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NDEO’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Project

In Fall 2020, responding to input from members, staff, and board and with guidance and recommendation from then NDEO Advisory Board Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Crystal Davis, ED/CEO Susan McGreevy-Nichols met with equity consultants at Maryland Nonprofits to craft a year-long audit of NDEO programs and organizational structure through the lens of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). This year long initiative will help provide a roadmap for organizational and programmatic changes over the next few years as NDEO embodies its commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization.

Why is NDEO doing this?

Research shows that organizations experience greater engagement, creativity, and innovation when they embrace the work of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Moreover, a thorough evaluation of systems and programs can foster transformational change within the organization. The JEDI review is an important step toward this ongoing endeavor.

What is the JEDI audit?

Maryland Nonprofits will lead NDEO through a process in four stages:

Discovery and Design ~ understand and identify areas that need to be strengthened for the organization's growth.
Planning and Co-Design ~ Conduct and analyze a membership survey and develop a unified vision of the proposed plan of action.
Implementation ~ Activate member work groups to initiate the organization and program review.
Action and Accountability ~ conclude with an action and accountability plan outlining concrete steps to be taken in subsequent years.
Click here to view an overview of the JEDI audit presented by Maryland Nonprofits.

Timeline

Below is a summary of actions taken so far and the future expected timeline for the JEDI project.

To date:

January 2021 - Application open for NDEO members to participate as a JEDI auditor. Read NDEO Executive Director Susan McGreevy-Nichols’ letter to the membership announcing the project.
March 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits hosts trainings with JEDI workgroup participants to prepare for the audit and build community amongst the group.
April 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits conducts surveys with NDEO staff, board, and membership regarding understanding and perception of organization’s alignment with JEDI values.
May 2021 - Launch of JEDI audit. Read Full JEDI group is broken down into nine workgroups focusing on different aspects of the organization. These are: Awards & Scholarships; Board & Governance; Communication; Conferences; Membership; National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA); Online Professional Development Institute (OPDI) & Webinars; Publishing; and Standards & the Registry of Dance Educators (RDE). Click here to read NDEO Board President Kelly Lester’s letter to the membership.
July 2021 - First round of individual audits submitted to Maryland Nonprofits.
August 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits presents initial analysis of first round audits at meetings with each of the nine workgroups. Workgroups meet to synthesize and complete round two audits.
September 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits presents round two audit results to full JEDI workgroup.

Upcoming:

October 2021 - NDEO provides update on JEDI audit to NDEO membership at the 2021 NDEO Virtual Conference.
November - December 2021 - Maryland Nonprofits works with NDEO leadership to craft the JEDI Action and Accountability Plan.
January 2022 - Present JEDI Action and Accountability Plan to NDEO membership at Annual Meeting.
2022 - 2024 - JEDI Action and Accountability Plan implementation.