HR Thursdays ~ DEI & Immigration

During this session, Mandy and Beth will facilitate an interactive conversation on the distinctions between diversity, equity versus equality, and inclusion before diving into implicit bias.  We will explore the complexities of implicit bias and how it impacts not only how we perceive other identity groups, such as immigrants, but also how we interact with and treat them.  Participants will receive practical guidance on overcoming common barriers to employing immigrants, such as the unintentional barriers we create in our job applications, job postings, and interview questions.  The session will conclude with ideas for creating a more inclusive work environment where immigrant talent feels a sense of belonging and is more likely to stay.

Presenters:
Beth Stickney, Esq. directs the Maine Business Immigration Coalition, Maine's only resource dedicated to providing information, education and advocacy on immigration and related issues from the business and economic perspective. She is a lawyer who has specialized in Immigration and Nationality law and policy since 1986.  Prior to MeBIC, Beth served as the founding executive director from 1994 -2011 of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine's only nonprofit statewide provider of immigration legal aid. She initiated and taught the immigration law course at the University of Maine School of Law from 1994 through 2005. Beth has also worked internationally, in El Salvador, and in Rome, Italy, on human rights and asylum issues.   Beth is a Maine native and grew up in a family of business owners.

Mandy Levine is the owner of Mandy Levine Consulting (mandylevineconsulting.com), facilitating interactive classes and consulting for organizations large and small on myriad diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related topics. Mandy is also licensed in the State of Maine as a Professional Investigator and discreetly and efficiently conducts workplace investigations into allegations of harassment and discrimination.  
Before starting her own consulting business in 2020, Mandy spent several years practicing employment law in Boston and Burlington, Vermont.  She then transitioned to civil rights work, advocating on behalf of victims of hate crimes and hate incidents as the Assistant Director of Civil Rights at the New England regional office of the Anti-Defamation League in Boston.  Upon returning home to Maine after nearly 20 years away, Mandy spent four years as an HR Business Partner at Maine Medical Center and more recently worked at the City of Portland, spearheading DEI initiatives for the city?s staff.  Mandy received her Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College in Vermont and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.