresented individuals in nutrition and dietetics, and highlights the experiences of RDNs, NDTRs, dietetic interns and nutrition and dietetics students.
• D&I Mini-Grants: Help individuals fund their educations.
• "Developing Diverse Dietitians" Podcast Series: Links to podcasts will be available soon.
• Coming Soon: Culture Celebration Networking Events

In 2020, the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND) appointed a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Liaison to plan and facilitate D&I outreach and initiatives that meet Academy and NYSAND strategic plans, promotes and increases representation of diverse individuals in the profession and increases cultural competency of its members. Additionally, NYSAND districts have appointed diversity positions and hosted events to further advance D&I efforts on the local level.

Program Components To-Date

• Inclusion and Diversity: How YOU Can Increase Diversity and Inclusion in the Field of Nutrition and Dietetics: Virtual webinar led by Naudia Jones, RD, CDN (she/her) and Jane Calvert, RD (they/them) to help dietitians and nutrition professionals develop skills to foster a more inclusive environment for students, interns, and colleagues from diverse communities while examining personal biases and how this impacts working with diverse communities.
• Academy D&I Mini-Grant: These funds will be used to provide full membership scholarships and scholarships to NYSAND's annual meeting for students, RDNs and NDTRs from underrepresented groups in dietetics and to conduct member surveys.
• Virtual Meetup & Workshop: A meet and greet event and workshop to discuss D&I and its future in NYSAND and the profession.
• NYSAND DEI Committee: Comprised of students, RDNs and retired RDNs from underrepresented groups in dietetics who will help carry out D&I efforts.
• Spotlight on Diversity: Column in NYSAND's monthly newsletter that highlights D&I outreach and initiatives across New York State.
• Greater New York Dietetic Association's (GNYDA) Mary Swartz Rose Memorial Lecture: This lecture, entitled "Nutrition Considerations of Gender Affirming Therapies in the Transgender Community," was led by Zachari Breeding, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, FAND, who discussed nutrition care and interventions for the transgender community.
• GNYDA Diversity Roundtable event: This virtual event moderated by Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN and Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN, featured a panel discussion on diversity, why it's important, actionable steps that can be taken and more. Panelists include Jonathan Valdez, MBA, RDN, CSG, CDN, CCM, CDCES, ACE-CPT and Kameron Rowe, MS, RDN, CDN.
• Westchester Rockland Dietetic Association's (WRDA) 2019 Clinical Update: WRDA's 2019 Clinical Update event entitled "Diversity and Cultural Considerations in Nutrition" featured four speakers who spoke on the importance of diversity in nutrition.
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• WRDA Student Career Panel Video: In April 2021, WRDA hosted its 4th Annual Student Career Panel, which introduces high school and college students in Westchester and Rockland counties to the nutrition profession. The event's goal was to demonstrate and encourage D&I within the field.
• Long Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (LIAND) webinar: This webinar, entitled "Believing Children are Our Future: Serving Equity and Impartiality with Child Meals," was led by Teresa Turner, MS, RD, LDN, SNS, FAND, who discussed Social Determinants of Health and how systemic racism impacts equity and the behaviors and mindsets of those we serve.