Inclusion is built into who we are.
We have developed a Guide To Inclusive Events to serve as inspiration for every RX event team to create even more amazing and magical experiences for our customers, visitors and fans!
This Guide has been developed to serve as inspiration for every RX event team to create even more amazing and magical experiences for our customers, visitors and fans! It is designed to help us to approach our events with an inclusive mindset, adding value by making all our attendees and event participants feel welcome, seen, and safe at our events.
The Guide is filled with many suggested actions, so please – don’t be overwhelmed! Every event is at a different place in its journey, and our event teams are encouraged to set time aside to review the Guide together and select focus areas that they wish to incorporate into their event strategy and programming. We have found that many of the suggestions listed can be implemented at minimal or no additional cost, in turn creating tremendous, tangible value for our attendees.
Discover our key suggestions below, and explore the guide to find out why!
Before the event
Ensure your event website contains a prominent Inclusion and Belonging Headline Statement on the home page (e.g., PGA event “Now, be YOU”)
Ensure anti-harassment and code of conduct policies are easily accessible on the event website, and prominently displayed on-site
Promote accessibility and inclusive content features on your event website (you put in the effort, now make sure our customers know what’s there for them!)
Onsite
Where possible, offer event team members and customers the opportunity to add their pronouns to their event badges, and provide pronoun stickers for anyone wishing to add them to their badges at the event.
Where appropriate, invite a local cultural group to participate in opening ceremonies
Ensure venue meets all local accessibility requirements for people with disabilities
Add a “Lactation Room” for individuals who are required to use a breast pump at the event
Add a quiet/reset room for anyone needing a space to reset from overstimulation (include sponsored “fidget” tools) – space should be away from the event floor, and as quiet as possible
Add a designated interfaith prayer space for guests and colleagues who are required to pray or meditate through the course of the day (may need to be gender-specific for some faiths)
Work with venue partner to designate gender-neutral restrooms and highlight them on event maps
Special events & education
Ensure balanced representation in education and special keynote speaker faculty
Ensure your education and keynote events are accessible to everyone (e.g., people with apparent and nonapparent disabilities)
Ensure show photographers/videographers are prepped to capture images from inclusive events, and images of people from a variety of backgrounds; be sure to incorporate representation of people from different backgrounds from our events in marketing images and panel promotions
Networking opportunites
Invite at least one industry diversity organization to host a networking event at the event
Post event
Include “How can we make our event more inclusive in the future?” question in post-event survey
Many thanks to the Guide to Inclusive Events at RX Team!
Please contact any of the colleagues below if you have any questions about the Guide, or suggestions for content.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE SPONSORS
Please feel free to contact Ray Rhodes if you would like to consult with him regarding your inclusive programming for your events. You may also contact any of our Global Diversity Committee Executive Sponsors if you would like to consult with them about a specific dimension of diversity.
Alinne Rosa
Executive Sponsor
Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage
Toni Piela
Executive Sponsor
Gender Equity
Fleur Kearns
Executive Sponsor
APAC DiveRXsity (All Diversity Dimensions)
Adam Cartledge
Executive Sponsor
LGBTQIA+/Pride
Helen Sheppard & Merilyne Davies
Executive Sponsors
Disability/RX Enabled