NAPO Chicago October Chapter Meeting

Featured Webinar Program: 

Building a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Culture into the Organizing and Productivity Industry

Presented by: Cindy Levitt

This interactive program is designed to help participants make the invisible visible and to understand that Anti-racism goes beyond diversity and fosters inclusion and success.

We will examine the issues of diversity, white privilege, unconscious racism, inclusion and equity with an emphasis on understanding the role social and cultural differences play out in our work and businesses.

We will create ways to have difficult conversations with stakeholders. Following the program, during the chapter Networking @Noon event, attendees will be able to further process the content with Cindy as a facilitator, and discuss with chapter colleagues.

Important points Attendees can Expect to learn:

• Connect this work with your own business and personal growth

• Examine definitions common in DEI work such as: racism, unconscious racism, stereotypes and prejudice

• Evaluate our own biases and socialization around “differences"

• Explore how we got here: examine difficult history in the US, schools and our communities

• Attain a deeper understanding of what being an Ally or Co-conspirator is


• Think about concrete actionable ways to do the work, and incorporate multiple perspectives in your life and business
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Cindy Levitt (a NAPO Chicago chapter member) has worked within educational, social justice, and interfaith environments on issues of diversity, racial justice, advocacy, and community building for over 30 years. Some of this work included creating and teaching the class "Social and Cultural Diversity," at the graduate school level to educators.

Some examples of her pro bono work include; Leadership on a local environmental racism issue in her (Evanston, IL), Chicago community organizing as a founding member of the United Power for Action and Justice, and serving 6 years on the Evanston Human Relations Commission.

15 years ago Cindy created her business peace by piece Professional Organizing and Design, helping people with organizing and productivity challenges in residential and business settings, creating peace one person at a time. Her motto is "Transform your space, transform your life!"

Recent events have confirmed the need for specific Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curriculum and training within the organizing industry. Combining Cindy's two passions she created peace by piece Diversity Training.

Cindy was featured on the NAPO Stand Out Podcast “Highlighting Diversity in Small Business” and was part of the NAPO 2021 Conference Round table “Incorporating an Anti-racist Mindset and Practices to Build your 21st Century Business.” Cindy is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Psychology and has an M.Ed from DePaul University in Chicago with a concentration in Multicultural Curriculum.

All NAPO members will have the opportunity to apply for a Certificate of Completion for this program.  This meeting is open to all chapter members and guests.