We are combining our traditional Celebration Event evening with an afternoon seminar offering in-house attendees sought-after IL PR Credits in Mental Health and Diversity & Inclusion. Members, you won’t want to miss this educational opportunity followed by an indoor-outdoor party featuring fine food and drink.
AGENDA
1:00 PM REGISTRATION
1:30 PM WELLNESS MEETS WORKPLACE: PRESERVING PRODUCTIVITY WHILE SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES
This will be a timely and important conversation about:
• The different ways that mental health challenges manifest themselves in the workplace
• The obligation to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability, including mental health disabilities
• Assessing mental health during the ADA interactive process
• The challenges associated with managing mental illnesses in the workplace
• Managing stress and burnout in the workplace, particularly among attorneys
PRESENTERS
Peter A. Steinmeyer, Managing Shareholder Chicago Office, Epstein Becker Green, Chicago
Shira M. Blank, Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker Green, New York
David G. Susler, Associate General Counsel, National Material L.P.
BREAK 2:30 PM
2:45 PM MISCONCEPTIONS V. REALITY: A PRIMER ON THE WORK DEI
The recent Supreme Court decision in the Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College has added to misconceptions when it comes to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some believe DEI programs exist to give benefits to people from certain backgrounds, while excluding others. Others believe it’s about giving preferences to certain groups when it comes to hiring and promotion. What the work is really about is:
(i) identifying and working to eliminate the barriers to success people from historically marginalized backgrounds encounter, whether those barriers are experienced on a personal or systemic level, and
(ii) reshaping organizational culture to be more inclusive and welcoming of people from all backgrounds.
In this session we will try to dispel any misconceptions created by SFFA (or otherwise), while exploring the ways in which DEI professionals can still achieve their goals while minimizing risk.
PRESENTERS
Meghana Shah, Partner-in-Charge DEI Policy and Strategy and Partner in the Litigation Group (New York), Eversheds Sutherland
BREAK 3:45 PM
4:00 PM IMPROV FOR WELLNESS
We live and work in a fast-paced, electronic driven world. As technology continues to advance and impact our lives, finding the balance and maintaining genuine human connection personally and professionally can be challenging and can affect our wellness. Our Improv workshop uses AI (Applied Improv) to focus on uniquely human qualities such as creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability and collaboration. Improv is based on human interaction and authenticity; these skills remain crucial in helping us find balance and move forward in ever changing professional and personal environments.
This workshop teaches legal professionals how to use improv as a tool to better their legal practice and lives. From creative problem solving, working in teams, and building trust to create balance. The tools incorporate basic human skills such as basic eye contact, active listening, supporting other's ideas and teamwork, which can be lost arts in today’s corporate environments. Applying basic improv skills to not only your team but your personal development can improve the attorney/client experience and help grow or maintain your practice, achieve better outcomes and create a more well-balanced life.
PRESENTERS
Amy Westrup, Applied Improv Instructor, CSZ, Milwaukee
Alan Guszkowski, Applied Improv Instructor, CSZ, Milwaukee
THE CELEBRATION
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Enjoy an array of hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and collegial networking at the eclectic Salvage One for our Premier Chapter Event of the year.
We will present the Thurgood Marshall Award of Excellence & the Member of the Year annual awards.