MOLINE, ILLINOIS (April 11, 2022) —“What’s the next level?” Loredia Nunn-Dixon likes to ask both of herself and of her organization, SAL Community Services (SAL), where she’s worked for three decades and now directs the non-profit’s Open Door Crisis Assistance program. Answering that question recently led Nunn-Dixon to earn the National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional (NDCCDP) certification, also known as the DiversityFIRST™ certification.
The certification will empower SAL to further the organization’s — and the Quad Cities region’s — commitment to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
“With our fifty-year history and our reputation as the trusted choice for child-care and family and community resources, we’re a great organization already. But if we can be leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion, we can be on the forefront of where our community is headed,” said Nunn-Dixon, who co-chairs SAL’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee and serves on related committees as well as non-profit boards around the Quad Cities. “I’m already doing this work, but I wanted more knowledge and the credibility of a nationally recognized certification.”
“At SAL, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion means investing in the thoughtful, sustainable systems we need to carry that commitment out,” said Marcy Mendenhall, President and CEO. “That includes investing in the capacity of leaders like Loredia, who has been a champion for these issues at SAL and beyond.”
Bringing together leaders from around the country, the intensive DiversityFIRST™ training covers topics from the business case for diversity and inclusion, cultural competence, and measurement and accountability to inclusive leadership and best practices for implementation. In addition to coursework, Nunn-Dixon conducted a special project on employee resource groups and passed a written examination to earn the certification.
By deepening her expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nunn-Dixon hopes to lead staff across the organization in better supporting clients. “We serve all — a diverse group of children and families,” she said. “To continue to be that trusted choice, we need to be able to work with every individual who comes to our door. We need to know how to approach them in an inclusive way so we can help them.”
Nunn-Dixon also sees potential for leveraging diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies to help SAL attract and retain staff, especially as racial demographics in the United States become increasingly diverse. “As young leaders come into the workforce, we need to tap into their talent,” she said. “We need to continue to make this a great place for employees of all backgrounds to work.”
Looking ahead, Nunn-Dixon plans to pursue additional training through the National Diversity Council aimed at the specific needs of the immigrant and refugee populations SAL serves.
“For any organization that wants to flourish, this is what they need,” she said. “Baby boomers and those of us who are going to be moving away in the coming years — what legacy can we leave our organizations and our community?”
